as Grandma Joyce continued to gush over the show. “Now, can you see how talented Dr. Tough Love is?”
“No, and you can call him Ben, since his on-air name is ridiculous. Really, I don’t see anything special about that man. I see an overbearing, arrogant guy who’s looking for attention.”
Grandma Joyce forked some of the jambalaya from the huge bowl in front of her and held it in the air. “Isn’t that the goal of being on the radio? You always told me that your radio show was number one in the ratings, which means you were getting lots of attention. I don’t see the difference.” She stuck the food in her mouth, chewing, watching me, her eyebrow arching as if to say gotcha.
I shook my head. “That’s completely different, because he’s full of himself and talks too much.”
“It’s a talk show, dear. That’s what you’re supposed to be doing.”
I pointed at her with one of my french fries. “Whose side are you on?”
“His. This is so good.” Grandma Joyce took another bite of her jambalaya. “Speaking of tasty, Ben’s voice is deep and smooth and hypnotizing. He’s like a snake charmer and I’m a cobra.”
I smirked. “More like a cougar.”
“Okay, I admit that Ben may be a little young for me, but men my age are lacking the oomph that makes life exciting. I think I’ll try online dating. I don’t want to be alone the last twenty or thirty years of my life.”
I smiled. “In thirty years, you’ll be a hundred and ten. Don’t you think you’ll be slowing down a little by then?”
“Not if I can help it. Life is like a ripe peach, and I want to suck every last drop of juice out of it before I kiss it goodbye.”
These are some of the things I loved most about my grandma: her optimism, and her attitude of always embracing life.
“I’m looking for a man with pizazz,” she continued. “Someone who doesn’t use age as a reason for not enjoying the years we have left. And I especially would like a man with a sexy voice.”
“I know where you’re going with this.”
“Can you at least admit that Ben’s voice is sexy?”
“No. The man doesn’t even take breaths when he speaks. He’s like one of those turtles who breathes out of his butt.”
Grandma Joyce laughed. “I know it will be just a matter of time before you’ll start singing his praises. Say what you want against that man, but his advice is just as good as yours, and you’re going to have a hit show on your hands very quickly. You and Ben have chemistry.”
I blinked. “That’s what Kyle said!” I shook my head, thinking about it. “Am I really that blind to not notice?”
Grandma Joyce nodded. “And deaf, since you don’t think his voice is sexy.”
“Kyle also told me that there’s more to Ben than meets the eye.”
“Maybe they work out at the same gym and shower together.”
“Grandma. Would you please get your mind out of the gutter?”
“Okay, but only while we eat. What was Kyle talking about, specifically?”
I took a bite of another french fry. “I told him that Ben wasn’t a nice person, and then he implied that what Ben was doing on the air was all an act, and that he’s not like that off the air.”
“Doesn’t surprise me. You are in the entertainment business, sweetie.”
I blinked. “Kyle said that as well.”
“Great minds think alike.” She smiled. “Did he tell you anything else about Ben that you didn’t find out by being so close to him in the studio? And how close were you, by the way? Close enough to touch?”
“I thought you were going to behave.”
“Oh, you’re no fun.”
“Anyway, Ben supposedly does a lot for the community. Honestly, I find it very hard to picture him as a philanthropist. Kyle was probably just telling me that so I wouldn’t kill Ben.” I laughed and took the last bite of my grilled salmon sandwich.
“I’m sure you’ll see firsthand how generous he is, since you’re going to be spending a lot of time with him. He did buy you that mocha.”
I nodded and swallowed. “Yeah, but by the way Kyle was talking, Ben is supposedly the next Bill Gates. He even suggested that I Google him, but I’m not going there. I’m curious, yes, but it’s not like I’m dying to know.”
“Well, I am.” Grandma Joyce pulled her phone from her purse. “I’ve got this new fancy gadget with all the bells and whistles.