“You’re a romantic,” she says. “You have a big, fat heart. It’s a good thing. And we’re going to find you someone who deserves it.”
“Not any time soon. Between this and Gabe, my big, fat heart can’t take any more.”
“Um, so about Gabe…” She pauses, like she needs to say something but doesn’t want to upset me.
“What about him?” I ask warily.
“It’s just… I’ve been thinking about how Felix found my posts. You said someone DM’d them to him, right?”
“Yeah. Some anonymous account.”
“Well, it’s been nagging at me. It doesn’t add up. I mean, if one of his friends happened to follow me and saw his picture, why would they send it anonymously? Wouldn’t they just be like ‘Hey dude, are you aware you’re getting scammed?’”
“I had the same thought,” I say.
“So I was thinking… and this is kind of dark but I can’t get it out of my head… Gabe is the only person who definitely follows me that would have known you were on the ship.”
I sit bolt upright in bed.
“Holy shit. You’re right.”
“He was obviously jealous at karaoke. And he saw the two of you leave together.”
“Right. Oh myGod.”
She sucks her teeth. “Yeah.”
“Do you really think he’d be petty enough to do something like that?”
“Maybe. The karaoke thing was unhinged. It’s not like he was the picture of rational stability.”
My brain is trying to actively reject the idea that someone I once loved would be so devious. But Lauren’s right. Who else?
“If he did that, he’s psychotic,” I say.
“Do you want me to confront him?”
“God, no. I never want to engage with him again. I want to go to sleep and forget he and Felix and theRomance of the Seaever existed.”
“Fair enough,” she says. “How about I chill here in case you still feel weak when you get up?”
Her concern for me is sweet, but I desperately want to be alone. I need to process. And before that, I need to pass out.
“No, I’m fine,” I say. “I should rest. I didn’t sleep last night.”
“All right, sugar. Call me when you wake up. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
I sleep for six hours, wake up and order a whole ass pizza, inhale two thirds of it, and go immediately back to bed.
I’m rudely awakened at noon by the incessant screeching of my buzzer.
Blearily, I go to the intercom. “Who is it?” I ask.
“Gabe.”
Jesus fucking Christ.
