“That’s the internet,” Mason says. “They’d dissect a toaster if it went viral.”
Gabriel scrolls. “This one’s wild.” He clears his throat and reads aloud.
“Anyone else think she looked like she knew exactly what she was doing? Like she came in with a plan? Wouldn’t be shocked if this was all for publicity.”
The room quiets.
Not silent.
But… thinner.
Dex lets out a short laugh. “Okay, that’s fucked up.”
Gabriel keeps reading without realizing it’s landing.
“Feels calculated. Bet she’s using him to boost her career. She knew exactly what she was doing.”
Something cold slides into my body.
Gabriel’s head snaps up. “Hey, no,” he says immediately, voice firm in a way that cuts through the room. “That can’t be right. That doesn’t sound like her.”
Before Gabriel can say more, Eli’s voice cuts in from across the room. “That’s bullshit,” he says flatly. “That’s not her.”
Dex nods immediately. “Yeah, man. She’s into you. We can all tell.”
The room goes still when they look at me.
I’m locked in place like my body forgot how to move. Every instinct is flaring at once, like I should punch the wall, skate it off or do something that proves I’m still in control.
I'm still holding my tape.
But I can feel it now , that slow, sick drop in my stomach, like missing a step in the dark.
Gabriel’s gaze turns to me, concern etched deep. “Colby,” he says quietly, “I shouldn’t have read that out loud. That’s on me.” He shifts closer, subtle but solid, like he’s putting himself between me and the noise. “You're not on your own here."
“It’s fine,” I say.
My voice sounds normal.
That scares me.
Dex’s smile fades, the joking edge gone. “Internet’s loud,” he says carefully. “Doesn’t mean it’s right.”
Mason shifts on the bench. “Most of it’s noise,” he adds. “People say shit because they’ve got nothing better to do.”
Gregory nods once. “Speculation isn’t evidence.”
Gabriel exhales slowly, eyes still on his phone before he locks it and sets it facedown. “Could be nothing,” he says. Then, quieter, more honest, “But if it isn’t, we don’t rush anything. We keep our heads on straight.”
This is brutal.
Because it means these thoughts exist out there, floating and multiplying, whether we acknowledge them or not.
Dex leans forward. “Say the word, Cap.”
I glance at him.
“Say the word and we shut it down,” he says. “Publicly. Privately. However you want.”
