"Good evening, folks, and welcome back to Life in the Fast Lane," the host, Nadine Lane, announced. "Our next guest is no stranger to the Fast Lane. He's been a child celebrity, an all-star college athlete, an influencer and now author of the bestselling book Yes Means Yes, a Dude's Guide to Consent. Welcome back to the show, Orange Bailey-Moon!"
"Thanks, Nadine," Orange said in his deep, melodic voice. "It's great to be back."
"Have you met Jenny Poole before?" Nadine asked, nodding at her other guest.
"No," Orange admitted turning to smile at the actress. "Somehow, we haven't crossed paths before. I loved you in Curse of the Pirate Queen."
"Why, thank you, Orange," Jenny said with a sultry look. "I loved watching you on the soccer pitch... in those very tight pants."
"Uh... thanks," Orange chuckled.
"So, Orange, I know you've been out talking about your new book... and didn't come to me first, you naughty boy," Nadine teased.
"Well, you were all booked up," Orange smiled. "But yeah, I've been out doing a lot of promoting. I feel very strongly about the subject of consent, and I want to get message out."
"So, let's talk about that message," Nadine said. "Why 'Yes means Yes'?"
"It's about looking for active consent," Orange said. "We all know 'No means No.' When I was a young man, my dad took me aside and really taught me that. We all know that Thorne, you know my dad, has a bit of a reputation... but he was really clear to me that when a woman says no, that means no. Not maybe, not convince me. Just plain no.
"I thought that was it, and by understanding that I could be a good guy, respectful of women," Orange went on. "Then, in college, some great ladies taught me a really important thing... that sometimes a woman just doesn't feel that she can say no, even when she wants to."
"It's true," Jenny nodded.
"So, as I guy, I could think that everything was going great, that we're both having a good time... because she isn't saying no," Orange said seriously. "When in reality, she isn't OK with things but doesn't feel comfortable saying so. I'm thinking everything is fine, but it's really very much not. No means No just isn't enough, guys. You gotta get to Yes."
"Now, some people would say that can ruin the moment," Nadine suggested. "Can I kiss you? Can I put my hand there? Can I touch you here now? Doesn't that take the passion out things."
"Maybe, but if it does, don't do it that way," Orange chuckled. "The key to consent is good communication. Try talking about things ahead of time. What are you like? What do you really enjoy? What would you be OK with, even if it's not something you're usually into or maybe haven't tried? What are your... some people call them Hard Limits. Something you absolutely are not into. Have that conversation with your partner, with your date, with a casual hook-up. Then you can get to Yes."
"That could be a little awkward, couldn't it," Nadine said. "I don't know that I'd be that comfortable talking about what I like in bed with a date."
"Which is fine if you don't want to go to bed with them... or do other things that should require consent," Orange said cheerfully. "And that's also a conversation you should have... what are the limits of this date, of this encounter. But if you are thinking of taking things to that next level, I think you absolutely should talk about these things. If you're not comfortable talking about it with someone, it seems to me you're not comfortable enough to be doing it.
"Not only is all this a key to consent, it also makes things better... more fun, if you know what your partner enjoys," Orange added.
"Well, I think that sounds like a great idea," Jenny Poole said. "It certainly would have helped rescue some rotten dates I've been on."
"Exactly," Orange smiled.
"You know Orange, maybe you and I should talk more after this," Jenny added, with a flirty look.
"Well, I think we'll let those two talk," Nadine chuckled. "The Orange's new book, Yes Means Yes, a Dude's Guide to Consent is available at Fields and Gentry's website and their brick-and-mortars everywhere."
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"Caught you on Fast Lane last night," Anthony called as Orange came into the living room.
The two guys, former college dorm mates, had made the easy transition to roommates in the City after graduation. Orange didn't really need someone helping with rent. Between his dad, the famous singer Thorne Bailey, and his mom, an equally famous songwriter Octavia Moon, Orange had a pretty substantial trust fund to support himself. Really, he just liked the company.
"What did you think?" he asked.
"If I'm being honest dude, you got kinda preachy," Anthony said as Orange sat down next to him.
"Says the politician," Orange grinned. "But yeah, I hear you. I guess I am preaching... trying to get a message out, get people to think about relationships in a different way."
"You're a rare man, Juice," Anthony grinned, using Orange's old soccer team nickname. "Hey, I gotta ask... Jenny Poole. Did you guys really talk after?"
"Yeah, we did," Orange said. "We might grab drinks sometime. She's nice."
"Nice? Nice?!" Anthony said, staggered. "Dude, she is Jenny freakin' Poole. She is hot. Like girls-gone-wild, burning down the house, brutally hot. You know she's on my Freebie Five, right?"
"What?" Orange chuckled.
"The five celebrities I could hook-up with, guilt free," Anthony said. "Dude, you have got to get a girlfriend. Gabbie and I totally have our Freebie Fives."
"Really. Who's on hers?" Orange asked. "Maybe I could introduce her to some of them."
"Dude! Not cool!" Anthony said coldly.
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Jogging always helped Orange think. The simple physical activity of it cleared the cobwebs from his head and focused him.
Anthony had, accidentally, kind of hit a nerve. He didn't need a girlfriend... not need... but Orange did think he would like one. Here he was, after all, the media-appointed champion of consent culture and positive relationships and he wasn't actually in a relationship. Yeah, he dated, but nothing really long term. It wasn't something that could be forced, he decided. When it was right, it would be right.
Jenny was nice, he thought. Anthony was right, she was hot, had a reputation for being wild, and she'd been really flirty last night after the show. Still, Orange had the feeling there was a lot more to her than just the hot actress with a spicy rep and some naked pictures of her on the internet. (He didn't hold that against her. There were at least a couple pictures of his naked butt online somewhere, after all.) He should definitely call her, see about getting that drink and maybe...
... wait. What's going on here?
"Miss, are you OK," Orange asked the young woman. "Do you need help?"
Tears slid down Corrie's face, streaking her makeup, as she looked a little fearfully at him.
