Rock Radio - By Lisa Wainland Page 0,11

can’t. I can’t do this anymore.”

“Oh Sam...we can...” She hated the hint of desperation in her voice. For all the adoration, she led a lonely life.

He stepped away from her. “We can’t.”

Sam was never generous with his words. When he said something, it was always well thought out and true. Dana suddenly realized Sam wouldn’t be doing this on a whim. He had obviously given this a lot of thought and had made his final decision.

But Dana had to try, she loved him.

“Sam.” Tears welled in her green eyes.

“Dana, don’t do this,” Sam said, softening for the moment and embracing her.

Dana wrapped her arms around him, holding on for what she knew was the last time.

“I’m gonna move out.”

Her heart fell into her stomach.

“I’ll always love you, Dana.” Sam tipped her head to his and kissed her on the forehead. “I really will.”

Sam’s arms around her, the touch of his lips on her skin...it was all too much for her. The best thing in her life was ending and she had no control over it. It wasn’t fair.

“I don’t get it...why do you get to decide?” Dana angrily pushed Sam away. Damn him for hurting her...for letting her believe love was possible.

“Dana...I’m not going to fight with you,” Sam’s warm tone turned cold and hard.

“So you get to decide everything now...is that it? You decide the relationship is over? You decide I have no say? How dare you!” Dana saw Sam with new eyes. This man slept in her bed, told her he loved her and then managed to check out of their relationship without letting her know that things were that bad. She gave him a year of her life. No, she wasn’t going to let him off that easy.

“Dana...I’m done.” Sam wasn’t taking the bait.

“Why, Sam? Why? Before you make things so final...before you tell me it’s over after everything we’ve been through...shouldn’t you have told me you were so upset? Didn’t I deserve a warning? Didn’t I deserve a chance?” Dana’s pain echoed in her voice.

“I did tell you. Time and again. The remotes, the radio persona...”

“Are you kidding me?” Dana stared at him incredulously. “You’re leaving me because of my job?”

“Dana you are your job.”

His words flew like daggers. “I’m not,” she said softly, “I thought you knew the real me.”

“So did I.”

Dana didn’t respond. She couldn’t. There was nothing left to say. Her pride prevented her from fighting any harder for a man that obviously didn’t want her.

That night Sam slept on the couch. The next morning he began packing. Dana left early to go to work. She didn’t need to see him go.

A loud knock shook her from her reverie.

“Dana.” Her boss, Ted Reed, appeared in the doorframe of her office. Tall, super thin with ice blue highlights in his hair and a silver hoop earring in each ear, Ted was a David Bowie wannabe without the musical talent.

“Yeah, Ted.” Dana looked up, lost in thought.

“I just wanted to remind you to get with Sharon in promotions about the Bahamas trip we’re giving away. You’re going down to Nassau with the winners to broadcast in a few months, but we’re starting to promo it now. I want this to be big.”

“Okay, no problem,” Dana answered, barely meeting his gaze.

“Hey, you could look happier, everyone is jealous I chose you to go on the trip.” He leaned against the door. “Are you taking Sam?”

“Yeah, probably,” Dana lied. She didn’t want to tell Ted they just broke up. The wound was too fresh...hell, the wound was in progress.

“Cool. Oh and good luck with the interview this afternoon. I got 99 Thieves’ new single, it’s good.” He tossed the CD on her desk.

“I’ll check it out, thanks.”

“See ya.” He knocked twice on the doorframe and was gone.

Dana looked down at the CD. It landed right next to a picture of Sam and her, smiling, holding each other. She traced his image with her finger, then put the picture in her desk drawer.

Sam was her past.

Yeah, right. Who was she kidding?

Chapter 5

Six o’clock rolled around quickly. Jonny said good-bye to his listeners for the day, “Dana Drew’s up next. See ya back here t’morrow.”

Jonny hit the red button on the console. The next song began playing. He was so not ready to go home.

Dana walked into the studio on cue.

“So show prep ace, you ready for 99 Thieves?”

“The question, dear Jonny, is are they ready for me?”

Jonny laughed. “Probably not.” He took off his headphones. “Madame, the studio