Talk to Me by Clare James

show going on behind them. It was brilliant. But fuck, was she going to be in trouble.

Chapter 25
    AUDIENCE ACCUMULATION (n.):
    The addition of new audiences to a television program.

    Casey

    “My spies tell me the women back at the station are all high-fiving in your honor, Casey,” Jonathan said.
    “And what about The Mole?” I asked.
    “Yeah, I guess his swears could be heard around the entire newsroom.”
    “Well, it’s been nice working with you,” I told Jonathan.
    “Don’t worry,” Mack chimed in. “ My spies tell me the suits loved it. And Phil reports to them. I would bet money that he tells them it was all his idea.”
    The suits, aka the news management, were my only hope in saving this job. A job I’d somehow grown to love. I cringed at the thought of facing Phil tonight. Thankfully, I didn’t have to.
    We were helping Jonathan break down the equipment and load it back in the truck when I noticed my car was in the lot.
    “What the hell?”
    “I told one of the guys to drop it off,” Mack said. When we park at the station lot at night, we leave our keys in case they need to move the cars around the tight space.
    “Why?” I asked.
    “I thought Phil would need a little time to cool off. Let me handle him tonight.”
    “I can’t let you fight my battles, Mack.”
    “I’m not fighting them for you. I’m just delaying it, so you stand a chance. What you did tonight was awesome. Let that sink in. Let your work, work for you. I just don’t want you going head-to-head with Phil right now. You know how he gets.”
    I nodded. “You’re the best, you know.”
    “Oh, she knows,” Jonathan says, piling the rest of his equipment in the truck. “We’ll see you tomorrow, Casey. In the meantime, turn off your phone.”
    I got into my car and blew out a deep breath, releasing all the tension that knotted in my shoulders. I couldn’t let the girls and Jonathan know, but I’d never been so nervous.
    Listening to orders, I didn’t pick up my phone on the drive back to Stillwater. I was sure Phil had filled my voicemail by now, but I was on such a high I knew he’d only bring me down. And I was determined not to let anything ruin my night.
    But when I pulled into Finn’s place, all that anxiety came back with a vengeance.

    ***

    Finn greeted me at the door with a chuckle and a shake of the head.
    “So did Phil have a coronary?” he asked.
    “Don’t know. Don’t care.”
    “What does that mean exactly?”
    “Jonathan and Mack are covering for me. It was such a great night, they didn’t want him to ruin it. Plus, Mack found out that the management loved our little stunt.”
    “And so did everyone else.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Well, let’s just say you lit it up on social media. You’ve turned into quite a press princess all of a sudden. How do you feel about that?”
    “I’m not sure,” I said, forgetting about everything with Finn so close, smelling so incredible.
    “Scratch that. No thinking tonight, let’s just celebrate.”
    “I’m completely down with that,” I said, noticing Finn’s eyes on me. “What?” I asked, feeling self-conscious.
    “You amaze me, Case,” he said. “You went after what you wanted tonight. I’m so impressed.”
    His praise made my heart swell, even if I knew I didn’t deserve it.
    “I don’t think you’d be impressed if you knew everything about me.”
    “I know you are smart, and talented, and you have drive and integrity. And trust me, those traits aren’t easy to come by.”
    “Finn, I need to tell you something.” It was time, I waited too long and it was eating at me more and more every day. I had never been a coward before, but I was afraid. Afraid of what I felt for the guy after such a short time. Afraid of how he made me feel — so uneasy, out of control, but in a perfect way. He was exciting and freeing and I knew once I had a taste of everything he could offer, I’d never want anything or anyone else. Most of all I was