“Don’t laugh.”
She scoffed. “I would never.”
“I really liked my summer job at Arnie’s.” Matt had worked as a short-order cook at a local gastro pub during his summer break.
“You want to go to culinary school? You’d never have a social life.”
He snorted. “Like I have one now?”
“Point taken.”
“It’s not just cooking. I’d rather open my own restaurant.”
Olivia smiled. “Hell of a year to make that decision, Matt. It’s supposed to be yourlastyear.”
“I know. Mom and Dad are going to kill me.”
A familiar pain stabbed her chest, remembering how disappointed they’d been when she chose a graphic design degree. Matt would lose his financial assistance just as she had in college, but at least the first few years had been paid for now. “Well, I’m behind you all the way. Anything you need, a logo, menus, you call me. Okay?”
“Thanks, Sis.” His relief was palpable.
“Maybe you can switch your major to business and do a minor in marketing? You’ll still need that if you’re opening your own business, and you won’t have Dad’s marketing team.”
“That’s not a bad idea. I’ll talk to my counselor. I’ve got a meeting scheduled tomorrow.”
“Good. I gotta go, the girls are waiting, and I still have to get drinks for tonight.”
“Have fun. Bye.”
“Bye, little bro.” Her heart heavy, Olivia hung up the phone. She couldn’t help but be concerned. At the same time, pride filled her. Her little brother was finally going to break free and make his own decisions.
Jake Abernathy leaned back in his high-backed ergonomic desk chair at Chesapeake Bay Sports Network, his segment for the day already filmed. The nameplate on the cubicle wall belied his status as an anchor. It was a common misconception that a sports anchor job was easy and glamorous, and many were often surprised to learn the “talent” were relegated to drab gray walls when not in front of the cameras.
Jake stared at stats on his computer screen for his former football team, the University of Nebraska Huskers. Their quarterback rating wasn’t great, but their defense had the most sacks of their conference, which explained a lot. Coach was doing a great job as usual. He reached down and rubbed his knee, the site of the injury, at the rush of memories. Tomorrow, he’d have to comment on their numbers and his predictions for the season. Keeping himself neutral was something Jake prided himself on, but it didn’t always come easy. He scrawled notes by hand in a notebook, determining what players to talk about and what he’d say. He was so focused on planning the segment, he almost didn’t hear Tony’s obnoxious banging on the cubicle wall.
“Hey, Jake! Good show today, if I do say so myself.” Tony smoothed his tie down smugly, as if he had done the whole segment by himself.
“Thanks. You too.”
Didn’t Tony needed to work onhispart of the segment? Jake turned back around until he finished his notes, not wanting to lose his train of thought. When he looked up, Tony was still there, with that smarmy look on his face. He was as bad as a gossipy church lady.
“Did you hear about Bob?”
“From the golf segment?”
“Yeah, he got let go.”
Jake narrowed his eyes. Didn’t he have anything better to do than ride the gossip train? But he couldn’t help his curiosity. “Why?”
Tony leaned in and lowered his voice. “Remember that Rita chick from reception he was banging? They broke up last week. Then she filed a harassment complaint against him, and they sacked him.” Tony leaned back, crossing his arms. “He said he’s okay, but he looks like a wreck.”
Tony usually talked just to hear his own voice. Jake didn’t have friends within these walls. As coworkers, they were fine to get a beer with after-hours, but he didn’t confide in them. The world of television was too cutthroat to trust any of them as actual friends.
“I’m sorry to hear about that,” he said, keeping his comments vague. He had no way of knowing if Rita’s allegations were true or not. Jake wouldn’t discount a woman’s word in a case like this.
“I just can’t believe they fired him over a fake claim like that!”
“I wouldn’t get involved, Tony. The station has to take those claims seriously, no matter what the other parties say is true.” Jake himself didn’t do relationships. He enjoyed time with the fairer sex on occasion, but finding a woman that could keep up with him had proven impossible. Besides, how well did Tony evenknowBob? But in the interest of maintaining his work relationships, he changed the subject.
