“Charlotte, if you can run the entire newsroom during one of the biggest, craziest news days, then you can run it on a slow day too. I think you’d be even better on a slow day. No one comes up with last minute stories like you do. Didn’t you once tell me Annabel sometimes calls and asks for your advice during the day?” Her voice was soft, patient.
At times like this, Charlotte forgot that Kym had her own debilitating issues. She barely left the tattoo shop, lived in the apartment above. Charlotte’s issues weren’t the only reason they only ever hung out at the shop. But then, wasn’t it always easier to see other people’s problems and solutions more clearly than your own?
“Sure, but that’s different. I can tell her what stories to send reporters out on from the comfort of my house. I don’t have to stand up in front of everyone and give my opinions. I don’t have to watch everyone judging me.” Just thinking about everyone sitting in Michelle’s office staring at her and critiquing her words made her want to break out in hives, and that all encompassing need from just a moment ago faded slightly. But not enough that it didn’t still pulse under her skin.
“They aren’t judging you, Charlotte. They are judging the stories and their possibilities.” Kym took a deep breath, and seemed to consider her next words before continuing. “Maybe you should ask Michelle if you can do a trial run. Work for a week in the position, have the guy you’d be replacing work your shift. See how it goes. It might make you more confident in your abilities. And if it turns out you really don't want to do it, no harm. You go back to the night shift, and they open up the position to outside candidates.”
Before Charlotte could really think about that, her phone beeped with an incoming call. Pulling it away from her ear, her heart seemed to fill with helium, threatening to float away when she saw Trey’s name flashing on the screen.
“Trey’s calling.”
“Ohhh, the other reason you’ve been freaking out lately. Are you going to answer it?” Kym’s voice instantly got excited, sounding more like a pre-teen girl than the hardened tattoo artist. “You should answer it. He sounds nice.”
“He is. Almost too nice. How many guys would hang around this long just talking on the phone with someone? There has to be something off with him, right?” Even as the words came out of her mouth, she knew they weren’t true. Having a higher than average dose of fear tended to make Charlotte very aware of people and their intentions. Every bit of her and her overactive Spidey senses said that Trey was the real deal.
“Charlotte, I am going to say this with love, and from someone that wishes I could take my own advice. Embrace the hope. If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out. But try.” Kym’s voice clogged with emotion for a moment, but before Charlotte could ask her anything else, her friend cleared her throat and rushed on. “I have to go. My big wimp is ready to start again. Talk to you later.”
The line went silent, before it beeped again in her ear, signaling Trey was still calling her. With a deep breathe, she swiped across her screen, accepting the call.
Embrace the hope.
Could she do that? She honestly wasn’t sure.
