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Nolan: Please, Katie. Just talk to me.
Nolan: If you want some space, I’ll give it. But I’ll be in town for West’s birthday. Let’s talk then.
Nolan: I miss you, baby. And once I figure out how to get back at her, I’ll let you know.
Me (typed but deleted): I miss you too, Nolan. I wish you were here right now and the rest of the world would just fade away.
The next afternoon, I lay on my side atop my bed with my eyes closed and a pillow hugged to my chest. My three best friends sat around my room with me.
Despite it being New Year’s Day, my three best friends had come at the crack of dawn and refused to leave.
After not talking about the night before long enough to down some coffee, I finally asked them to see what the world was saying about me and my ass.
Abby asked, “Are you sure you want us to tell you what we find? I still vote for ignorance and alcohol.”
Amber patted my arm. “Maybe you should wait, Katie.”
I shook my head, still not opening my eyes. “If I cower and pretend nothing happened, Wendy wins. And while my chances of besting her aren’t great, I need to try.” I finally sat up and opened my eyes. “But I’m not quite brave enough to do it alone.”
Emmy smiled and hugged me. “Well, that’s why you have us.”
My eyes pricked with tears, but I held them back. “Thanks. And sorry for my weepy outburst when you all first arrived.”
Abby waved a hand in dismissal. “If you can’t cry with us, then something is wrong with the world.”
I couldn’t quite smile. “I know. My sisters kept asking through the door what had happened, but I couldn’t face them. Not yet.”
Amber nodded. “I get it. I love my brothers, but I would rather shave my head than spill my secrets to them.”
I hugged the pillow against me again. “Okay, enough stalling—tell me what people are saying about last night.”
I’d managed to avoid opening any of my apps on my phone or checking social media since leaving the New Year’s party.
And yet, I needed to learn what was being said to see if I could salvage this.
If I wanted to try to salvage whatever I had with Nolan.
Don’t make any hasty decisions or run away, Katie. Maybe it’s nothing with Nolan, but you can at least fulfill the agreement and see the world.
Abby spoke up. “Well, there are pictures, of course, and even a few videos. I don’t think it’s too bad, though. I mean, look at your sexy ass! Mine is too flat. I wish I had some curves like you.”
I raised an eyebrow. “I doubt everyone is saying, ‘Wow, look at that butt! I want one just like it!’ So stop stalling. What are some of the captions and comments?”
Abby sighed. “Fine. But I wasn’t lying. Flat butts are completely overrated.”
Emmy rolled her eyes. “Since Abby’s hung up on her genetics, I’ll tell you one: Hot star’s date strips for guests.”
I suspected that was one of the kindest ones. “And the comments?”
Amber shook her head. “Internet comment sections are the worst places in the world, and you should avoid them at all costs.”
“I need to know, Amber. Tell me.”
She bit her lip for a second before replying, “Fine. It’s what you’d expect—some people are objectifying you and wanting to do things like smack your butt. Others are making not-nice comments.”
Amber was often the peacekeeper, the one who didn’t like to rock the boat. As much as I loved her for it most of the time, I needed more of the truth.
I looked at Abby and raised my eyebrows.
