The Love Prescription

I made a huge mistake.

The moment I saw the title of Dr. Terrene Blake’s latest book, Fixing Her: The Power of Being a Wife, my gut knew he was not what my listeners needed. But as the host of the number one relationship podcast in the country, Sex with Lex, I was a big believer in representing all types of relationships—even traditional ones. But Dr. Blake’s ideas weren’t traditional. They were fossilized.

I sat across from him in my new studio. Dr. Blake oozed charm in a clinical way—calculated, and completely manufactured. He’d built his empire “fixing” women to fit his version of traditional values.

His latest book had topped the charts, and some of my listeners had been asking for more conservative voices to balance out our usual spicy topics—like ethical non-monogamy, naked baking, and professional cuddlers. But five minutes into the podcast livestream, it was obvious he had a different agenda.

I’d been so busy getting the new studio ready, I hadn’t had time to skim his book until last night, and it was worse than the title suggested. According to him, men’s value lay in the work force and a woman’s “power” was as a caretaker.

Gag much?

Sex with Lex was my baby—I’d cultivated it to be a platform where nothing about love and relationships was off-limits or taboo. Yet here I was, judging Dr. Blake so hard I could practically feel my lips twitching.

I’d pitched Derrick Jacques, CEO of Dreamary—the media company that acquired my podcast last year—on transforming our main studio into a livestream space. Within weeks, we’d created something that felt like a therapist’s living room, if that therapist had impeccable taste and buckets of money.

Dreamary had nailed the sweet spot between podcast casual and TV polish: warm pendant lights cast a gentle glow, strategically placed succulents dotted the coffee table between guest chairs, and woodsy green acoustic foam lined the walls—as functional as it was aestheticly pleasing. Perfect for the intimate conversations I’d envisioned.

And whose brilliant idea was it to feature Dr. Blake on our debut livestream? Oh right. Mine

“It’s interesting,” Dr. Blake was saying, crossing his ankle over his knee in a way that was somehow both relaxed and smug, “that so many experts are out there giving advice on relationships without having one themselves.”

His chuckle was low, almost friendly, but his gaze stayed fixed on me with that glint of someone on the hunt and I was the prey.

Something in the air shifted, and the hairs on my arm stood up but I forced myself to match his smooth tone. “You don’t have to be in a relationship to be an expertise,” I said lightly. “A doctor doesn’t have to have a broken leg to set one, right?”

Dr. Blake smiled without warmth. “Fair enough. Although, I’d argue that being in one certainly helps. Especially, if you’re helping other couples navigate such a delicate topic. As an expert.” He turned to the iPad on the stand that was recording the livestream, speaking directly to my audience. He leaned in and my hand fluttered to my neck as if I were protecting my jugular.

This was supposed to be a promotional interview, but the guy was hijacking my show. I shot a look over to the production booth, where my team stood watching through the glass. Their eyes widened in concern but they didn’t look panicked.

“What’s curious, Lex, is that for someone as dedicated to relationships as you are, you haven’t had one in, what? A decade?” He leaned back, crossing his arms in mock thoughtfulness, enjoying the sharp edge of the question.

“I’m more of an independent researcher,” I said, my voice just as sharp. “I have relationships. Just not the traditional kind your book covers. In fact, let’s talk more about your book.”

“And that’s what I find so fascinating. Your listeners come to you for advice on love and partnership, yet you, their guide, haven’t prioritized a real relationship in years.” He settled back, folding his hands, as if he’d just given me some invaluable advice, his voice thick with condescension.

“I believe there are many versions of a real relationship.”

“Yes, but your listeners, in particular the ones who have been pushing for more guests like me, may be interested to know that you haven’t been in any type of longterm committment in almost a decade. Why is that?”

“Well, uh, like I said, relationships are different for everyone—”

“But,” he snapped, slicing through my words. “In over four hundred episodes, you’ve played relationship expert for countless couples. Fascinating, isn’t it? Dispensing wisdom about commitment when you yourself haven’t managed to maintain one.”

“The value of a relationship isn’t always measured in length. And these aren’t therapy sessions,” I shot back, heat crawling up my neck. “I offer advice and…and…” The words evaporated on my tongue. How had this ambush happened? On our very first livestream. No post-production editing to save it.

I glanced at the iPad which faced us, the comments already flooding in, each one a fresh punch to the gut:

WifeyForLifey88: Wait... Lex isn’t even in a relationship?? 🤯

TruthSeeker2024: Classic case of those who can’t do, teach 🙄

RelationshipGuru: Dr. Blake is fire. How can “doctor” Lex give advice when she’s single AF?

LexiLover23: Guys leave her alone! But also... why IS she single?

BlakesBabes4Ever: Finally someone calling her out! Get her Dr. B! 👏

dating_detective: All this time I thought she was speaking from experience... feeling kinda duped rn

I shot a desperate look at my producers, their hands flailing hopelessly. We were drowning, and no one had a life raft.

That’s when Cody—wait, was it Cohen? Carter?—my new tech assistant, shifted from behind the iPad. Earlier, he’d fumbled with mics and mumbled apologies while setting up our equipment, unassuming.

