“So, I wanted to do something different today,” she suggested. “I’m going to let you all ask Coach Dex those burning questions you have about your current bae, your potential bae, and your love lives.” Deja gave out the call-in number. Several seconds later, the phone lines lit up with callers. She turned off the mic, a wide grin on her face. “See, I told you.”
When we talked on the phone, she’d promised me their listeners would be all over this segment. She wasn’t wrong. The questions ranged from specific to broad, from simple to complex. The more they came, the more I realized Duke might have been on to something regarding my own show.
Caller number seven was the first guy that had called. “Yo, I was wondering… How can I get more hoes?”
Deja hung up. “What we’re not gon’ do is entertain that bull—” a loud horn drowned out theshit. “If you call with something reckless, you will get the dial tone.”
The next caller in the queue introduced herself as Dawn. “Hi, Coach Dex.”
“Hello,” I replied.
“I was just wondering if you were single. Asking for a friend.”
Before I could answer, Deja shook her head and pointed at the mixer on the other side of the glass and a clip of Ginuwine’s song “None of Ur Friends Business” played over the speaker.
Jasmine was caller nine. She asked a sincere question about her current relationship of ten years. After she’d dissolved into tears on air, I consoled her for a moment. “I think it’s safe to say that your man isn’t the one for you. Maybe it’s time to re-examine what you want in a partner, but first you should take a hard look at yourself. It’s okay to take some time before you get into another relationship. No need to rush.”
My own words taunted me, made me feel like a hypocrite in several ways. Essentially, I’d given this woman the same advice Ishould’vegiven Char. Yet, my own desire for her had prompted a different response.
Charlye was currently in the air, on her way to me. I couldn’t discount the facts, though. I absolutely planned to spend all weekend romancing her, spoiling her, showing her how much I wanted her. Because she deserved it. And because I…loved her. Would I tell her that?No. For me, it was just a simple fact of my life, a part of me that had existed since we were kids. She could take it or leave it, but it didn’t make it any less true. Still, that caller had me questioning myself.Am I doing the right thing?
“You okay?” Deja asked.
I nodded. “I’m good.”
“One more call?”
“Sure.”
The last caller, Diamond, spoke candidly about her lack of attraction for her current man. The conversation was going okay until she declared, “I just want to have your babies.”
I met Deja’s eyes and we both laughed. “Thanks, Diamond,” I said. “But I agree with you that sexual attraction is important in any relationship. Ask yourself if you can stay with someone who doesn’t fulfill that need. Based off your response to me, I suspect your answer is no. In that case, it’s probably time to call it quits.”
Deja agreed. “And girl… Take several seats. Telling a stranger you want to have their kids? I mean, he’s fine and all, but damn.” A few minutes later, Deja closed the show. “If you haven’t read Dex’s book, go ahead and grab your copy. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to catch Dex on one of the many stops on his upcoming book tour. Byyyeeee!”
“Thank you,” I told her once the mics were off. “That was…”
“A trip!” Deja stood and hugged me. “You did great, though. Are you sure you don’t want to have your own show?”
Admittedly, I hadn’t been too keen on radio. But I wouldn’t rule it out anymore. “Not right now.”
“Well, I want to have you back on.”
“Anytime.”
She tilted her head, assessing me quietly. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m going to guess that it’s about a woman.”
I frowned. “Why would you say that?”
“Something got to you while you were taking calls. One of the callers. Jasmine?”
I dropped my head. “Nothing gets past you.” It never had. Deja noticed everything, especially things she shouldn’t. “But I’m good.”
“You never share.”
“What?”
She grinned. “I’ve known you for several years and there is always a part of you that seems inaccessible. I know you have a big family, but I wonder iftheyeven know.”
