Chapter Seven #2
Gah, he’s working out at this very moment, sweaty and pumping iron somewhere.
His arms are already the perfect size, and when I say perfect, I mean literally perfect.
I could lick those suckers; they’re so dreamy.
Probably a good thing I don’t know which gym he uses, or I’d be half tempted to get a new gym membership I truly don’t want, just to catch a glimpse.
With him doing something productive, it makes me want to as well, so I head inside with the pups and fire up my laptop.
The first thing I notice is a local article about an attempted kidnapping.
I click the post, reading through it, groaning out loud halfway through.
I should’ve known that someone would catch wind of what happened and publish it.
Of course, I want people to be aware of what happened, but all the speculation… like, really?
Texas hero steps in to save local woman from kidnapping.
KUUTX brings you breaking news as we have it. We’re following up on an article we previously published about a would-be kidnapping of a local woman and the man who stepped in to help save her.
After meeting with the local police representative and various employees of the lumber store, sources say the woman was leaving the store when she noticed zip ties on her vehicle.
A good Samaritan and local hero stepped in to stop her from approaching her vehicle.
There is speculation that the car was set up so the woman could easily be kidnapped against her will.
Sources also speculate that it was possible ties to the Mexican cartel, that have been known to be invading Texas cities, who are at fault for the attempted crime.
KUUTX wants to know, were you there? Did you witness anything that can help us with this story?
We take our community’s safety seriously.
Any news we can share, we will. What makes this story so special?
The local hero is none other than the very own JJ Camdon, who heroically stepped in to assist local bestselling author Kinsley Bradford.
What a match-up, and our subscribers want to know more!
What a match-up? Seriously? Why, because I’m a local author or something? I shake my head and close out of the app.
It’s ridiculous that the news ended up procuring my name in the first place, let alone JJ’s as well.
I understand reporting the crime is important and to warn others who may fall victim to the same circumstances and not be so lucky as to have someone step in to help, but to advertise our names?
If it really is the cartel and they happen to be reading this, well, thanks a lot for narking me out.
I’d reckon they’d have no trouble finding me now to shut me up for good.
With a huff, I pull the app back up and comment exactly that.
Kinsley Bradford, Author: Well, if it was the cartel, you just blasted my name to them, so thanks a lot for nothing.
You value safety? Yet, you make our names public?
Not very safe imo. Maybe it’s time I lawyer up since you are running this information without my permission. Who should my rep contact?
There. That sounds like I know what I’m talking about, and hopefully, the nosey people will back off.
I don’t mind being published for something positive related to my name, but this is about my safety as a single woman living alone, in an RV, out in the middle of bum fuck Egypt.
I live sort of close to town, but it’s still about a twenty-minute drive.
I did that on purpose to specifically be left alone while I wallow in my menopause brain and learn to embrace peace.
My notification lights up that there is a response to my comment. I turned my general notifications on my phone off, but I still have the app open. I’ve been silently fuming to myself over the news station being inconsiderate toward me, the actual victim.
KUUTX: Kinsley! Thank you for your comment. We’d love to get your opinion on what happened and any other details to help bring awareness to what occurred during the incident. Can we email you?
My comment has fifteen likes already. I blow out a heavy breath, hand on my forehead as I reread their comment.
I so badly want to reply with, ‘no fucking way, mind your own business’…
But it’s not the professional route. If I can’t say anything nice or uplifting, then I need to shut up, or it’ll be bad for my brand.
I close the app. Bunch of dicks. I hope their ass burns them every time they try to sit down for what they’re doing.
It sucks because I basically can’t have any feelings online unless they’re positive.
Almost as if I’m not allowed to be a real person, but this is the price I pay for my business and being able to support myself.
I can post if I’m sick, because it makes me relatable.
However, it can’t be more than three times because then it looks like I’m whiny and fishing for sympathy clicks.
I can post when something upsets me, like my dog farts too much, because it’s funny and makes people want to engage more with me.
I can post how I’ve mastered a new gardening skill, but I have to follow up with how I killed my beans or something.
Otherwise, it looks braggy, and people don’t like someone who they perceive as having it easy.
I have to read and reread and word everything a specific way, and it’s not just on my posts on social media, but it’s also in the comments, or in my newsletter posts as well.
It’s draining, but it is what it is. Some people out there already hate me for no real reason, so I’m sure this article will only add to it.
Poor JJ, I’m sure the last thing he wants is any attention his way that may come from this.
He gave off the impression he’s the type of guy who keeps to himself, so I hope if he sees this, it’s not a deal breaker for him.
I already have enough baggage for us to wade through; I don’t want to add something like this to it as well.
Should I text him again? I want to, but will it come off as needy if so?
Me: Not to sound overly excited, but I’m ready for that next date.
I should probably break this news article to him, not that I want to.
We should discuss it, though, in case he sees it and it upsets him as much as it has me.
There’s also the other thing I need to talk with him about that I’ve been dreading, but if things keep progressing, which I think they will, I’ll have to be a responsible adult and divulge my worst secret.
“Ugh,” I groan, pressing the heels of my hands into my closed eyes as the stress of it all hits me.
This is the problem with relationships, especially new ones that I’ve been happily not dealing with.
To have to start fresh with someone is both exciting and daunting.
What am I going to do? What am I going to say?
Dots pop up on the cell screen, telling me he’s typing.