“He will be when you’re back.” Rory doesn’t mince words. “Which will be soon, right?”
“Please tell him I just need a day.” I can’t bear the thought of him being as miserable as I am right now, but I need to work through some shit on my own before I go back to him.
“Fine,” Rory says. “And one last thing before we dive in, I just want to extend an open invitation to you, Amelia.”
I look up, eyes blinking in surprise, but she can’t see me. “Yeah?” I whisper.
“If you ever wanna go kickboxing with me, it’s a hike to get to the place I like, but it’s one hell of a stress relief. Does my anxiety good.”
“Hey!” Lexi barks. “How come you never invite me kickboxing?”
“Pfft,” Rory scoffs. “Only one kind of cardio you’d say yes to, Lex, and it’s on your back.”
Lexi sputters, but her sister talks right over her. “Let’s do this,” Rory says. “Amelia, start from the beginning.”
I pack away everything with Weston, lock it down in that airtight space I used to keep my father and brother in, and focus on the task at hand.
We stayedup half the night working on the story for the publicist.
I didn’t expect very many people to care, to read what I had to say, or to take my word over the online magazine who did the hit piece.
But the girls had me open up a social media account and an email address as part of getting my story out and writing my own narrative, and I woke up this afternoon tocountlessmessages, emails, and interactions online.
My stomach bottoms out when one notification in particular pops up on my phone.
@ jynx followed you
And below it, an email.
Re: Interview request
From: Jynx @ Vengeful Vixens
Amelia, you BADDIE!
I’m Jynx, I host a podcast called Vengeful Vixens where we dive into true crime stories and celebrate vengeance against evil and injustice, telling the stories of victims and survivors.
Full disclosure, we had an episode planned for next season on your father, but when I saw your article this morning, I knew we had to change the angle here.
You gave me chills, girl, CHILLS. Your voice is the kind I want to elevate with my platform, and I would be honored if you came on the show and told your story. We have an audience of roughly ten million listeners per episode, and I think it could touch a lot of people to hear what you have to say.
You could come out to the studio in New York, or I could come to you, at your convenience.
Text me anytime.
212-555-4969
XX,
Jynx
I’m practically floating on the ceiling of Van Gogh after the email, and her following me on social.
Did I want to be outed? Fuck no.
Is the optimist in me going to make the most of my new reality, now that I have been?
Obviously.
