Left of the Dial by Heidi Champa
Release Date: December
4, 2011
Amber Allure Press
It’s 1998 and Noah Carson is months away from graduating
college. He is scared of the future and even though he’s been offered a job at
a local music magazine, the real world scares him to death. He wishes he could
stay safely within the confines of his college radio station, WVVE, where he
knows what he’s doing. His radio show is the best part of his week, even though
no one ever calls in to request a thing.
Until one night, when the request line actually rings. Sparks
fly between Noah and his mystery caller, and he becomes desperate to track down
the man so they can get better acquainted. But Noah already knows the guy's identity. His mystery caller is none other than TJ Drum aka Marc Drummond, lead singer of the defunct grunge band Back Of Bourke, a band Noah adores and plays on his radio show every week.
Just as the relationship between Noah and Marc blossoms,
Noah is forced to choose between his future career and loyalty to his new love.
And if he’s not careful, he just might lose them both...
Excerpt:
I tried not to think about my mystery caller while I was
at my show. I told myself it was a fluke, a one off. I still hoped to hear from
him again. I started the show the same way I always did, with a Back of Bourke
song. I sang along as I filled out the on-air log, so that Kevin could keep track
of what went out over the airwaves. I had been busted several times for not
playing required things like campus announcement and PSA’s. I sometimes felt
responsible for the existence of the log.
The time went by slowly as I stared out the window into the
cold night air. The campus was always so peaceful at this time of night. At
least on a Wednesday night. The student union was dead, except for the janitors
cleaning up. I clicked play on my next song and was nearly scared out of my
skin when the phone rang. I pressed the button and picked it up, my fingers
crossed. I hadn’t done that since high school when I was in a similar state
about a guy named Will.
“WVVE, this is Noah.”
“Hey, Noah. Great show so far.”
It was him. I actively slowed my heart down and sat back
on the stool.
“Thanks. Glad you’re still listening.”
“I told you, I never miss it.”
“I know. It’s still so hard to believe.”
“You sound surprised. I thought that was the whole point
of being on the radio, was for other people to hear you.”
“Usually. I go a different way.”
“I like the sound of that, Noah.”
The words weren’t provocative on the surface. But, the way
he said them turned me on. There was no other way to say it. Especially the way
he said my name.
“Anyway, did you want to hear something?”
“Yeah, but I’m not sure what exactly.”
“That makes it harder for me to narrow it down.”
The guy laughed the sound warm and infectious. I wanted to
hear it all the time.
“That is true. Sorry, if I’m being a pain in the ass.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m sure we can come up with a song. We
aim to please here at WVVE.”
“Now, is that a station policy or is it exclusive to you?
The pleasing thing, I mean.”
I adjusted the collar of my t-shirt, as I suddenly felt
hot and sweaty. If this guy kept it up, I’d start on fire.
“Might just be me. I’d have to check our handbook.”
“Don’t go to any trouble on my account.”
“So, let’s see. About the song. What kind of mood are you
in?”
There was a bit of silence on the line and I held my
breath as I wondered what he might come up with.
“Honestly? I’m horny, Noah.”
That certainly wasn’t on the list of possibilities.
“Uh, okay.”
“Do you have any songs that are good for that feeling?”
I couldn’t resist and added a bit of fuel to the fire.
“Well, that depends. Do you want to get rid of the feeling
or make it worse?”
“Why would I want to make it worse?”
“Maybe worse isn’t the right word.”
“Really? Then what is?”
I licked my lips, my mouth suddenly desiccated.
“How about heighten the feeling?”
“So, do I want release or a tease, is that it?”
Oh holy hell. I didn’t know who this guy was, but he might
kill me.
“Yeah. Exactly.”
The line crackled with static and I swear I could hear my
heartbeat in my ears.
“Both, ideally. But, I think I might be asking too much of
one little song.”
“Maybe.”
“Too bad. I was really hoping you could help me out.”
I closed my eyes and tried to imagine him, a stranger,
walking into the station and right into the booth. He could press me up against
a wall, kiss me hard and take my breath away.
“Well, there might be something I can do.”
“Oh yeah? What’s that?”
“Play you a song anyway. It might help a bit. You know,
until you think of some other way to fix the problem.”
“Who said it was a problem, Noah?”
Fucking hell. This guy was good. I opened my mouth to
respond, but he beat me to it.
“I know what I want to hear.”
“Okay.”
“Do you have Black Metallic, by Catherine Wheel?”
Did I have it? Of course, I did. It was one of my favorite
songs. Moreover, in my opinion, it was sexy as hell.
“I do. I’ll play it for you next.”
“Great. Thanks Noah. Talk to you next week.”
The line was dead and I was hard.
Links:
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