Page 71 of You Spin Me

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah, just a giant mess a tiny kid made. Gotta go. Good luck. Love you, you big dummy.”

“Love you too, brat.”

Chapter19

It’s fifteen bleepin’ degrees at nine oh three p.m. on this Valentine’s Day. If you’re all alone, fear not; Gracie’s here at WBAR to warm you right up with some rockin’ tunes, starting with the Talking Heads’ “And She Was.”

JESS

When I get home from teaching another new dance class Tuesday night, my apartment seems extra cold and empty. I wonder if I could manage to take care of a cat. Cal’s cat was like my own personal heater when he snuggled next to me on the bed. Sleeping between the two of them, I was toasty warm.

Unfortunately, I seemed to have screwed things up. I really thought Cal was okay with us not having sex last night, but maybe that’s not possible for a guy.

Shuffling through my mail, my heart catches when I see a big red envelope. But when I open it, it’s a Snoopy Valentine’s Day card. From my dad. Sweet. But not what I was hoping for.

Who am I kidding? Of the guys that I’ve dated in the past year, which of them is going to call me his valentine? I can’t really expect anything from Cal. He doesn’t even know my address.

At least my answering machine is blinking. Somebody loves me. Or wants something from me.

BEEP. Jess, it’s Bella. Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope it doesn’t suck for you as much as it does for me. I miss you, girl. Call me. And hey, do you want to be my date to opening night of Hamlet? You’re going right? Call me.

BEEP. Jessica, it’s Marnie Farrell. I’ve got an audition for you for Thursday. Happy Valentine’s Day. God, I hate this holiday.

I laugh. Misery does love company. Another beep from the machine is followed by silence and then some shuffling. I’m about to push delete, figuring it’s a wrong number, when a familiar voice says my name.

Jess. I’m sorry things were weird this morning. Can you call me when you get in? I would really like to see you tonight. You can come to the station or to my place or whatever. Okay. Bye.

CAL

My shift’s almost over and still no call from Jessica. I played “Jessica” by the Allman Brothers at eleven and “Jessica” by Rick Springfield at midnight. At one a.m. I even played “Jessica” by Seals & Crofts. A volunteer had to dig through the forbidden zone of the music library for half an hour to find theirDiamond Girlalbum, but nothing seems to have gotten through to her.

The stupid thing I made with the red construction paper and glitter that Talia insisted on running out and buying for me—before skipping out for dinner with her boyfriend—will go to waste, I guess. Worse, now I’ll have to tell herandmy sister what a loser I am.

Wayne finally shuffles in to relieve me, a milk crate of albums under one arm and a girl running a hand through his mullet under the other. I make a quick exit. Seems every-fucking-body but me has a Valentine.

When I push out the back door, a woman screams in my face, and all hell breaks loose. Blondie’s barking and arms are flailing. As I try keep us all from slipping on the icy steps, she clocks me right in the solar plexus with a hammer of a punch. I manage to make out Jess’s face through the stars in my eyes, but I can’t seem to catch my breath.

“Oh my god, are you okay? I can’t believe I hit you. I didn’t think the door would open but I tried it anyway and then it swung right at me and scared the crap out of me.”

I wave at her and shake my head in an attempt to communicate. Pressing hard on my thighs, I push away from the cold, hard handrail behind me.

“Cal? Should I call 911?”

“Just got the wind knocked out of me,” I finally manage. “You’ve got quite a hook.” Once my lungs get some oxygen, my brain slots back into working order. “You didn’t call.”

She flaps her hands at her sides. “I fell asleep. I woke up like twenty minutes ago. Since it was almost the end of your shift, I figured I’d try to catch you.”

Before I can ask her if she’ll come back to my place for a do-over, I remember that it’s Tuesday. Well, it’s Wednesday technically, but the point is, it’s a night when I regularly make the rounds. Problem is, Jess isn’t dressed for that. “Listen, Phil and the guys will be expecting me to deliver dinners, but it won’t take too long. Would you wait for me at my place?”

Shivering, she looks over at her car. “We can do it another night. I don’t want to screw up your plans.”

Plans.“Shit! I forgot something.”

After pulling her back inside the building so she can wait in the warmth, I hand her Blondie’s leash and promise, “I’ll be right back.”

No way I’m letting all that glitter go to waste.

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