Page 48 of Totally Fanatic

“Ian, he’s the reporter, right?”

“He’s Duckie’s boyfriend.”

“Duckie, the ex-reporter.”

“Yeah, why?”

“I just think it’s a bit coincidental that they find out about your accounts and now there are a bunch of Banana-Ramas shutting down my cafe trying to get to you.”

“What?”

“Do you think Ian might have leaked this to some of his reporter friends, like the ones that followed the tour the first year?”

“Leaked what?”

“The information about the multiple social media profiles you had. Do you think Ian did this?”

Could he have? Duckie and Ian were at the bar last night when I was talking to Tim and there was that flash. That could have been a camera. But I wasn’t stalking him and Tim said they understand. They are his friends.

“They will see I wasn’t stalking him, and then they will leave me alone. The story will fizz out as soon as something else pops up. Remember when that guy jumped in the river fully naked every morning, he was the top story for a week, then no one cared. Once they know there is no story here, no one will care about me. But it’s going to be hard to sell people coffee if they can’t get in the door. Do you think we can ask them to leave? Maybe they can wait across the street so people can still come in?”

“I don’t think people will want to come to the cafe while they are out there.”

“You’re probably right. So, what do we do?”

“I’m not sure. I think we just need to close for a few days, maybe. But I really can’t afford to close. I have rent and the milk order is locked in, I can’t cancel, and the cakes, and the flowers, fuck. I hope this all dies down as fast as you think it will.”

“I can lead them away.”

“What?”

“I’ll tell them that I got fired because of them all being here, and then I’ll just go home. They will follow me, and they will stay away from here because I won’t be here.”

“I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You didn’t ask. Besides, if I don’t go, you can’t open anyway, so at least this way you can keep the cafe open and pay rent. Just promise me one thing.”

“What?”

“You’ll try to not screw up the display.”

“I can’t promise that.”

I stand and take a few deep breaths. I would go out the back, but I left my bike out there, and I need it to get home. Mary Beth gives me a tight hug.

“I’ll pop over later with some treats. We can watch the game at your place.”

“I’m not missing the game.”

“You’re still going?”

“I promised Tim I’d be at every game this year cheering him on.”

“But the Banana-Ramas.”

“They will be at the game and can see how awesome Tim is for themselves.”

She shakes her head, letting out a soft laugh. “Then I guess I’ll see you at the game.”

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