Page 75 of What If You & Me (Say Everything 2)

“Yeah, I saw,” she said, cutting him off. “I didn’t see the bad ones until after I texted you the link. I’m about to flag them and delete them.”

“What the hell was that about?” Frustration filled his voice. “Who the fuck thinks it’s okay to say shit like that?”

“Idiots on the internet,” she said tiredly. “I’m mostly used to it. The Man-Hater guy has been in my comments before but never with a direct threat. He seems personally affronted that I try to help women learn how to protect themselves. I mean, how dare I tell women how to stay safe. The nerve of me.”

“I guess you’re really getting in the way of his date-rape plans,” Hill said grimly.

“God, I hope he’s not out there in the world dating actual women,” she said, leaning back in her desk chair and pinching the bridge of her nose, a headache forming. “I’m hoping he’s got all this anger because people sense what a disgusting human he is and no women come near him.”

“Yeah, but either way, that sounds like a time bomb,” Hill said, tone concerned. “He outright threatened you. Is there any way to report him?”

“Not really. I mean, I’ll flag the comment, but that just means he’ll pop up again with a new name or when he’s let back on the platform.” Her computer screen went dark, her book disappearing from the screen. “He probably lives in some dank basement far away. If I had to worry about every person who made a creepy comment to me on the internet, I’d literally never leave my house. And I use a pen name so people online can’t just look up the real me.”

Hill sighed. “I know you’re smart and watch out for yourself, but I still wish I could get some time alone in a room with this guy. Teach him some manners.”

“The best thing that I can do is continue my podcast,” she said, appreciating Hill’s protective instincts but knowing there was nothing to be done about it. “People like him want me to stop. That’s why they come for me. They want to shut me up.” She smirked. “But I won’t. Instead, I’ll probably put him in my next novel and have him murdered in a really humiliating way. Ooh, maybe I’ll write an internet-troll-hunting vigilante. That actually could fit in the book I’m currently working on.”

Hill laughed. “I like this evil, vindictive side. I’ll be sure to be on my best behavior so I don’t make it into one of your books.”

She smiled. “Well, I wrote a love scene this morning, so you’re already serving as great inspiration. But I promise, I won’t murder you in a book—or, you know, in person, man-hater that I am.”

“A love scene inspired by last night, huh? And how can I preorder this book?” he said in a mock-formal voice. “I need to write this down.”

She snorted. “No one’s going to be able to preorder it if I don’t get back to writing it, but I promise both characters were very satisfied. Now they have to outrun a crazed killer so they don’t get hacked into little pieces.”

“Well, at least they had some fun beforehand,” he said genially. “I’ll let you get back to writing. Thanks for sending me the video.”

“No problem. You got some great comments—and some flirty ones. I better not post where this firefighters’ auction is taking place. I think I’d have to get in line to make a bid on you,” she teased.

“Don’t even joke. I only want one karaoke partner Saturday night,” he said firmly. “But I didn’t hate watching the video like I thought I would, so thanks for making me do that. It’s given me some things to think about.”

“Really?” she asked, delighted.

“Don’t get too excited,” he warned, his voice a low rumble against her ear. “Thinking is different from doing, but it reminded me how much I like being in the kitchen.”

A warm, sunny feeling moved through her, but if she gushed too much, she’d scare Hill back into his shell. “Noted.”

She could almost hear him smiling patiently over the phone, like he sensed she was holding back. “Good luck with the writing. We’ll talk soon.”

She told him goodbye, still grinning, and went back to her book, completely forgetting about the internet threat still sitting on her account.

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