“Hello, Tanya; thank you for calling. Before we continue, please confirm the phone number you’re calling from and your email address for me?”
I give her my information and wait a few seconds before Kaylee speaks again. “Thanks for all the details. Let’s wait thirty seconds, and then I’ll connect you to the studio.”
“Wait,the studio?!” I shriek.
Kaylee laughs and then says, “Take a deep breath.”
Heck, I wasn’t expecting that. I’ll soon be the guest on the Ryan and Linda show—those two are local radio presenter favorites whose fun comments and witty humor have entertained me many times. Their afternoon show is legendary.
The male voice from the other end of the line gets me out of my thoughts. “It’s Ryan here. Welcome to our show, Tanya.”
“Thank you,” I barely get out as my heartbeat accelerates. It feels like the poor organ is trying to climb from its usual spot inside my chest to my throat.
“We’ve got the best news for you—you’re the winner of four VIP tickets and a year’s worth of Blackbeard Energy Drinks! Congrats,” Linda cheers, and Ryan whoops loudly before chuckling.
“That—that’s amazing.” My voice quivers. “Thank you so much!”
I can’t believe I won. Things like this don’t happen to me.Ever.
“So Tanya, do you know who you’ll bring to the festival with you?” Ryan wants to know.
“Most likely my best friend Sally, her boyfriend Ash, and another friend of ours.”
Linda speaks next. “Well, that sounds like a fun time! Congratulations once again.”
“You just made my day. Heck—“ I stop abruptly. “Can I even say that word on the radio?”
I hear Ryan’s low chuckle again. “Totally, no worries. It isn’t the first time someone saysheckon air.”
“Whew, good. But I was about to say how you made my week, month, or even my year.”
“We’re so glad to hear that. Thanks for calling, and we all here at WHTK hope you enjoy your weekend of fun!” Linda exclaims.
I wait until the line goes silent and then put my phone back in my jeans pocket. And that’s when it hits me—I’m going to the Mountain Country Festival!
Doing a little happy dance, I feel like luck is finally on my side. The door to the alley opens as I finish my celebration, and Sally’s head pokes out.
“Tan, we freaking heard you on the radio!”
“We’re going to the MCF!” I shriek and hug my best friend, giggling like I’m back in middle school and have just received a handwritten note from my crush.
“I need to call Ash to let him know if he didn’t hear it himself. Are we inviting Josh or Matt with us?” Sally asks, taking her phone out of her apron pocket.
Her boyfriend’s brother, Matt, constantly flirts with me, but I’m uninterested. So I have to go with Josh, his best friend, who has a long-time partner. “Ask Ash to text Josh first. If he can’t make it, I might consider inviting Matt.”
Sally cackles. “I see how it is.”
“I mean, he’s good-looking and funny, but I just don’t feel the sparks between us. It can get awkward since he’s hinted how he wants to be more than friends with me.”
“Hun, I was just teasing. I get that you aren’t into my future brother-in-law. Don’t sweat over it.”
I give my best friend an unimpressed look. “I'm not.”
“Yes, you definitely are.”
“Nevermind—it's time to finish today’s shift before we can enjoy the weekend without any worries.”
“I can’t wait!”
