chapter 33
Jonny returned to the station quickly. It was nearly five o’clock. He was gone too long. He slipped in the employee entrance.
“Jonny,” Joel the guard said.
“Joel.”
Jonny rushed up to the studio, his heart racing.
Heather was falling in love with him.
He was in over his head. Way over.
Dana was waiting for him in the studio reading a magazine.
“Oh, are you on the air now?” She looked at her watch.
“Very funny Dana,” Jonny said running his fingers through his messy hair. He was upset, tense and didn’t need her clever crap now.
“Jonny, I don’t know what you’re doing, but I don’t think it will end well.”
“Dana, there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Why don’t I believe that?”
“I don’t know...maybe it’s because you’re so negative,” he snapped.
“Cool it Jonny, believe it or not, I’m looking out for you.”
“I’m under stress.” He tapped his fingers on the console repeatedly.
She slammed the magazine down. “Obviously.”
“So what do you need? Did you come in for a reason or just to break my balls?”
“What crawled up your butt and died?”
Jonny leaned over the console and took several deep breaths.
“I hope you’re counting to calm down, ‘cause I don’t deserve this Jonny. I’m not the one bringing your world to an end.”
Jonny inhaled deeply. “You’re right, I’m sorry.”
“Look...I’m not one hundred percent sure what’s going on, but I have a pretty good idea it involves Heather. You better watch it, you could get in big trouble...and I don’t just mean with your wife.”
“Nothing’s going on,” he said tersely.
“Be careful Jonny.”
“So why did you come in Dana? I assume you have something to tell me. This clearly is not a social call.”
“I’d appreciate if you’d drop the angry bit for a minute...I really need your advice.”
Jonny sat down on a stool and put his headphones on, pushing one side back so only one ear was covered. “Talk to me.”
“Sam called me this weekend. We got back together.”
He genuinely looked shocked. “Come again?”
Dana breathed deeply. “Sam called me...”
“No, I heard you, I just wasn’t sure I understood you.”
“He apologized, said how much he missed me and moved back in.”
“So why don’t you sound happy about it? I thought this was what you wanted.” Jonny flipped through his liner cards. As long as he was back, he’d go live and take it off autopilot.
“I thought so too, but, I don’t know. It doesn’t feel like I thought it would.” Dana looked away.
“Sometimes what you think you want isn’t really what you do want.”
“That’s pretty deep.”
“He hurt you pretty bad. That’s hard to erase. Besides, I thought you were head over heels with the rock star.”
Dana looked up and snickered, “Joke was on me on that one. He wasn’t who I thought he was.” She felt a pang reliving the realization he never showed up to meet her. “That’s just it, Sam is real. We have a lot of history...we can have a future together. He’s a good man, stable.”
“Good...stable...if I’m out of line, tell me, but you didn’t mention love.”
“I do love him,” she said defensively.
“Okay, then I support you. If he truly makes you happy then I’m happy for you. You deserve some happiness.”
“Everyone does. Including you,” she said raising her eyebrows with a smile.
“Thanks for your benevolence. Hang on song’s ending,” he waited for the last notes to play, “Hey kids, it’s Jonny Rock here with you on a beautiful afternoon. I’ve got new music from Soundgarden and Creed right after the break. Don’t go anywhere.” He pushed the button to fire the commercials and turned off the mic. “So how’s everything else?”
“Here’s something weird. It’s that chronic listener guy again.”
Jonny looked concerned. “What’s wrong?”
“Check this out.” Dana pulled Larry’s card from where she’d stashed it in the back of the magazine.
Jonny read the card and studied the picture. “He likes you Dana.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of…I mean like genuinely afraid. It’s different from anything I’d ever been sent by a listener before. It’s creepy.”
“I think you’re reading too much into it. He’s a listener who likes Dana Drew. I wouldn’t worry about it.”
“Really? You don’t think he looks like a weirdo?”
Jonny looked at the dark curly haired man. He was short and nondescript, save a prominent nose. “He’s harmless.”
Dana took the picture from Jonny and scrutinized it.
“Seriously Dana I wouldn’t give you bad advice.”
“I guess...”
“Don’t worry about it. Some of us have real things to be concerned about.” Like a jealous wife and a mistress who decided she’s in love with you.
“I just hope you know what you’re talking about.”
For once Jonny answered honestly. “Me too.”