“Probably,” she said.
Millie made a face. “I didn’t think about that.”
“Do you want us to turn off the show?” Charlotte asked kindly.
“Because we will,” said Millie. “I’m recording it anyway.”
“No, I don’t care about the letter,” she said. “They can bring it up all they want.”
“Really?” Mom didn’t look convinced.
“I don’t care what other people think, Mom.”
Mom and Charlotte exchanged a look. “Since when?” Mom demanded.
“Since I realized that worrying about what other people think has kept me from living my life. I have an announcement to make too.” She picked up the remote and muted the TV. “This morning I accepted a job in Dallas. I’m going to be working for a telecommunications startup company. The salary is just average, but I’ll be getting in on the ground floor, and if it takes off the way I think it will, there’s a lot of potential there.”
The women all stared at her.
“There’s more,” she added.
“Hold on.” Millie grabbed a handful of popcorn. “Continue.”
Annie tried not to smile. Good to know she was still providing the town with their entertainment. “There were two other companies that wanted me, Including a Fortune 500 in Chicago. It was a terrific job with a big salary, but I turned it down.”
“Because the Dallas job was better?” Charlotte asked.
“No. The Dallas job was number three on my list. But it has something the other two jobs don’t.”
Mom gasped. “Sam DeLuca!”
“I don’t care if Sam is going on a reality TV show to find a wife. I’m going to Dallas to fight for him.”
“Let me get this straight,” said Millie. “You’re saying no to a perfectly good job in Chicago to move to Dallas to pursue a man that’s about to become an even bigger TV heartthrob than he already is?”
“Sounds familiar, huh? Not the TV heartthrob part, but the bit about following a man to pursue a relationship.”
“I think it sounds fabulous,” said Millie.
“Ditto,” said Charlotte.
“What do you think, Mom?” She was a grown woman. And whatever Mom said wouldn’t change her plans, but it would be nice to know she had the support of all her family.
“What do I think? I think it’s about time you got out of this sleepy little town and went after your dreams. That’s what I think.” Mom got up from her place on the couch to give her a hug.
Charlotte smiled at the mother-daughter moment. “Does Sam have any idea that you’re moving to Dallas?”
“Not yet. He wanted me to move closer there, but I told him that my job had to come first.”
“What changed your mind?” Mom asked.
“I decided it was time I stopped playing the victim. People in this town feel sorry for me because Russell dumped me, but no one’s felt sorrier for me than me. Russell was a jerk, but I’m the one who allowed the poor Annie routine to go on. I’ve been so afraid of looking like a fool again that I settled for a nice, safe relationship with Walter. Maybe it won’t work out with Sam, but I’ll never know unless I fight for him. And for myself.”
Millie raised her wineglass in the air. “Bravo!”
Charlotte beamed. “Well said.”
Mom wiped away a tear.
“Oh! Oh! Oh!” Millie squealed. “Don just called Sam up to the hot seat.” She turned the TV volume back on.
After a long round of applause, Don put up his hand to silence the audience. “So, Sam, the past six weeks must have been a big whirlwind for you, huh?”
“You can say that.” Wearing black slacks with a matching blazer, lavender shirt, and no tie, he exuded a lazy confidence that only managed to make him look more appealing. No wonder the network wanted Sam to star in their show. He was the ultimate eye candy.
But he was so much more than that. He was funny, smart, and kind. He loved his family and put their welfare above his own. He was everything she could ask for in a man. No matter what the future might hold, Annie could never regret giving them a chance.
Don went through a series of scripted prompts that Sam good-naturedly went along with.
How has the show changed your life?
Is there anything you have to say to Hannah?
And so on.
“It looks like they’re not going to mention the letter.” Charlotte took a sip of her wine.
Millie looked at Annie. “Lucky you.”
They focused their attention back to the screen. Don leaned forward like he was going in for the kill. “So, Sam, this is the moment America has been waiting for.” He paused for ultimate drama. “I’m happy to announce that the network has selected you for next season’s Single Guy!”
Balloons fell from the ceiling. The audience went wild with applause. The other bachelors jumped from their chairs to congratulate him, slapping him on the back and wishing him well.
“See?” Millie said. “That Kelly Seacrest is always right.”
After a couple of minutes of fanfare, Don urged everyone back to their seats. “I just realized that in all the excitement, we still haven’t heard your response. So, Sam, what do you say? Are you ready to become America’s next Single Guy?” He turned to the audience and winked playfully.
“That’s right. You haven’t heard my answer yet, have you?” Something in Sam’s tone made Annie sit straight up in her chair.
“Go ahead, Sam,” Don said smugly. “Don’t keep your fans waiting.”
“I’ve given this a lot of thought, but I’m going to have to say no to being the next Single Guy. I do appreciate the offer, though.”
The audience began murmuring in disbelief.
“Did Sam just say no to Don Carmichael?” sputtered Millie.
“I believe so,” Charlotte said, sounding as amazed as Annie suddenly felt.
Sam was turning down Single Guy.
Don laughed nervously. “This guy!” he said, pointing to Sam. “What a kidder!”
“I’m not kidding, Don.”
Don’s face slowly hardened as realization crept in. “You signed a contract.”
Sam reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a sheaf of papers. “You mean this? I haven’t signed it yet.” He made a big show of tearing the contract in half. Don’s jaw fell to the floor.
The audience roared in confusion.
For a few seconds, no one knew what to do. Then a woman wearing a headset scrambled onto the stage and whispered in Don’s ear. He shook his head. She whispered back more forcefully, then scurried back off camera.
“Um, folks,” said Don, looking as if he’d just swallowed a toad, “it looks like we need to go to a commercial break. We’ll be right back with the Single Gal Reunion Special.”
Millie glanced at her phone. “Holy moly. Twitter is going crazy!”
Annie pulled out her phone and opened her Twitter app. The GasStationSam hashtag was trending number one.
Gas Station Sam says NO to Single Guy! #SingleGuy #GasStationSam #IwantSam
Don Carmichael’s face looks like an eggplant. #SingleGuy #GasStationSamRocks