Page 90 of Sheltered By Love

Nicki loses a little of her bluster. “Well, not in those exact words. But the meaning was clear. She also accused us of rigging the auction and said the men in the Bay aren’t worth the admission price!” she says.

I rub my temple and watch the little bit of peace I’d found ebb away. “Maybe Garrett can—"

“She’s managed to piss off everyone in one single article!”

She spins her phone around and shows me the headline.

Blueskin Bay’s Annual Charity Bachelor Auction a Sham! Hundreds of women duped as infamous local girl wins Catch of the Day.

Infamous? That’s a stretch. “What does she mean by infamous?”

Nicki is too fired up to answer me, she’s off on a tangent and I’m struggling to keep up.

She throws up her hands and slumps into Jaxson’s plump sofa. “I had no idea she was a reporter. Loose lips really do sink ships,” she says.

I perch on the edge of the sofa. “You talked to her?”

She winces. “Viola keeps telling me to keep my trap shut. Now I know why.”

Nicki looks so downcast I try for a smile even though I’m not sure if this can be all her doing.

“I’m sure it’ll all blow over.”

She shakes her head and flips her phone around again and shows me a picture of my front door. There are gifts, flowers, and too many casseroles to count.

“Um. I don’t understand. What is all that?”

“My big mouth isn’t used just for evil. Everyone knows you helped catch the thieves.”

My head has started to hurt. One minute she was talking about the reporter, then the ball, and now the break-ins I wasn’t supposed to be talking about?

“That’s great. Is that why she called me infamous?”

Nicki looks sheepish. “I’m so sorry Felicity, when she started asking questions about who won the auction, I blabbed about you being from away. That witch must have searched for your name or something. She linked that video of you to her report. Now all of the media who picked up the story have it too.”

That video.

Two words I’d hoped never to hear again.

Nicki’s voice fades in and out as the view that was peaceful and calming minutes ago, has started to spin.

“It was a lousy thing to do. Everyone I’ve talked to agrees. The story was about the ball, not about who won the auction.”

My voice comes from far away. “What did she say about me?”

Nicki tries to sound comforting as she pats my arm. “No one cares what she said. That’s why I called Levi as soon as I saw it. I wanted to tell you before you freaked out. And to come here and apologize since this is my fault.”

I should be grateful she’s not laughing, I guess. The last time someone told me that they were trying to keep a straight face.

“I’m sorry, truly,” she says softly.

But nothing she can say will help. It doesn’t matter if she’s sorry. It’s too late.

No amount of ‘sorry’ or ‘we all make mistakes’ no kind-hearted but ultimately useless ‘I was a party animal too in my day’ will.

None of it can make up for the real thing people are always thinking.

Nicki’s probably thinking about it right now along with all her friends.

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