Page 63 of The Holiday Fakers
“What?”
I cross my arms. “You heard me.”
“I can’t believe you would ask that.”
“That’s not an answer.”
Brody shakes his head. “No, Piper, the thought that they would tell the world about it never once crossed my mind. Am I happy they did? Of course, I am. It’s authentic reach. Organic amplification.”
I feel my eyes bugging out as I stare at him. “Organic amplification? It’s like that time at work when I had to design an ad campaign for a highlighter that’s supposed toembody disruption.”
“This ismywork, Piper. It’s part ofmyjob. And why I’m out in public promoting a sex toy shop rather than chilling out in private.”
My fingers tighten around the handle of the gift bag I got from The Perfect Package, utterly miserable and not knowing what to think or say.
“Hey, Brody! Piper!” Marv calls back to us. “C’mon!”
Brody waits for me to start walking, then we follow Marv into Love at First Sip.
“Piper! Brody!” Eileen cries. “Welcome, welcome, come in, come in!”
She takes our hands and tugs us over the threshold, dragging us through to the back where the corner booth is free.
I glance around and spot a barista helping a couple get re-seated with their drinks at another table. I cringe as the man shoots Brody a dirty look. It’s all well and good getting special treatment, but not if it means someone else has to suffer.
“And this is my fault too?” he murmurs under his breath.
“Who else?” I snap back, then say to Eileen, “We can sit anywhere.”
“Nonsense. I’m sure they don’t mind one bit. There were only two of them, and there’s six of you.”
She herds us into the booth. Brody and I sit in the middle, Marv and Mia on one side of us, and Mom and Cara on the other. There’s no escape.
“Everything’s up on the board,” Eileen says, “but I’ll grab you some menus.”
She hurries away, and my phone pings again at the same time as Marv’s and Cara’s. Why did today have to be a good signal day in Hideaway? Brody glances at me as they take their phones out, but I don’t touch mine. I need to get to the bathroom ASAP and put it in silent mode.
Marv fist pumps. “That guy’s social media post is going viral.” His finger swipes fast across the screen. “And people want to know who the ‘mystery woman’ is.” He nods at Cara. “We need to put out a statement about Piper.”
“No,” Brody says.
Marv rolls his eyes. “C’mon, man! Control the narrative! If we don’t release something, some little schmuck she was in high school with will do it for us, and you can guarantee it’ll be some dorky guy she wouldn’t go to prom with or a mean girl who was jealous of her.” He turns to me. “You got any enemies?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Mia,” Marv says. “Anyone got Piper on their shit list?”
My best friend grins. “Well …”
“Mia Grace Keye,” my mom says sternly, “you know full well Piper is well liked. She was Homecoming Queen and voted ‘Most Likely to Brighten Your Day’ senior year. You don’t win both unless people actually like you.”
“Love it,” Marv says, “Cara, you got that?”
She nods, her thumbs tapping on her phone screen.
Brody’s hands are interlaced and resting on the table. His knuckles have already gone white. “Marv,” he says sharply. “I want to protect Piper from?—”
“It’s okay,” I say. “I don’t mind.” Then, snarkily I add, “It’s part of the job, after all.”
