Maybe I’m being too hard on him. He’s an adult who can make up his own mind. I shouldn’t force him to do something he doesn’t want to do. Maybe I should help him instead. There could be natural remedies that dampen the pain…
But that would be fixing the symptom, not the problem.
He needs to see a doctor. There’s no going around that.
My head starts to pound and I stop the music. At that moment, I notice three ladies entering the garage.
“Hey, Riley,” Rebel says, waving.
April lifts her chin in greeting.
My eyes jump between the women. “What are you doing here?”
“We brought lunch,” Cordelia says, holding up a plastic bag. “I hope you like sushi.”
My lips curl up and, for a second, the weight of the world doesn’t feel like it’s on my shoulders.
I direct the ladies to the office where they spread out a sushi buffet. While we’re eating, we talk shop, cars, and Lucky Falls news—among which is the newest resident at the nursing home, who so happens to be the old man we saw running naked the other day.
When the plates are cleared, the pink lemonade cans emptied and nobody has yet to bring up the Layla-shaped elephant in the room, I bring it up myself.
“Did you guys come over because of the podcast?” I ask Rebel.
She blinks innocently. “What podcast?”
That brings a smile to my face.
April grabs a napkin. “I’ve been on the receiving end of ugly, negative comments online. It’s not fun.”
“We wanted to show our support,” Cordelia explains. “Just in case you were feeling alone because of that online smear campaign.”
I clasp my hands to my chest. “I’m touched, guys. Really.”
“We even made comments under the video, letting Layla know she’s being ridiculous and that she’s banned from Lucky Falls,” Rebel says.
My eyes bug. “No way. Banned?”
“Yeah, a lot of town members have been commenting. Let me show you.” Rebel takes out her phone and points with a manicured nail, showing off the comments.
Cordelia lets out a squeak of surprise. “What’s this video that everyone is referring to?”
“Is it Chance’s one?” April asks, peering over Cordelia’s shoulder.
I send April a confused look.
She laughs sheepishly. “Chance told me why Layla was targeting you. Thanks for helping him keep the proposal a surprise by the way.”
I wave away her gratitude. “It was no big deal.”
“He made a post thanking you for saving his proposal and pretty much all his fans got activated to stand up for you too.”
Cordelia shakes her head. “They’re not talking about a post though. They keep referring to it as the ‘He Fell Harder’ video. Riley, does that ring any bells?”
“I have no clue.”
Cordelia taps her phone. “Someone posted the link. Let me check it out.”
We all crowd around her as a picture fills up the entire screen.
