A Love Like the Sun

Chapter 31 That’s the Way It Bursts

There’s a plate covered in foil on my porch when I get home. The ceramic is still warm, the food smells good. I turn to see Wilma waving at me from her door. Her idea of a peace offering? I smile hesitantly and wave back before heading inside. My stomach is rumbling, and I have to decide if I’m willing to ingest possible poison at the hands of my neighbor, but when I take off the foil there’s a note waiting underneath with her number written on it. Give this to B, it says. My heart expands—any more love today and it’ll burst. I was ready to convince them to make a connection, but maybe they’re two people who are meant to be in each other’s orbit without force. And maybe moving to this street was some kind of divine intervention because I’m meant to be a bridge instead.

I stick the note to the fridge so I can text Bridget her sister’s number, then hurry to the counter to dig into the shepherd’s pie. Wilma made it just the way I like it: with a coating of cheese on top. It’s delicious, and I’m working on devouring the plate when Lex calls. I pray he doesn’t tell me something malfunctioned at the shop and I need to head back there.

“Girl. You might want to be seated for this.”

Thirty minutes ago, we were so excited about the perfect investor seeking us out, and now the news is so bad Lex must warn me.

“I’m seated, just say it.”

But I wasn’t prepared for what he’d tell me, and frankly a malfunction at Wildly Green would’ve been welcome over what he sends me. Darius uploaded a screenshot of our text thread with the picture I sent him. The picture. The one of me in lace panties is on the internet. I shouldn’t be surprised, but the shock ripples through me. “No. No. He wouldn’t…this is not. This can’t be real.”

“I’m sorry, babes. The disgusting creep,” Lex says. “Me and your mom are on our way.”

Lex hangs up, and blood rushes to my face. White spots blur my vision, I blink back tears and lay my head on the cold marble of the island. Dread coils in my stomach, makes a tight knot there. I take deep breaths, fighting the urge to throw up.

My body. A part of me is for public consumption. How could Darius stoop this low?

My heart races as I wonder if Issac has seen it yet. I cover my mouth and look again. Cringing at the sight. The post has only been up for an hour, and it’s already gone viral.

While we’re sitting on my living room rug, my mom’s talking about calling the cops on Darius or getting one of my uncles to beat his ass. She’s livid, but I’m still trying to grasp what happened. How this person who was only in my life for a few weeks would choose to forsake my privacy for the power to inflict pain just because things didn’t go his way. For a moment, my mind flashes back to that sweet spot between cutting him off and deciding to go through with Issac’s plan. Things weren’t great but were simpler. I was working at the hotel, sneaking off to talk to Bridget, and no one on the internet even realized I existed. Now they’ll be able to better undress me with their eyes.

Issac has been blowing up my phone, but I’m nervous to answer. Sick to my stomach that this furthers Darius’s agenda to call me a cheater. Embarrassed, even though I’m a grown woman and Issac already knows about the picture. And I feel exposed and strange. Will this make things more messy between the two of us?

There’s the pinching, achy feeling in my flank again. Maybe it really is from stress, maybe because this damn UTI won’t clear up, but it’s getting harder to ignore.

Lex pats my leg. “Deny it. Other than your name at the top of the conversation, the picture is below the neck. No one can tell it’s you. Darius just looks like a loser for that thumbs-down reaction. How dumb of him to post a screenshot like that. Besides, your body is incredible, and people wear a lot less on the internet all the time.”

I take my phone from Lex and look at it again. He’s right. I’m relieved I didn’t show my face. There’s nothing here that proves this is really me. And the comments on Darius’s post are mostly insulting:

Your face is a thumbs down. Go to hell.

No wonder she left you for Issac.

What the fuck is wrong with you? Perv.

I hope she presses charges.

You’re a troll. Reporting you now.

Even a couple of celebrities commented saying they hope Darius gets dragged through the dirt. I only just met Kid Krews at Shida’s party, and he makes a video saying he better not see Darius in the streets because he’s taking the violation against me personally. I’m glad I can see all of this before Katrina gets the post taken down. I’m sleepy and feeling a little unhinged, laughing while scrolling.

But for all the prayers of protection, the post has double the likes and triple the comments compared to the one from last week. People are screaming for more evidence that it’s me, that I’m a cheater. And Darius says he’s going to give it to them, despite having nothing else to offer.