She glanced over to the bedside table where she’d put the two little blue pills Matt had handed her. The Xanax seemed to beckon. She was starting to think that if she had many more days like today she could seriously crack up, possibly on air. Considering that prospect, maybe taking a pill would be the responsible choice. Maybe Xanax—like fake eyelashes and The Treatment—was just another necessary compromise for the job.

The phone vibrated and Natalie ignored it. Her mother would have to find someone else to bother for now. The phone vibrated again. And again. She let out an angry exhale and glared at the screen.

JAMES: Hi there.

JAMES: I’ve been watching your network.

Her heart leaped. James. Sweet James!

JAMES: Hope you don’t mind my saying this. On behalf of all men, I apologize for the naked guy.

Natalie’s gloom instantly lifted. She’d forgotten there was something to look forward to. She pushed herself up on her elbows, beaming at her phone.

NATALIE: At ATN we’re dedicated to exposing the naked truth.

JAMES: Stripping the story bare?

NATALIE: Yes, bringing our viewers true transparency.

JAMES: Does that mean you’re going to reveal all?

NATALIE: Not without dinner first.

JAMES: Then it’s a good thing I got us a reservation at a great place downtown. 7:30 p.m. Work for you?

Natalie’s breath caught. The date. It was tonight? She stared at the phone, frozen. You’ve screwed this up, too. The one nice thing and you botched it. She started typing, wishing she could give a different response.

NATALIE: I’m so sorry. I completely messed up. I’m stuck in Miami waiting to get our next assignment and not sure if we’re flying back to DC tonight. Would you be willing to reschedule?

She stared at the flashing cursor on her phone, damning a world in which she had to cancel dinner with a hot, age-appropriate cartographer to (possibly) dodge advances from her married fiftysomething boss. As she waited for James’s reply, her mind did a monologue of his thoughts. How rude. She’s a flake. She’s too self-obsessed to remember a date. She’s not worth the trouble. Her hair smells funny.

The Xanax caught her eye.

One Xanax can’t hurt.

She palmed one of the little blue pills and, before she could have second thoughts, downed it with water from a bottle by her bed. Feeling very grown up, she lay back on the pillow and waited for it to kick in.

It still hadn’t taken effect when the phone vibrated. Reaching for it, Natalie realized she’d been holding her breath.

JAMES: You really have a crazy job. How about Friday?

He’s not giving up! Natalie felt a dark cloud lift and was about to type Yes! when she remembered that Karima’s cocktail party was Friday night. She couldn’t miss it.