Page 24 of In Pursuit of Love & Clout

I raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

“Yeah, I saw some of your pictures.”

I want to ask if he likes them, but I don’t know what he thinks of the kind of pictures I’m posting. “Well, you inspired me,” I reply.

“Do you enjoy it?” he asks, and I nod.

“I do, actually. It’s a lot of fun. You were right; it’s pretty rewarding when people engage with your content.”

“I was just a little surprised at the type of content you put up. There’s nothing wrong with it; there really isn’t. At least, not if that’s what you want to do.”

I scowl at him. “But…?”

“It just seems so different from the person I got to know before,” he says. “I just want to make sure you know what you’re doing.”

I don’t know what to say. “You didn’t like the person I was before.” I don’t mean to say it, but the words just slipped out. Tanner stops walking, taking my arm to stop me, too.

“Sophie, you know that’s not true. I did like you. I liked you a lot. We just wanted—”

“Different things, I know.” I want to sink into a hole in the ground. “Why do you care what I post? I’m an adult, Tanner. I don’t need you looking out for me.”

“I know. I just want to make sure you’re alright.” He looks like he actually means it. The jerk!

“Well, I’m fine,” I retort and pull my hand away from him. “I’m getting bigger and bigger every day. People actually like what I put out there.”

Tanner sighs. “Right. But what kind of people are enjoying what you put out there?”

“There’s nothing wrong with being a little sexy. I’m a very sexual person, and I can’t help if people like that. Besides, it’s not like I’m doing porn or anything.”

“Okay.” Tanner nods. “As long as you know what you’re doing.”

“I do.” There’s no missing the finality in my tone. “Thanks for your concern, but I’m good. Besides, I’ve got a collab withPatrick Amaranth coming up, so I’d say things are going pretty well.”

“Patrick Amaranth?” Tanner asks. “Are you serious?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” I ask back, sounding a bit more defensive than I mean to. “It’s been in the works for a while; we’re just waiting for the right time.”

“Are we talking about the same Patrick Amaranth?” he asks, his voice dripping with skepticism. “The tech guy?”

“Yeah,” I respond with confidence, starting to get a little exasperated with his doubt. The fact that I haven’t actually made any such deal with Patrick is another story. “Is that so hard to believe?”

Tanner opens his mouth, only to close it again. He seems to be choosing his next words carefully. “It’s just that… You guys don’t exactly have overlapping audiences. But that’s great. I’m happy for you.”

“You don’t sound like you’re happy for me.”

Tanner sighs, and for a moment, I think he’s going to touch me. Take my hand or caress my face or something. But he doesn’t. Why does that make me feel so disappointed?

“Sophie, I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“You didn’t upset me, promise,” I bluff, and then I force a smile. I want to go home. I want to not be there next to him, pretending we’re friends. A lump forms in my throat, and I swallow it down. “It was nice seeing you again, Tanner. Take care of yourself.”

I turn around and start walking quickly down the street. I don’t want him to follow me, but at the same time, that’sallI want. Why did I have to run into him today? I was having such a good day, and now I just feel kind of shitty. I need to turn things up a notch. Ireallyneed to secure this thing with Patrick, too.

And I need more followers. No more buying them in the thousands, or even the five thousands. I will have to go for the next level up. I have a job now; it should be fine.

I grab my laptop as soon as I arrive back home, and I buy ten thousand new followers. I’ll keep it up until I’m on Tanner’s level; I just have to space it out a little. When I check my bank account, there’s just enough there to cover my upcoming electricity bill.Shit.

I try not to panic. I’ll get paid by the end of the week. I just can’t buy anything else until then. If I run out of gas, I’ll just walk to work. I could use the exercise. And it’s not like this is something I’m going to do forever, just until I’m bigger than Tanner. A few more months, and then I can stop and start saving up again.

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