I can’t. I keep scrolling.
I laugh—sharp and bitter. Theft of intellectual property? That’s not even how that works.
My phone buzzes with an incoming call.
Jess.
Thank god.
“Please tell me you’re not reading the Facebook comments again,” she says the second I answer.
“I’m not reading the Facebook comments again.”
“You’re lying.”
“I’m lying.” I sigh. “But in my defense, they’re getting creative with their accusations now. Apparently, I’ve committed intellectual property theft.”
“That’s not how that works.”
“I know! But Jennifer Michaels seems very convinced.”
Jess groans. “Sadie, you need to log off. You’ve had three good days. Don’t let these people drag you back down.”
“I know. You’re right. I just—“ I refresh the page one more time. Two new comments. One calls me a whore. The other says I should be thrown in jail if I don’t leave. “I keep thinking if I read enough, I’ll find the one that makes it click. The one that explains why they hate me so much for writing a book.”
“They don’t hate you for writing a book. They hate you because hating things makes them feel important.” Her voice softens. “How are you doing? Really?”
“I’m okay. Tired. The shop’s been busy, which is good. Macy’s been amazing. Mateo—“ I stop.
“Mateo, what?”
“Nothing.”
“Sadie.”
“He’s just… he’s been around a lot. Helping.” I don’t mention the almost-kiss from the other night before everything imploded… or exploded… or simultaneously did both if that’s even possible. The way he looked at me like I meant something.
No. Not thinking about that.
“Good,” Jess says firmly. “You need people around you right now.”
A knock at my door makes me jump.
“Hold on,” I tell Jess. “Someone’s here.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know. Probably Mateo. He keeps coming by to check on things.” I head for the door, phone still pressed to my ear. “Which is sweet, but I feel guilty. I don’t want him thinking—“
I open the door without looking through the peephole.
It’s not Mateo.
My blood turns to ice.
“Why are you here?”
Owen stands in my doorway, hands in his pockets, that familiar smirk on his face.
