Page 69 of You Spin Me

He hooks a thumb at the calendar on the wall behind him. “February fourteenth?”

I can barely think two words in a row, but two words do eventually pop into my brain and fall out of my mouth. “Valentine’s Day?”

“Tell me you didn’t wake up next to a beautiful woman and forget to at leastsayhappy Valentine’s Day.”

“Man. I didn’t even know it was Tuesday.”

He winces. “Only a miracle is going to get you laid tonight.”

I cough out a pitiful laugh. Having sex with the woman I pretty much drove from my apartment less than an hour ago? That’ll take more than a miracle. More like an apocalypse.

After breakfast and a workout,I’ve worked up the courage to call Jess and ask for a do-over when I realize that I’ve never gotten her number. Since there are loads of Jessica Abrahams in the Boston phone book, I can either spend all day calling them hoping to find her or I can ask Jones if he has it.

I knock on his door half an hour later. Tipping his head at the window, he asks, “What are you doing here? It’s light out.”

“Can I have Jessica Abraham’s home number?”

“You still don’t have it?”

I kick the floor. “Long story.”

He raises a brow but flips through his Rolodex without pressing for more. The phone rings while he’s in the process of copying the number from the card, so he tips his head at it. For some reason, the station can’t seem to hold on to a receptionist for more than a week or two, so you never know if a call is routed to the right phone. Jones hates to do more than one thing at a time, so I answer the phone and tell the person—who, miraculously, is looking for Jones—that he’ll be with them in a moment. After I press the hold button, I hold out the receiver, intending to make a trade, but he holds the pink slip hostage. “Don’t fuck this up. I’m thinking about offering her a regular gig.”

“Can I tell her?”

“No.” He rolls his eyes. “Even I know girls don’t want a job offer for Valentine’s Day.”

When he finally hands over the damn piece of paper, I stare at her number.Now what?

“Get out of here, you. I have to take this call, and you need to make one.”

I do. But first, I need some advice. And I can only think of one place to get it. It’ll be painful, but Jess is worth it.

I’d haveno privacy if I telephoned from the radio station, so I go home before dialing my sister’s number. When she answers the phone, I let out a tiny sigh of relief.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“I… need some advice.”

“From me?”

“No, from baby Danny. Yes, from you. You’re who I called.”

“Don’t go all jerkhead on me. I’m surprised is all. You never ask me for advice.”

“Well, it’s a girl thing. And you’re the only girl I know. That I trust.”

“Awww, Cal. That’s so sweet and not at all like you.”

“Shut up.”

“You shut up.”

Our oh-so-mature conversation is interrupted by a loud squawk in the background. “What the heck was that? Did you guys get a parrot or something?”

She sighs. “That is your nephew. He’s found his voice, and it ain’t pretty. Hang on, I’ll get him some Cheerios.”

The phone clunking on the counter is followed by several more ear-splitting screeches. When Penny picks up the phone again, she’s breathless. “Okay. You have at least two minutes, five if you’re lucky.”

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