Unravel Me by Lynn Montagano Page A

teasing.”
    “I know, I know. Sorry. It’s just so annoying.”
    “Let’s face it. Orlando is boring and this is the most exciting thing going on aside from the theme parks and shuttle launches. You should feel honored.”
    In spite of my annoyance at the article, I laughed at his nonchalant attitude. “I don’t know about that but thanks.”
    “Ignore it. This will do more to bolster Greyson’s ego than anything. Your guy probably won’t even see it.”
    My stomach dropped. Oh shit. He’s going to go ballistic. I fought off nausea while attempting to keep a normal expression in front of my co-worker.
    “Are you coming to the event at Lane’s tonight?” Tyler asked, standing up. “I know Wes and Katie are going. Sounds like it’ll be a good one.”
    One of the players from the city’s basketball team was holding his annual charity bowling event. A good majority of people from the other television stations would be there along with fans who purchased tickets, local sports celebrities and corporate guests from various companies sponsoring the event. I wanted to go. I should go . I was just so emotionally drained from last night. Sleep was elusive and my brain didn’t stop creating horrible scenarios about what I’d agreed to.
    “Probably not,” I answered. “I want as many nights to myself as I can have before my parents get here Friday.”
    “Bring them by the station. We’ll dazzle them with our hurry-up-and-wait television schtick.”
    I laughed. My mother would love nothing more than to be paraded through the newsroom. She thought my job was so glamorous.
    “Can you handle three Meyers at once?”
    “I put up with that one all day.” He gestured toward Gus at the assignment desk. “Your family will be a breeze.”
    “Hey, Lia.” Cynthia Steele, one half of our evening anchor team, walked towards my desk with purpose. Tyler ducked out just before she arrived. Already dressed in her royal blue pantsuit for the broadcast, she looked network TV ready.
    “I have a question about this health story on vitamins. The script doesn’t make any sense.”
    She pointed to the rundown. I read it, paying close attention to the wording.
    “What’s confusing you?”
    “It says women who take vitamins every day have a higher risk of dying early. But then it says there’s no conclusive result. Which is it? Am I going to die young because I take vitamin B or not?”
    “I’ll polish up the wording. It should say the study only showed an association, not cause and effect. It’s also missing the part about researchers not asking the women about underlying health issues.”
    “Who wrote it?” She narrowed her eyes and fingered a piece of immoveable auburn hair.
    “Um, one of the new writers. I’ll talk to him and make sure he knows to add as much info as possible.” I grinned, amused by Cynthia’s theatrics over the smallest details.
    “You’re the best, Lia. Thank you.” Her strong, melodic voice echoed through the newsroom as she strutted back to her desk. I became so lost in my work that I didn’t even notice the hours flying by. An unsettled feeling paraded through my stomach when I also realized I hadn’t heard from Alastair yet today. He must have seen the article by now .
    Sheer panic seized me as I opened my inbox and saw nothing from him. I called his cell phone. It went directly to voice mail. Shaking, I typed an email.
    To: Alastair Holden
    From: Amelia Meyers < ameyers@wmzb .net>
    Subject: Missing you…
    I can’t reach you, chief. Please call me when you can.
    Lia xoxo
    I carried on with the rest of my evening and all of Thursday fully expecting a response. One never came.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    Peace, quiet and a lovely bowl of spaghetti and broccoli in a light cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes greeted me when I arrived home Friday night. I flopped on the couch and let the activity of the week slide off me bit by bit. My parents were settled into their