while to live down.
Still, she had talent. Listeners liked her. She’d do her best to convince another station to take a chance on her.
Maybe in another city, where she wouldn’t risk running into Adam, or turning on the radio and hearing his voice.
The phone rang and she reluctantly answered it. “Hello?”
“Hey, girl, you need to turn on your radio right now.” Tanisha’s voice was urgent. “To KROK.”
She glanced at the clock. Eight-twenty. The last hour of Nick’s show. “Why?”
“Just do it, okay? Please? Now.”
“All right.” She leaned over and turned on the stereo, the dial already tuned to KROK. Avril Lavigne crooned through the speakers. She picked up the phone again. “It’s on. Now will you tell me what’s going on?”
But the dial tone sounded in her ear. Tanisha had hung up on her!
“It’s Freaky Friday here on KROK with Naughty Nick. The rap this morning is about how you know when you’re in love. I’m talking the real deal here, peeps. Those feelings that scare the you-know-what out of Naughty Nick. Right now we have a caller on the line who thinks he knows the answer to my question. W’as up?”
“Hey, Nick. This is the Hawk.”
“Hey, Hawk! How’s it hangin’? Made any recordings lately?”
“You’re so lame, Nick.”
“I’m wounded! Wounded I tell you! So, big guy, you here to give us the skinny on true love?”
“I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, but the biggest one was letting my true love, Erica, get away. I hope she’s listening now, because I want her and all our listeners, too, to know how special she really is to me.”
“That’s great, dude. Very moving. But you still haven’t answered my question. How do you know this is true love?”
“I guess you know when the thought of living without that person in your life scares you more than promising to be with them forever. Or when the whole city hears a broadcast of you making love, and it doesn’t take away from the specialness of what you have together.”
Nick was silent for once, letting Adam’s words speak for themselves. Erica sank to her knees beside the radio and stared at the lighted dial. Oh, Adam!
“I just wanted to say I’m sorry, Erica. You were right—I was scared of all the feelings you stirred up in me. I was afraid of making a mistake, but I know being with you could never be a mistake. You bring out the best in me, always. I love you. And I hope you’ll give me a second chance.”
“Women all over the city are sighing right now and wiping their eyes.” Nick sniffed. “You’ve got me a little teary-eyed myself, big guy. Good luck to you.”
“Thanks.”
“Erica, if you’re listening, give the man another chance. This song’s for the two of you.”
“In Your Eyes” began to play. Erica switched off the radio and reached for the phone. Adam’s number was still on speed dial. He answered on the second ring. “Hello?”
“I love you, too, you big dummy. Why couldn’t you say all those things to me the other night?”
“Give me a break. I’m way out of practice on this expressing my feelings thing.” His voice softened. “But I meant every word of what I said just now.”
“I know. How soon can you get over here?” She couldn’t wait to put her arms around him and show him how much his words had meant to her.
“Look outside.”
She stood and went to the window and parted the blinds. Adam’s car was parked in her driveway, and he was standing beside it, cell phone to his ear.
Laughing, she tossed the phone aside and ran to him. “You big goof. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Erica. I’m not afraid to say it, or to feel it, anymore. I—”
“Hush.” She smothered his words with a kiss.
“But I’m not finished.” He pulled away slightly and smoothed back her hair, which she’d gone back to wearing down, straight and unadorned.
“Yes, you are.” She kissed him again. “There’s a time for talk, but there’s also a time to let actions speak louder than words.” She took his hand and tugged him toward the house. “Let’s go inside.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He followed her to her front door. “I’m still rusty with the words, but the action part I’ve got down cold.”
“Or hot.” She shimmied against him and smiled.
He swept her into his arms and shoved open the door with one foot. “Definitely hot. And getting hotter.”
“YOU’RE LISTENING to the new, improved Hawk and Honey Show. We’re here