But when he stepped forward now his face was flushed with fury, fists clenched at his sides. He couldn’t have been more than twenty-five, one of those efficient, behind-the-scenes types who preferred the company of computers to cameras.

Or so I’d thought.

Like a bolt of lightening in a storm, Cody’s voice cut through Dr. Blake’s smugness.

“You’re wrong.” His words trembled but didn’t break. “Lexi’s brilliant. And she wouldn’t lie.”

“I never said she lied,” Dr Blake said, looking amused by this young man’s defense of me.

“You’re implying she’s pulling the wool over her guests’ eyes, but…” his gaze flicked to me from behind his glasses as if assessing what he was about to say.

I blinked several times, still off-kilter by all of it—Dr. Blake’s attack and this near-stranger suddenly playing savoir.

“Because she is, young man. I am a man of science and research and this woman hasn’t been able to hold down a man in years and yet she calls herself an expert.”

“Stop saying that.” Cody swallowed hard, looking furious and flustered all at once. “She is in a relationship.”

My brain short-circuited. My mouth opened, but my vocabulary had apparently taken an emergency vacation. What was happening?

The comments exploded:

LiveStreamQueen: WHO IS THAT VOICE??

PodcastPrincess: Wait what is happening??

BlakesFan99:😱

“Oh, really?” Dr. Blake’s voice dripped honey-coated venom.

Cody’s cheeks blazed crimson, but his spine straightened. “Stop being a jerk just because your outdated book needs publicity.”

“Excuse me?” Dr. Blake’s polished veneer cracked.

“You heard me.” Cody’s voice found its footing. “You’re wrong about everything—your prehistoric ideas, your misogynistic manifesto, and especially about Lexi.” He took a shaky breath. “Because she’s with me. Yes. Yes, that’s right. She’s in a relationship with me. Has been for... a while now.”

I could practically hear the collective intake of breath from my team in the booth, just as stunned as I was by his declaration.

“Cody…?” I choked out, not even sure I had his name right.

“Oh, please.” Dr. Blake’s laugh could’ve curdled milk. “Am I meant to believe some lacky trying to save his boss’s hide?”

In three steps, Cody was beside me, sliding onto the sofa. His hand found mine—clammy, trembling, but somehow sure. On the screen, our reflection told a story I hadn’t known we were writing: the nervous tech guy, the flustered podcast host, and the increasingly irritated relationship guru.

“Yes,” Cody said, so softly I almost missed it. Then louder, steel threading through his voice as his eyes locked onto Dr. Blake’s: “Because I’m her partner. Almost a year now.”

Every cell in my body screamed to set the record straight. I was Alexis Fairchild, champion of brutal honesty, queen of uncomfortable truths. But Cody’s fingers interlaced with mine, his quick breathing matching my racing pulse, and I found myself frozen.

His gaze challenged Dr. Blake to push back, to dare question this thing he’d created out of thin air.

“Oh?” Dr. Blake’s laughed sardonically. “Then tell me, if you two are so close, why haven’t Lexi’s listeners heard a thing about you? Why is there no social proof?”

Cody shifted, clearly uncomfortable under the gaze of not just Dr. Blake but the camera as well, his eyes darting to me.

“I don’t like being in the spotlight,” he replied. “Lexi respects that. She’s a public figure; I’m not. But that doesn’t make our relationship any less real.”

I forced myself to maintain composure, matching Cody’s firmness with a smile as calm as I could muster while inside my brain was exploding.

Dr. Blake’s jaw tightened and he shifted in his armchair, clearly unhappy that his planned ambush was unraveling in front of him.

“Well, it’s certainly a surprise,” he said, flashing a tight smile at Cody, who held his gaze.

“Lexi’s authenticity speaks for itself,” Cody added, his voice a little quieter but somehow unwavering. “And she kept her relationship with me in the dark out of respect for my wishes. It’s called honoring boundaries.”

I watched in awe as this quiet and unassuming young man—whose name I’d barely known moments ago—held his ground, trying to save me from this disasterous interview.

Dr. Blake faltered, a crack in his practiced veneer, before his face smoothed into a strained smile.

“Boundaries are a good thing,” he murmured, glancing down at his notes. “Which I talk about in Chapter Six of my book.”

Dr. Blake retreated into his rehearsed talking points and my mind racing. The lie hung in the air like smoke, curling around us, while comments kept flooding the screen:

LexisStan4Ever: OMG WAIT. Her tech guy?? He’s so cute!

BlakesBabes4Ever: This seems... convenient 🤔

TruthSeeker2024: Plot twist of the century! But why hide it??

RelationshipGuru: The way he defended her tho 😍 I ship it!

dating_detective: Anyone else getting major Hallmark vibes?

BlakesBabes4Ever: Anyone else getting bullshit vibes??

LexisStan4Ever: They’re fire! I’m so here for it 🔥

The rest of the interview was a blur. I nodded and smiled, played the perfect host while my career—built on radical honesty about relationships—crumbled apart in real time because of one little lie.