Elle
My stomach wouldn’t stop clenching as I scanned down more of the comments as Nate scrolled. Honestly, the comment about my curves had given me some pause and pissed me off, but then I read on to find out why my boss, Sue, was upset. The text from Sue had simply included the link and the note to call. Clicking on the link made the bottom drop out of my orderly life.
I worked for the education company Smithfield, a publisher for professional development books for educators. I also did the copy for their catalog and worked closely with some of their author/educators. Two of their most well-known authors were who I was pictured with in the image Nate was looking at.
The two educators had written books and presented together for over fifteen years. They knew their shit and were pretty easy to work with on the books I’d edited for them. The photo was at a big teaching conference this past summer where I’d celebrated my fifth year with the company. And if we could believe the world of social media, one of the two was a blatant racist.
I’d never had that feeling from him, but I didn’t know what these comments were in regard to. My first thought was to find what was being talked about online and where this happened, but I didn’t know if I wanted to disappear down that problematic rabbit hole.
I texted my boss.
Me:What’s going on? Is this true?
Sue:We’re looking into it. Did you see all the comments?
Me:On the social media post from last summer? I haven’t read them all yet.
Sue:You’re tagged in the picture. I’d stay off Twitter for a bit.
Me:What the hell? I haven’t said anything.
Sue:I know, you just don’t want to be brought into this by association. Just sit back while we sort through what was actually said.
Me:So you think there is truth to the accusation?
Sue:Let’s say there’s concern. I’ll get back to you.
I dropped my head into my hands, having zero energy to devote to this shitstorm.
“Elle,” Nate’s voice was low. “You okay?”
“Nope.” I picked my head up because what else was there to do? “My boss says to stay off social media while they sort this all out.” I gestured to the image still on my computer screen. “They have a book coming out next week that I worked on. Not sure if that will be impacted or not.”
Nate studied me for a minute. “Want some more coffee?”
Dang, this guy got better and better. “Yes please.”
“You need decaf in the afternoon?”
“Heck no, fully loaded please.”
He nodded, then knocked on the table before getting up to head back to the kitchen. I watched him walk away and wondered if I could follow Ava’s advice and ask him out. While I was more confident than I used to be, the comment on the picture today showed me that my armor wasn’t bullet proof. I still felt the ding. And after six weeks, I had a feeling Nate could do far more damage than an offhand comment from a random asshole online. However, I was so tired of being alone. It was start dating or get serious about being a plant owner.
The bell over the front door pulled me out of my thoughts. Glancing to the front, I felt tension wash through me as my sister’s mischievous grin met my gaze. What in the ever-loving hell?
“Ava,” I hissed. “What are you doing here?”
Ava sauntered toward the table, glancing around as she got closer. “Well, where is he?”
My eyes rolled of their own accord. “Are youserious? There is zero reason for you to be here. You need a hobby.”
Plopping in the chair Nate had recently vacated, Ava grinned. “Baby sister, you are my hobby. Besides, I have a reason to be here beyond getting you some action.”
I didn’t like the devilish glint I saw shining back at me. “What are you talking about?”
Gabby chose that moment to come out of the kitchen, coffee mug in hand. “Hey, sorry we weren’t manning the store. Coffee waits for no one, you know?” She looked to Ava. “Hey, Ava, are you here for the book list? It’s not quite finished, but I’d be glad to go over what we have so far.”
My eyebrows drew together as I gave Ava one of my patented glares, learned from our mom. “What book list?”
