Page 127 of What Comes Around

“Oh my God, Ashley, are you okay?” Amy’s voice came fast and loud through the speaker. “I saw the video.”

I blinked, trying to pull myself fully awake. “What video…?”

“The one from outside Sinclair. The cup. You and Knox. It’s everywhere,” she said, words tumbling over each other. Then, more pointed, “Are you hurt? Did it hit you?”

“No,” I said, rubbing my face and pushing myself up against the headboard. “I’m okay. It didn’t hit me.”

“Are you sure? No dizziness, no headache, nothing weird?”

“I’m fine, Amy,” I said softly. “Just tired.”

She exhaled, the tension in her voice easing just slightly. “Okay. Good. Just… good.”

A beat.

Then the shift.

“But you need to see what’s happening online.”

I closed my eyes for a second. Of course.

“It’s everywhere,” she went on. “Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, the news. People are reposting it, slowing it down, zooming in. You and Knox are basically the internet’s new favorite couple right now.”

I straightened a little, trying to focus.

“And get this,” she added, her tone sharpening with interest. “Internet sleuths already figured out who threw the cup. Apparently she’s some hardcore Apple fangirl. Like, obsessive.”

“What…?”

“Yeah. She posted on some forum last month about how much she hates you. Said you ‘stole the Apple guy.’”

I made a face.

“She admitted it too,” Amy continued. “Said she threw the smoothie because she was angry. Claims she didn’t mean to hurt anyone. That it was just a cup.”

I let out a slow breath. “A cup that hit Knox.”

“Exactly,” Amy said. “People are tearing her apart online. But seriously, are you okay? Did you faint?”

“I’m fine. Just tired.”

There was a pause on her end, softer now. “Ash… you sure?”

My gaze drifted toward the doorway, half expecting Knox to appear, and my hand settled over my stomach without thinking.

“Yes,” I said quietly.

Amy exhaled, the sound easing through the line. “Okay. And… Ashley?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m glad you’re safe.”

I closed my eyes for a moment. “Me too.”

When the call ended, I let the phone fall onto the blanket beside me and stayed where I was, staring up at the ceiling, listening to the quiet settle back around me.

Then the phone rang again.