Page 10 of Ghost of a Chance
He touched the earpiece he wore, switched a button on the receiver on his belt and told someone that “the talent” was ready and he would bring her to set.
“Ready?”
“The talent is ready.”
He just rolled his eyes and shook his head as he turned on his heel and walked to the door.
* * *
It was like Paul was determined to haunt him forever.That would be on-brand for his cousin.From the moment they’d become roommates freshman year.Making sure he remembered his assignments, taking him to the dining hall when he hadn’t eaten all day.Paul was the stability to Jasper’s chaos.Had he ever been anything else?
Seemed like from his earliest memories he was behind everyone else.Meandering on some path that no one else saw.It was only now, when he was halfway through his twenties, that he’d begun to understand that this trail might lead to nowhere.
His mom always blamed herself for his tendency to wander through life.Like it was her fault that she was dealing with the death of her husband, and a newborn baby, at the same time.He could barely handle himself without all of her emotional baggage in the mix.
He’d been Googling exorcists during the meeting when the pitch for K.L.Henson had come up.He’d only been half listening since book segments weren’t his thing, but the moment he’d heard her bio read out loud, he’d started to pay closer attention.Then of course forgotten about it until last night when Fern had reminded him that she was coming on today.
He was the one who pushed hard to book K.L.Henson.He needed her to get rid of Paul.
It also didn’t help that she looked nothing like mediums he had seen in TV or movies.He’d never expected someone so quirky, young and interesting.Maybe he should have actually researched her online and taken a look at her photo.Now he was stuck leading her to the set, haunted textbook in one hand, metaphorical disappointment in the other.
Stan the tech dude came over and checked her mic before she was given a moment with her PR person.Stan finished with Kirsty and headed over to Jasper.
“Hey.What’s up?”
“Bri asked me to mic you up, too,” Stan said.
“Why?”This was unusual.Bri never had him miked.There was no way she could know that he’d met K.L.last night, right?
“You want to ask her?”Stan moved around Jasper’s body, threading the lavalier mic under his shirt, hooking the battery pack to his belt, and finally testing it.“You know how to work it?”
“Of course I do.”Fern, their boss and showrunner, walked over to him.
“Did you talk to K.L.about your problem?”
“Yeah, it’s a no-go.”
“Oh no.That stinks—at least you tried.”
“Bri’s on the move,” Jasper heard in his ear minutes before she strode in.
“Alright, people, let’s make some joy,” Bri said as she breezed into the backstage area to wait to be introduced.She was a tall woman, almost six foot, with long reddish-blond hair that was stick-straight for today’s show.His mom said Bri reminded her of a young Cher.But to him, she just looked like his boss.One who could be very generous but also didn’t like screwups.
Like the one he just made when he’d asked their guest to exorcise his physics book.
It was fully within Kirsty’s rights to bring it up to Bri, but he hoped she didn’t.Bri would be disappointed.She wouldn’t chew him out but he’d know he let her down.Something he hated doing.
Maybe this was the universe reminding him to solve his own problems.He shrugged to himself as they got ready to start the show.Whatever would happen, it was a problem for after filming.
Bri liked to film her show in order, but that wasn’t always possible, then go back to do their non-audience cutaways and B-roll at the end.
The set was meant to be casual, so there was a long sofa in Bri’s signature emerald green, with bookcases behind the couch that held props from Bri’s film career and other mementos from famous guests.The seating was thick and luxurious.Up to three guests could fit on it.Then there was a large armchair with a low back so that Bri stood out.There was a table between the host chair and the sofa where props and water were kept.
Bri got into place and, once action was called, they started filming her opening monologue and Jasper got to work doing his job.Today it was harder to pay attention than usual.
Not that he ever was super engaged.This was fine and paid well.But he had no passion for broadcast.It was just the one degree he’d been able to get with his haphazard course selection.Plus they’d needed interns at this show years ago, and after graduation they offered him a job.His mom called stuff like this serendipity, Jasper leaned more toward dumb luck and opportunity.
Kirsty was called out to start her segment.Onstage, she was so different from the woman who’d laughed with him and done tequila shots the night before.The short black skirt, dark kohl eyeliner and chunky Doc Martens set the vibe but her attitude did the rest.This woman gave zero fucks but had an easy charm about her.The deep red lipstick made it hard to comprehend anything Kirsty was saying.She was mesmerizing.
