The camera pulled away from Blythe’s face, and the wide angle captured the large, boxy building behind Blythe. Then the camera angle shifted upward to the large lettering on the building.
“She’s at the Berwyn Public Library,” Abby said.
Madeline put her fingers to her lips. “Just watch.”
On the screen, Blythe held up a copy ofSolitary. Then the video split, and Abby’s dancing review ofSolitaryfilled half the screen. Abby wanted to close her eyes, so she wouldn’t have to watch herself, but then she’d miss seeing what Blythe was doing.
As Abby gracefully waved her arms in a move reminiscent of a ballerina, Blythe thrashed her arms as if she was playingFruit Ninja. Then Abby rose onto her toes and lifted one leg out to the side. Blythe did the same but frantically windmilled her arms to stay on her feet.
The camera zoomed in on Blythe’s panicked expression, and Abby laughed. She’d seen an abundance of videos stitched with hers, but this had the potential to be her favorite.
Anticipation stirred in Abby as she imagined what Blythe might do with Abby’s next move. It wasn’t textbook ballet, yet she’d gotten her inspiration from when she and Madeline had seenDon Quixotelast year. Their powerful jumps impressed her, especially the midair splits. Abby had done three jumps before she tried for the elusive splits on the fourth. While Abby hadn’t succeeded, Blythe’s was worse when her last leap landed her in the bushes outside the library.
Madeline laughed. “Priceless.”
Mesmerized by Blythe’s performance, Abby had almost forgotten Madeline was there. Abby laughed at the video and at herself for being so absorbed.
Abby continued to dance on the screen while Blythe extracted herself from the bush. The camera drew closer, and a hand reached out and pulled her up. Abby assumed it was Blythe’s best friend, who refused to be shown on camera, no matter how often Blythe chided her.
Back on her feet, Blythe readied herself for the last move. Abby had ended her review with a basic plié, symbolizing the simple elegance ofSolitary’s final chapters.
On the screen, Abby drew her heels together and turned her feet out. She smiled as Blythe did the same, except her heels were a foot apart. Abby bent her knees, and as she did, she arched her hands out and raised them over her head as she looked skyward. Blythe, on the other hand, moved lower to the ground and hopped several times like a demented frog before she threw her hands over her head and somersaulted. When she landed flat on her back, the camera loomed over her, and she put her hands over her chest in the shape of a heart.
Words floated across the screen.A tribute to my favorite librarian.
“That was adorable,” Madeline said, taking her phone from Abby’s hands. “Someone’s trying to get your attention.” Madeline walked back to her seat and dropped into it.
“No.” Abby scrunched up her brow. “She’s just hopping on a trend.”
“Why do you do that?” Madeline’s penetrating gaze bore into Abby.
“Do what?” Abby knew exactly what Madeline was getting at, but playing dumb seemed the best option.
“Pretend you don’t have a clue that someone might be interested in you.”
“Someone maybe.” Abby pointed at Madeline’s phone. “But certainly not someone like her.”
“Why not?”
It was a question Abby had asked herself many times over the past week. Ever since Blythe slid into her DMs.
“Did you see her? I bet she’s got women crawling all over her. She’s adorable.”
“But yet she’s making videos directed at you.”
“But she’s made plenty of videos for other women in the past.”
“I knew it.” Madeline’s eyes twinkled. “You little scammer. You’ve been holding out on me.”
Damn it.She’d not thought through her response. She could try to deny it, but Madeline was too astute for that. “Maybe I have watched a few of her videos.”
“A few?” Madeline tilted her head and lowered her voice. “Define a few.”
Abby leaned back in her chair. “Several.”
“Can I get ana lot?”
“Fine. You win. A lot.”
