Page 163 of The Hookup Situation
The installation team is already at work. Cameras are at every angle, motion sensors, and smart locks that’ll alert her phone if anyone even approaches the door. The lead installer—a former military guy named Jeffrey—walks us through everything with professional efficiency.
“No one’s getting in here without you knowing,” he assures Julie. “This systemis?—”
Julie’s phone rings, cutting him off, and she silences it. “Sorry, please continue.”
She shows me the screen, and I see Autumn’s name. She calls three more times as the guy continues walking Julie through how to use everything. He finishes his explanation, and her phone rings again.
“Answer it,” I whisper to her.
“Okay,” she says, putting it on speaker while she watches them install a camera. “What’s up?”
“Jules, don’t freak out.” Autumn’s voice is serious in a way I’ve never heard before.
Julie goes still. “What happened?”
“I don’t know how to tell you this.” Autumn doesn’t speak for a very long time, and my heart begins to race. “There are photos of you posted online.”
“What kind of photos?” I ask.
Autumn sighs. “Intimate ones. They’re … they’re everywhere.”
The blood drains from Julie’s face. She drops her phone, and it crashes to the ground. She hurries and picks it up. “Please explain.”
“It’s Craig. He posted things he had no business posting. Said you were a whore who deserved to be exposed.”
“No.” Julie’s hands start shaking. “No, no, no.”
I’m already calling Asher as Julie breaks down while she talks to Autumn. My anger builds with every cracked word that releases from her mouth.
“We have a situation,” I tell my brother when he answers.
“What kind of situation?”
“Revenge porn. Julie’s ex posted intimate photos of her online.”
“Have you seen them?” he asks.
“I haven’t.”
“I will be in Cozy Creek as soon as I can,” Asher tells me. “Tell her not to look at anything online. It’s counterproductive. I’ll start making calls. We’re in crisis mode.”
Asher ends the call, and Julie rushes over to me with devastationin her eyes. She’s got the pictures pulled up on her phone, and she’s sobbing.
“Everyone’s seeing this, Nick. My parents, my coworkers, everyone in town.”
“We’ll fix it,” I say, grabbing her hand.
“You can’t!” She’s growing hysterical. “I’m so exposed. Those photos are out there forever. People have already screenshotted them. I’m probably on porn sites already.”
“Sweetheart, I don’t think you understand how powerful my company is. I will fix this.” I study her. “Is there anything else I need to be aware of? Are there videos? More pictures?”
“No,” she whispers. “No, he posted everything he has.”
The security team leaves, and within fifteen minutes, the doorbell rings.
We freeze until she checks the live video feed on her phone. I lean over her shoulder and see it’s Mrs. Patrick, with several more of the Fairy Godmothers, all carrying casserole dishes and flowers.
“It’s Mrs. Patrick, Mrs. Mooney, Mrs. Henderson, Mrs. Caldwell, and Mrs. Lutcher.” She points to all of them, then sighs. “They won’t let me ignore them.”
