Chapter 14
CHAPTER
FOURTEEN
SOPHIE
It’s Saturday and I haven’t stopped moving since I arrived at the station this morning.
There’s a parade going on in town so I’ve been doing hourly updates on our social media platforms to reassure people that the clouds they’re seeing above are only cumulus.
The little fluffy clouds we used to draw in the sky when we were kids.
It isn’t going to rain on anybody’s parade today.
I also had to spend longer on my makeup than usual, thanks to the shadows beneath my eyes after my late night. I dab the concealer on as Adam from production rushes in and asks me if I’m ready to do the solo forecast for the website.
One of us records these each day. It’s an in depth look at the weather for today and beyond, which lasts around five minutes but usually takes half an hour to record.
They squeeze me in around recorded news interviews whenever there’s a long enough break in the studio schedule.
I finish off my under eye concealer and check the rest of my appearance.
It’s a sad fact that television cameras pick up every little imperfection.
If your hair isn’t perfectly styled or your dress has wrinkles you can bet your life that viewers will notice and be tweeting about it before you’re even off air.
It got worse when they introduced high-definition television a decade ago.
There was a scramble for face lifts like you wouldn’t believe.
When everything’s ready, I follow Adam into the studio and fix my microphone pack to my leg, where the viewer won’t see it.
I fluff my skirt over it then walk to the green screen.
There’s a little piece of paper taped to the floor that says ‘weather’ which is my cue of where to stand.
Unlike when I’m presenting live during the news, I don’t have to wait for the anchor to pass over to me, so I wait for Adam’s cue then smile as the camera starts to roll.
“Hello, I’m Sophie West and you’re watching WVFY weather…” The auto prompt screen rolls in front of me. I’ve written all these words, just as I created and loaded the graphics that will be superimposed onto the green screen behind me.
“As the evening draws to a close there’ll be more cloud accumulation,” I say, pointing at the green screen.
Once upon a time we used to use sticky clouds to show where they’d be, but now I just have to hope to God I’m pointing in the right direction.
“But don’t worry, they’ll be burned away by the sun first thing in the morning…
oh shit.” My pointer clatters to the floor and I roll my eyes.
“Sorry,” I say to Adam, leaning down to pick it up.
“S’okay. We’ll edit some photographs in here. Go again from ‘As The Evening’…”
The teleprompter rolls back up and I smooth my skirt and touch my hair. In my earpiece somebody tells me to add some more powder to my nose, so I walk over and do that before heading back to my spot in front of the screen.
In all, it takes three attempts to get the five minute recording.
That really isn’t impressive, I prefer hitting it out of the park with the first try.
But once Adam says we’re all good I head back to the office.
The afternoon flies by as I respond to social media posts and questions.
Then I go outside before the evening news and take an obligatory ‘isn’t this weather lovely’ photo and post it, wishing everybody following me on Twitter a great evening.
I also have to delete about ten DMs from guys who want to meet up, want to bend me over in front of the green screen, and one who insists that it’s going to rain because his penis is bendy today.
Yep, it’s a glamorous job.
By the time the late evening news comes around I’m lagging.
It takes even longer than usual to make myself look perky.
When I first joined the station we had makeup artists and hair stylists but they disappeared about ten years ago in an attempt to control costs.
Right now I’d give my left arm to have one of them use their magic on me.
“Twenty minutes until live.” I don’t recognize the guy who shouts into the make-up room. Not that it surprises me, they use the new people on weekends, trying them out to see if they’ll make the week day cut. This one looks like he’s barely out of high school.
When we’re all in position, Adam talks us through the show.
It’s been a slow news day so there’s a big report from today’s parade plus a story about a house cat who keeps jumping in cabs and hitching a ride all over town.
It’s the story they’d drop if breaking news came in, but one that we need as a filler on a day like today.
Just before the green recording light goes on, I look up at the glass window where the production team sits. And I see Liam.
He’s wearing jeans and a t-shirt, talking to the news editor, that trademark grin pulling at his lips.
And my stomach does a little somersault.
I gave his name to security earlier but I expected him to be waiting for me in the lobby, not to be watching me live. And as the light switches from red to green I find myself looking up again. He’s looking straight at me this time, and mouths ‘hi.’
