Page 20 of Thirst Trap
“Emmilene.”
“That bitch.”
“That isn’t new information. Enough about her. I need to see it.”
“No, you don’t.”
My eyes grow wide. “What do you mean, I don’t need to see it? What if—”
I hear Betsy take a deep breath, like she’s gearing up to fight me if need be. “It’s been on there for a week. Don’t you think if it was bad that I would have sent it to you by now?”
“A week!” I don’t even know how loud I scream, but I don’t care at this point. “Betsy! That makes it even worse. Send it to me now. Or I swear I’ll download the app and watch it for myself. How do you search for it?”
I hear her chuckle. “You try and figure that out for yourself. That’s the only way you are going to see it.”
I can’t believe the words that are coming out of her mouth. She’s my best friend. My person. She’s the one I’d call if I ever need to bury a body. How is she keeping this from me? Doesn’t she realize what this could do if it’s as bad as I think it could be?
“Listen, Whitley. I love you. You’re my sister from another mister. But you, my darling, never let loose. You always let who you are, or your job, prevent you from living your best life. And last week? I saw the Whit I know you want to be. The one who had fun without thinking about what it would mean for her father or her career. Last week I saw a normal twenty-six-year-old woman having the time of her life with her girlfriends. The one who met a guy and let the night take it wherever it wanted to. The video isn’t bad. You had his hat on for most of it. Unless you were there, no one can tell it’s you. Emmilene only knows it’s you because she was there and she’s a cunt bag. Do you truly think that if I thought this was going to damage your life I’d keep it from you?”
I let her words sink in. She wouldn’t. I know it in my heart of hearts.
“I still want to see it.”
She lets out a small laugh. “Then that’s on you. But trust me. You’re fine. Plus, I think that video is going to do more good than harm.”
“And how do you think that’s going to happen?”
“Just a feeling. Bye, babe.”
I think I’m more confused now than I was before. But I do know this—I need to see it. I won’t be able to do anything else until I do.
But just as I’m about to download the app, I almost drop my phone as the vibration of a text comes through.
A text from a number I don’t know.
Without thinking, I open it up. Then I see the first two words, and my body heats up and relaxes all at the same time.
Unknown: Hey, sweetness. Can we talk?
And just like that, watching the video is not on the top of my to-do list.
