“Yeah, she’ll be there.”
I glance at her without turning away from the young woman making sure my face doesn’t glow under the heavy lights. “Is that about me?” I ask, trying not to move.
“Yes,” Lisette says. “You’ve been invited to do the coin toss at the Portland Pioneers game this Sunday.”
“I have?” I turn this time to look at my assistant. “Wow.”
She smiles and then lets out a hearty laugh. “In case you haven’t noticed, you’re pretty popular. Your Chatgram is growing by the thousands.”
“I have Chatgram?”
Lisette nods and pulls her phone out. She clicks on an icon, and my face appears. “I started it when I realized you didn’t have an account. It’s the wave of the future. Everyone is using it. We can post images, videos and do live feeds. When you’re on location, I’ll be with you and will manage this for you. But you can post whenever you want or send pictures to me, and I’ll do it for you.”
“Can you go back to the popular part?”
As soon as I ask the question, Leon walks in. His smile is beaming, and he claps his hands together. “Popular is an understatement. I’m fielding calls left and right about having you on their radio programs, at their sporting events, and another station even asked if we’d loan you out.”
“This is crazy. I just report the weather.”
“Our male demographic for viewership has increased substantially since you went on air.” Lisette flips through the papers on her clipboard and shows me a chart.
“I mean, that’s good for the station, but—”
“Yeah.” She nods. “Sex symbol status isn’t what you’re going for.”
“No, it’s not.” I didn’t have this problem in North Dakota. There, barely anyone paid attention to me. I never thought things would be different, in this sense, in another market.
Leon steps forward. “Lisette will be with you whenever you’re out of the station on a promo event or special assignment. We’ll also have security with you.”
“Do I need security?” I ask.
My boss shrugs. “I’d rather be safe than sorry. The last thing I want is an overzealous fan trying to get to you. Your safety is our priority.”
“This is crazy,” I mutter.
“And definitely unexpected,” Leon adds.
Marvin, my cameraman, signals that my segment is about to start. I make my way to the stage during a commercial break and chat with Aiden and Selena for a bit before the countdown to return to live TV starts. I get into position and wait for my cue.
“Welcome back,” Selena says. “Now, here’s a look at your evening weather with Autumn.”
“Thanks, Selena,” I say as I stand in front of the green screen. The preview monitor has my report on it, making it easy for me to point where I need to. “Your drive home is going to be gorgeous but don’t forget your visor. The position of the sun could be a bit blinding. Tonight is a good night to fire up the grill because tomorrow could be a bit iffy. Rain is expected overnight but will dry up by the mid-morning rush. Tonight, we’ll dip into the forties. Make sure your plants are covered because some regions may see frost. Now, here’s a look at sports with Aiden.”
The camera cuts away, and I sigh in relief. Not because my job is stressful but for complete relaxation. Once the news is done, I tape a couple of spots highlighting the weather that will air in between the national news, and then head off to my dressing room. I change quickly, putting on a pair of jeans, sandals, an oversized sweater, and then request a rideshare.
“Dinner plans?” Lisette asks.
“Yeah, with the Westburys and Marchettis. Nothing like being a fifth wheel with the power couples.”
Lisette laughs. “I can always set you up with someone.” I shake my head, and her eyes go wide. “We could totally do a ‘Find Autumn a Date’ segment!”
“No. No way. Not gonna happen.”
“Why not? Leon would totally jump on board.”
“Nope. Autumn is happy being single,” I tell her. Although, I’m really not. I see the love between Noah and Peyton, and Aiden and Haley. I want that. I want a guy to look at me the way these men look at their wives. But I’m not willing to join a dating app or make my love life a public spectacle. At the end of the day, I want privacy like anyone else.
Aiden and I meet in the lobby and head toward the restaurant together. The rest of our dinner party is waiting out front when we arrive. Aiden rushes to his wife, they embrace, and a pang of jealousy washes over me. Maybe Lisette is right in the sense that I should find someone, but I also worry about my career. If what Lisette says is true, people will scrutinize my every move, and I need to be cautious.