Page 156 of Make Me Laugh

There’s no way to turn my brain off, and there’s no sense in trying. I’ve earned the deep-rooted anxiety wreaking havoc inside my body.

I hadn’t told anyone I was leaving. I’d only texted Frankie when I landed in Chicago to let her know that yes, I’d seen the video, and no, she couldn’t talk me out of going home.

I turned my phone off before she could respond.

Obsessively, I watch the gate’s screen, waiting for the next delay to pop up, but it never comes. An hour later, we’re boarded, and when I think I have another full row to myself, a girl in her late twenties runs onto the plane, breathing heavily like she’d sprinted through the terminal. She apologizes to the flight crew and anyone who looks at her until she’s plopping down in the aisle seat of my once empty row.

“I definitely thought I was going to miss this flight.” She laughs, shoving her bag under the seat and buckling in quickly.

Stealing a glance at the girl, I immediately realize my mistake—my sunglasses are on top of my head.

She freezes, a Kindle falling from her hands. “No. Way.” Her volume grows with each word.

I put my finger over my lips, shushing her as politely as possible. Not that I’m this huge mega-celebrity, but in my niche, there’s not a reader online who doesn’t know Hex anymore.

“Oh my god, sorry, I just…” Her mouth stays open, and she points at me. Wagging her finger, she finally says, “you’re HexedHeroine.”

This is absolutely my worst nightmare right now. I’d scale the side of the plane to escape if I could, but they make the all-call, and I’m stuck.

“I…” Thankfully the girl talks before I have to. “I can’t believe this. Wait, why are you here? Didn’t—that’s not my business.” She smiles politely, trying to get herself together. “I’m Talia. I’m also a bookish content creator, obviously not to your level, but…” Laughing, she shrugs herself off, embarrassment turning her bronze skin rosy.

I recognize her now that she’s said it. “TalisTBR?” Her eyes grow wide, and I might have shocked her into silence. “You have the hot pink library, right?” I’ve definitely taken a couple dark rom-com recommendations from her, though I’m not sure if I follow her.

For obvious reasons, I’ve never made any super close friendships online, but I do think she has a decent following of her own—not that it matters to me in a situation like this.

“I’m sorry, I think I just hallucinated. Are you saying you know who I am?” That gets a half-laugh from me, instantly followed by a gut-punch feeling when the sound reminds me of West.

My laugh reminds me of West… Oh, this is gonna be bad.

“As much as one can from their videos on the internet,” I somehow manage to say through the lump in my throat.

I don’t realize the plane’s started to taxi until the captain comes over the intercom, alerting the crew to prepare for takeoff.

Talia nods. “Yeah, of course. I’m sure lots of people think they know who you are. Especially now.” She bites her lip like she shouldn’t have said the last part.

The comments on the article were… pretty much what I should have expected.

West has worked too hard to get to where he is now. I’m not worth losing it over. He might not see that now, but one day he will.

When I think we might fall into silence after takeoff, Talia sighs and turns to me. “My friends would be so pissed if I didn’t take the opportunity to tell you this.” She takes a breath like a shot of courage. “A few years ago, a coworker told me about this book she’d read. I’d never heard of it, but she said it was rec’d by an influencer she loved.” Talia nods her chin at me with a sheepish smile. “I didn’t have an account yet, but I devoured anything you posted about, and eventually made friends through your comment section who told me I needed to show off my pink shelves, so I did, and now here I am, flying out to spend Thanksgiving with the friends I met because of you. We’re going to a book signing in the city this weekend and spending a day in Salem.”

I wiggle my jaw to pop my ears as we ascend, blinking to keep a new wave of tears from spilling over.

Jo Daniels doesn’t cry in front of people… But apparently Joey does!

“Sorry, I’m a mess.” I smile at her, wiping my eyes with the sleeves of my hoodie. “When I started HexedHeroine, I never imagined it would turn into all this. Hex was my escape, and to find out she’s done so much for others too.” I bite the inside of my cheek. “Makes me feel like I at least got her right.”

Talia and I talk the entire flight. About books, her rescue dogs, Grim, my iconic best friend, Frankie—her words, I just agreed. It’s not until she says, “I’d be sad if I had to leave real life book boyfriend West Parker to go home for the holidays too,” that I realize we’re descending to land in Boston.

I tell myself it’s the plane’s shaky landing that knocks the breath out of me.

“Ugh, and the video⁠—”

“I don’t want to talk about the article,” I choke out more abruptly than I mean to.

Talia grows stiff. “No, oh god, okay, yeah I bet people insert themselves in y’all’s relationship all the time, which is gross, by the way,” she stutters. “Them, not your relationship, obviously… I’m sorry. I meant the one from the end of West’s show tonight, where he thanked Hex.”

He thanked me? Of course he did. He had no idea I’d left yet.