I mouth hello back but look away because I can’t let him distract me. And then Lorena introduces the team and I look at the camera and smile, before she launches into the headline news.
It’s fifteen minutes until my first forecast and I spend most of it surreptitiously looking up at the window. A couple of times our gazes meet and I feel it all over my body.
He’s taking me to his house tonight. He’s cooking for me tonight.
And if he wants more? My heart slams against my ribcage at that thought.
“After the break we’ll be hearing all about the weather for tomorrow,” Lorena says. “Is it going to be as glorious as today, Sophie?”
“You betcha,” I say smiling.
The camera is back on Lorena. She tips her head to the side and looks directly at it. “Don’t go anywhere. We’ll be right back.”
“A very good night to you from all of us here at WVFY Weekend Evening News,” Lorena says twenty minutes later.
I’m still standing on my spot because the camera will pan out at the end, showing the studio and presenters before going back to our affiliate programming.
I put a smile on my face as the closing music starts up, and Dan leans over to talk to Ray on the sports desk, the two of them laughing softly about something.
And then it’s over and I breathe a sigh of relief because I didn’t mess up either of my forecasts.
Dan puts his hand on my shoulder as we head out of the studio. “You did good tonight.”
I smile at him, thankful that my blooper about his daughter’s wedding weather is now history. “Thank you.”
He veers off to the right when we’re in the hallway, heading straight for the men’s room. I head to the left to grab my things from the office when Liam appears in front of me.
“Hey.” He looks completely relaxed in his jeans and a black t-shirt.
“Hey yourself,” I tell him, feeling a little giddy. “Did you enjoy the news?”
“Best thing I’ve seen all week.” He glances down at my clothes.
And yeah, I dressed carefully this evening.
On top I’m wearing a red jersey crossover blouse that makes my boobs look good because I knew I was seeing him.
It goes perfectly with a black skirt that lands just above my knees. “You ready to go?” he asks.
“I just need to grab my bag and make sure tomorrow morning’s forecast is loaded on the website,” I tell him. “Do you want to meet in the car?” I left mine at home this morning and took an Uber to work, knowing I wouldn’t need it this evening.
He shakes his head. “I can wait.”
So he joins me in the office, watching patiently as I load up the back end of our website and check that everything is ready to go live in the morning.
That’s when I realize I’ve forgotten to take off my battery pack. The box is digging into my thighs. Without thinking, I stand and put my foot on the seat of the chair, unclipping the strap that’s hooking the mic pack around my leg.
When I glance to my left Liam is watching my every movement, his eyes dark. Then he lifts his gaze to mine.
And I feel breathless.
“I’m ready if you are,” I tell him.
“I am.”
We’re on the road toward his place when I remember that I’m not just going to his place for a meal. I’m going because I need to tell him something.
Something that might make him hate me for good. I shift in my seat and look over at him. He’s staring at the road, his hands loose on the wheel, his profile illuminated by the almost-full moon.
“Liam?”
His eyes flicker to me then return to the road. “Yeah?”
“There’s something I need to tell you. As soon as we get to your place.” There, I’ve made it known. Now I can’t back out. And it’s the right thing to do.
“What is it?” he asks, genuinely curious.
I pick at an imaginary piece of lint on my skirt. “Just something you need to know.”
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
I blink. “No.”
“An STD?” He lifts a brow and I actually laugh.
“No, it’s not that.”
“Then just come out with it.”
“I can’t.” I shake my head. “I need you to not be driving.” Mostly because I’m scared he might crash. But also because I need to look at him when I say it.
It might be the last chance I get to look at him.
“Well it’s a good thing we’re almost home then,” he says, taking a left onto Virginia Street.
It’s less than a minute before he pulls into Ava and Myles’ driveway, then takes a left toward the guest bungalow that has its own parking area.
He shuts off the engine and turns to look at me, concern furrowing his brow.
“Are you okay?” he asks. “You look a little peaky.”
No, I’m not okay. And before I can think it through I finally blurt out the truth.
“I lied to you all those months ago. We never slept together.”
LIAM