I nodded. “That she is.”
And she was getting more beautiful every time I saw her.
Lori smiled as we approached the booth. “Hey, partner.”
I grinned. “Hey, partner. Or maybe I should call you champion.”
“That really has a nice ring to it.” She laughed and gestured all around us. “I can’t believe how many people are here already.”
I nodded. “Yeah. It’s crazy. They must be here to see you.” I winked at her.
“Remember? It takes two to tango.”
“Oh, I loved that video of you kissing at the dance studio!” Kaitlin said. “And then the one from last night at the poker tournament. Maybe you should start doing kissing videos everywhere you go.”
“Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!”
I couldn’t believe people around the booth were chanting and pumping their fists in the air.
Dan laughed and pointed to Kaitlyn. “Sounds like she should work in the promotions department with me. I like the way you’re thinking.”
Kaitlyn smiled. “Thanks.”
I gestured to Kaitlyn. “This is Kaitlyn, one of the volunteers at the adoption center. This is Dan, the promotion director.”
He nodded. “Nice to meet you.”
“You, too.” She shook his hand.
I turned to Lori. “Kaitlyn is a big fan of yours. She wanted to say hello.”
Lori smiled. “So nice to meet you.”
“This is such a pleasure,” Kaitlyn said. “I think you’re just the best. I love your show.”
“Thank you for listening. We appreciate that.”
Kaitlyn pulled a cell phone from the back pocket of her jeans. “Can I have a selfie with you both?”
“You bet.” I scooted closer to Lori. “Is this going to end up on the Internet?”
“Duh!” Kaitlyn laughed. “That’s the whole purpose, isn’t it? I have to brag that I met you both. You’re big celebrities now.”
I chuckled. “Okay then.” I put my arm around Lori and pulled her closer.
Kaitlyn got on the other side of Lori, extending her arm out. “Okay, one, two—”
“How about a kiss?” Dan said.
Kaitlyn’s eyes lit up. “Yes! Can you both kiss while I take the selfie?”
The group of people around the booth started chanting. “Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!”
“No,” Lori and I said at the same time.
The people booed us.
I pointed at Dan. “Keep it up and I’ll be looking for a new best friend.”
He gestured to the pet adoption center. “You can find one inside.”
“That’s what I said!” Kaitlyn smiled at Dan. “Maybe you should be working here with me.”
Dan had a stupid grin on his face. “Maybe I should!”
I glanced back and forth between them.
Were they having a moment?
Lori gave me a knowing smile, so she must have been thinking the same thing.
Kaitlyn snapped out of it and cleared her throat, tucking some hair behind her ear. “Okay, let’s try this again.” She smiled and extended her arm out again. “One, two, three!” She took the picture and then gestured back to the adoption center. “I should get back. Thanks for the picture.” She glanced over at Dan. “Come in later and I’ll give you a tour. I mean, if you want.”
Dan nodded. “I’d like that.”
Kaitlyn smiled at Dan, and then at Lori. “I’ll see you later.”
“Sounds good,” Lori said.
Kaitlyn walked away, checking the photo on her phone and most likely already sending it out into the world for thousands to see.
I playfully pushed Dan on the shoulder with my index finger. “Did I spot a love connection happening there? Very, very interesting.”
Dan waved off my comment. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I only see one love connection at the moment and I’m staring right at it.” He laughed and gestured to us.
Lori’s face flushed and I had lost all ability to speak.
How was I supposed to respond to that?
Luckily, I didn’t have to.
Dan faced the group of people that was getting larger by the minute. “Who wants a selfie with Dr. Tough Love and Lori Martin?”
Every hand went up.
“Okay then—form a single file line, please!” He gestured to the small raffle box on the table. “And after you take a picture with them, make sure you fill out an entry form here and stick it in the box for your chance to win dinner for two at the Cheesecake Factory.”
We ended up taking selfies and chatting with listeners for two hours, pausing a few times to call the radio station to go live on the air.
The last two people in line were Grandma Joyce and Grandpa Wayne.
Surprisingly, they were holding hands.
Lori saw it too but didn’t say anything.
She hugged Grandma Joyce and Grandpa Wayne. “I didn’t even know you were back there in line. How come you just didn’t come up to the front? You’re family.”
“And risk the possibility of a riot with your rabid fans?” Grandma Joyce said. “No way.”
I laughed and hugged them both. “Glad you could make it before we left. We’re just wrapping up things.”
“Sorry we’re late,” Grandpa Wayne said. “We had a late breakfast at Richard Walker’s Pancake House and got here as soon as we could.” He pointed to Lori. “And you deserve an extra hug for kicking my grandson’s butt at the poker tournament.” Grandpa Wayne stretched out his arms and hugged Lori again. “It’s good to keep us men in line every once in a while.”
“You mean all the time, right?” Grandma Joyce asked.
Grandpa Wayne chuckled and grabbed her hand again, squeezing it. “Yeah, you may be right.”
I couldn’t hold back any longer and had to say something, pointing to their handholding. “What’s going on between the two of you? You seem . . . closer.”
“Oh, this?” Grandma Joyce held up their interlocked hands. “We’re holding hands. That’s what couples do.”
I squished my eyebrows together. “You two are a couple? Just like that?”
“Just like that.” Grandpa Wayne smiled and placed his hand on my shoulder and squeezed it. “Nobody has the guarantee of tomorrow. Not even someone younger like you. When you see something you like, you’d be foolish not to start enjoying it immediately. I don’t know what you’re waiting for.”
I stared at the two of them.
“Oh, speaking of that, Joyce and I are going away for a few days.”
“What?” Lori and I said at the same time.
Grandma Joyce beamed with excitement. “Can you believe I finally found someone to go with me to Palm Springs for that meditation retreat?”
Grandpa Wayne held up his hand. “That would be me!”
I cocked my head to the side, suspicious. “When was the last time you meditated?”
He laughed. “That would be a big fat never, but why does that even matter? Joyce asked me to go, and there’s nothing I would rather do than spend time with her. Besides, how hard can it be? You just close your eyes and sit there like a lump on a log. I’m willing to give it a try. Hell, I do that almost every day, anyway.” He held up his index finger. “The difference is, I now get to do it with a very special lady, even though we won’t be allowed to talk much or use our phones. It’s a real retreat.”