Your Big Break Read Free Page A

He smashes his face against his hands. “It’s like my foot is surgically implanted in my mouth. That’s probably why I can’t keep a girlfriend.” He gets really quiet, and I’m afraid he might start crying.
    â€œEverybody has failed relationships,” I say. “Think of them as practice runs. They prepare you for the real deal. Not that your relationship with Lucy wasn’t genuine,” I throw in, before I get myself into trouble.
    Jason laughs. “That’d fix her, wouldn’t it? Lucy always likes to think of herself as a star player in everybody’s lives. She’s such a drama queen. She’d hate it if I considered her a ‘practice girlfriend. ’”
    I can see he’s starting to head off down the bitterness track, so I quickly shift the topic back to The Story. I find it calms people and distracts them. “So, anyway, about Garrett and the Hooters waitress . . .”
    â€œAh, yes,” Jason says, brightening. “You were getting to the good part.”
    Why do we get so much comfort out of other people’s misfortunes? I push the thought aside and continue. “After he made the announcement about his Hooters hookup, one of the other DJs said, ‘Dude, I thought you had a serious girlfriend.’ Garrett laughed and replied, ‘Not anymore. I dumped her weeks ago.’ Which, of course, was news to me. Then he cued up the Ben Folds Five song.”
    â€œOuch! What did you do?”
    I shrug. “What could I do? At first I thought it was a joke, but when I talked to him off the air, I learned he was serious. I cried and screamed and shredded pictures of him. I left rambling messages on his answering machine. I even threw a drink in his face when he came over to drop off my stuff. I was totally nuts for a little while.”
    â€œSounds like a normal response to me.”
    I could tell him about the five stages of getting dumped, but I want to wrap up this job. “Getting back to the matter at hand, Lucy gave me a list of things she left at your place.” I pull it out of my purse and hand it to him. “I’ll need to arrange a time to pick these up.”
    His face falls. “She’s actually doing this, isn’t she?”
    â€œI’m so sorry, Jason. I really am.”
    â€œPlease,” he begs. “I don’t want to do this.”
    â€œLucy’s mind is made up—”
    â€œTalk to her for me!” he interrupts. “Tell her I’ll do anything! I’ll give up cigarettes. I’ll meditate! I’ll take up Tan Chi!”
    â€œTai Chi,” I correct.
    â€œWhatever! I just want her back. I’ll completely overhaul my life if that’s what it takes!”
    â€œYou shouldn’t change yourself for someone,” I caution. “It never works.”
    â€œDani,” he says, glancing around to make sure no one’s listening. “You don’t understand how much I love this girl. All I want is a second chance to prove myself to her. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”
    â€œI’m afraid Lucy’s mind is made up.”
    He places his hand gently on mine. “Then help her un make it.”
    â€œI can’t.”
    Jason draws in a deep breath. “Will you at least do one favor for me then?”
    â€œThat depends.”
    â€œMy brother’s getting married in a few months down the Cape, and Lucy is supposed to be my date. If I show up alone, my parents will go ballistic. They’ll give me the third degree about why we broke up. I come from a large Catholic family—they’re already upset that I haven’t gotten married and given them grand-children yet.”
    For a brief moment, I’m worried he’s going to ask me to go with him. Not that he’s grossly unappealing, but that would be a serious violation of protocol.
    â€œConvince Lucy to come to the wedding and pretend we’re still