Free ON AIR by Hadley Quinn Page A

Natalie’s “love” for me. “You too? God, why is everyone in my relationship with Natalie!? She fucks me and then avoids me like the plague for a while. That is not someone in love. If she loved me, she’d stick around more. She wouldn’t use me as a hookup every few weeks without ever bringing up ‘us’, you get it?”
    “I get what you’re saying,” he answered. “But I think you’re the one missing the big picture, Dane. Maybe she’s just following the standards you’ve set.”
    I stared at him for a long time. Natalie was a very upfront, unabashed person. If she wasn’t okay with something, she would say so.
    “I know what you’re thinking,” Madden shook his head. “She’s a chick who doesn’t put up with any shit. But maybe you’re missing a side to her that you’re not aware of. All I’m saying is…don’t discard the idea, okay? Maybe you need to ask her.”
    “Ask her what?” I chuckled sarcastically. “ ‘Oh hey, Nat, two people have told me this week that you’re in love with me. It true?’ Seriously, man. She loves me like a friend . She’s extremely fond of me.”
    “Two people? Who else?”
    I gathered more things from the desk and stuck them in my bag. “Darius.”
    “Bingo, then I stick to my observation whole heartedly. Darius knows what the fuck he’s talking about. And he’s known you both longer than I have.”
    I dismissed the comment, just as my phone alerted me with new emails. I wasn’t in the mood to read them, but if it meant dropping the current subject, then I was all for it.
    “I have work to finish up,” I said as I came around the desk and sat down. Madden mumbled something about me being too blind to face reality, but he left my office.
    I swiped through my phone and sighed, but really wasn’t expecting the name that appeared on the newest email.
    It was Sinclair.
    Confused, I pulled out my laptop again out of habit. I read her email on my phone at the same time, and even though it was fairly neutral, she’d given me the subtle go-ahead to message her back.
     
    Dane,
    No need to thank me for responding. I do my best! Sometimes I do get behind, though, so my apologies for taking so long.
    Your sign-off made me smile. Sports bars are the next on my list. And… I could use some suggestions for that. =)
    The girl who is overwhelmed with options,
    Sinclair
     
    I sat in silence for a minute, amused. My sign-off had been “the guy who only knows sports bars.” With a smile, I slid my laptop closer and opened the radio station’s website. Clicking on the correct link, I watched Sinclair’s Slice of the City page open up.
    I’d missed her last broadcast on Monday due to my own self-involved life, so I took a few minutes to give it a listen. It summarized a bagel shop in northeast Portland, and of course totally convinced me to go. Whoever this Sinclair person was, she truly was good at her job.
    I thought about some of the bars I could suggest for her. There were my usual spots, but I had no idea what she was looking for. Some places were a bit hipster, some were straight up dives, and then there were plenty in between.
    I proceeded to email her back, mentioning which ones were my favorites and why. I wasn’t preferential to one over another, either. I figured that was her job to decide. However, it was interesting to consider from her point of view. And then there was the other aspect of it…
    How inconspicuous it was because no one knew what she looked like.
    Part of me wanted to stake out these places all weekend just to find out who she was, and another part of me decided that was impossible and a waste of time. And then there was logic called “you’re a fucking moron.”
    Yeah, this woman was a complete mystery and was probably meant to stay that way.
    I sent the email, somewhat disheartened by my own attitude. I guess maybe some things really were “wants” in life instead of “needs.” It’s not like my life would never be the same if