“I know. I just keep thinking my boss will recognize my contribution.”
“And how’s that working out for you?”
“Shut up.” Ricki’s tone was playful, not angry.
“Stop being such a people pleaser. Think of yourself for a change.”
Ricki grinned. “And how would that work out for you?”
Blythe smirked. “I didn’t say you should use it on me.”
“Ah, I see.” Ricki ran her hand across her forehead, and Blythe noticed the exhaustion etched on her face. “What’s the big thing you wanted to talk to me about?”
Blythe sat up straighter, forgetting Ricki’s exhaustion. “She wrote me back.”
A shadow flashed in Ricki’s eyes, but then it was gone. “You mean the librarian.”
“Yep. And it’s all because of you.” Blythe shook her head. “Well, of course, it was my cuteness, but she loved the video.”
Ricki nodded. “It was a masterpiece.”
“Now if I could persuade you to shoot more of my videos. It’s hit almost three hundred fifty thou—” Blythe unlocked her phone. “Fuck, it’s up over four hundred thousand now.”
“I’m happy for you,” Ricki said with little inflection in her tone.
Damn.She must be tired. She was usually Blythe’s biggest cheerleader.
“Anyway, I need to figure out my response to Abby, the librarian.”
“And that’s what you needed to talk to me about?”
“Well, yeah. I want to get it right. I’m telling you, this one is special.”
“Haven’t I heard that before? About the nurse. The zookeeper. The therapist. The—”
“Stop. Why do you have to dwell on the past?” Blythe waved her cellphone. “This could be my future.”
Ricki pursed her lips as if deep in thought before she said, “Maybe you should leave this one alone.”
“Why?”
“She doesn’t seem like an attention whore, like—”
Blythe laughed. “Are you calling me an attention whore?”
“That wasn’t what I was going to say. But if the shoe fits.” Ricki grinned. “I was talking about the other creators you’ve hooked up with. They were using you as much as you were them.”
Blythe clapped her hands to her chest and threw back her head. “You’re wounding me.” Her melodramatic reaction spoke to the contrary. Being a creator, she’d learned to have a thick skin, and Ricki accusing her of being played or being a player didn’t sting. It was part of the game. But still, one day, she might find someone who was different. Maybe the librarian would be the one.
Ricki’s face reddened. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to be insulting.” She rubbed her eyes. “I’m exhausted from work, and I’m not thinking clearly. I know you’d like to find the woman of your dreams.”
“And a million followers.”
“If you could only have one, which would it be?”
Blythe smirked. “Dude, I plan to have it all. And maybe Abby, the librarian, can get me to both.”
Ricki gave her a half-smile. “Okay. Read me what you’ve written, and I’ll tell you what I think. I gotta be at work early tomorrow, so I’m heading to bed after this.”
