Page 4 of The Truths We Find

“Give me your phone.” He reaches out his hand.

I do and see him put in his number. Then he calls his phone, so he has my number.

“There. Now we can keep the conversation going whenever we want.” He hands me back my cell and my insides melt at the smile he flashes my way.

I stutter through a thanks, in complete shock this beautiful man seems so interested in, well, me.

We collect our things and walk out the door together. He waits while I lock up and escorts me to the parking lot.

“I had a really fun time chatting with you tonight,” he says as we approach my car.

“Me too.”

He holds his arms out for a hug and I’m happy to respond. For a split second, time slows. Gavin’s arms offer a familiar sense of security, despite just meeting. Does he feel it too? This connection?

I can feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat with my head pushed against his chest. I’m breathing in this moment, when I feel lips on my cheek. I smile and look up. Our eyes connect and all I see are fireworks. But I force myself to pull away, open my car door, and get in.

As he walks away, I roll down my window and yell to him, “Next time, you don’t need to be so innocent with the goodbye.”

Did those words really just come out of my mouth? I’m so embarrassed. All I can do is look down and cover my red face. When I finally look up, Gavin is right next to my window. He opens my car door, grips the back of my neck, and pulls me up until our lips crash together.

It’s one of the most unforgettable kisses of my life. The moment our lips meet, everything else disappears. I feel it deep in my chest, a warmth spreading through every inch of me. The kiss is soft at first, but then it deepens, full of fire and hunger, pulling me in. There’s an urgency, but it’s not rushed. Just intense. His breath matches mine, the rhythm of it syncing as if we were made to be this close. Every part of me seems to wake up. The tenderness and passion blending together, creating something electrifying. Something that lingers long after the kiss ends.

“You should get home,” he chuckles. “You have a big test tomorrow. I’ll call you after to hear how it went.”

All I can do is nod, in shock from what just happened. I get back in my car and watch him walk away, but not before he turns around again to give me one last smile.

I’m suddenly jolted back to reality and realize Gavin is actually smiling at me.

Here. In my newsroom. In the present day.

The air is completely ripped from my lungs. When I finally catch my breath, I can’t stop myself fast enough before the words escape my lips. “What the fuck?!”

Everyone turns and stares at me.

I have to come up with a lie. Fast.

“Sorry. Slammed my finger in the drawer.” I hold up the imaginary injury. “Carry on.” I throw on the biggest fake smile I can muster. Gavin’s still watching me.

Mr. White shakes his head and continues on. “I hope you all help Mr. Baker feel welcome, and you each take a moment to introduce yourself. Now, everyone, get back to work!”

The newsroom surges back to life around me, but I’m frozen where I stand. Gavin walks off with Mr. White.

How am I supposed to work when a bad dream just entered the building?

Chapter 2

Gavin

Mr. White slips into the newsroom to introduce me to the team I’ll be leading for the foreseeable future, leaving me alone in the hallway just outside the door.

I pace the small space, killing time, trying to burn off the restless energy taking over. First-day nerves creep in anyway, no matter how much I try to shake them off. In a few minutes, I’ll walk through that door as the new boss, and the thought sits heavier than I expected.

Moving from New York City to San Diego for this news director position was a huge gamble. I left one of the largest and most competitive media markets in the world, where I was producing the most-watched morning show in the region.

Professionally, I was at the top of my game. Leading strong teams, making editorial directions, and earning industry awards that reflected both ratings success and journalistic integrity. Choosing to leave that level of stability and recognition wasn’t easy, but it showed my willingness to take calculated risks in pursuit of growth and leadership. I believe the combination of my successes and the courage to step into new challenges is what initially led Mr. White to reach out to me about this job.

When the station flew me out for the final round of interviews, I learned it was down to me and one other candidate. What I didn’t know until after I accepted the position was that the other finalist is the current executive producer of the afternoon shows. I never met her during my visit. She was supposedly on vacation at the time. In hindsight, that absence feels less coincidental than I originally thought.