Chapter Twenty-Two #3
Tessa offered an encouraging smile. “Don’t worry. No one is paying any attention to anything outside their bubble. And your disguise is really good.”
Hallie stopped a few feet from the nearest truck.
“She’s right. All I see are couples and families.
Most of these people probably don’t even know about the Influencers Ball.
I wouldn’t know what it was if I wasn’t your friend.
And even if someone here has read about it, to most people, those photos are just stuff that happens online.
Trust me, none of these people are thinking about the ball, or the, uh, falling out afterward. ”
Kate’s jaw dropped at Hallie’s word choice, and she nervously smoothed both hands over her muumuu as if to reassure herself she remained fully covered.
Tessa smiled and bumped gently against Kate’s side.
“What do you guys want?” Hallie asked, moving to the end of the Mother Plucker line. “It’s on me. My treat for helping me pack.”
“Sweet tea sounds good,” Tessa said.
Kate nodded. “Same.”
Hallie rolled her eyes. “You have all this to choose from. You can’t only order drinks. It’s blasphemy.”
Tessa smiled. She’d forgotten who they were talking to. “What if you surprise us?”
“I love that,” Kate said. “Please surprise us.”
Hallie beamed and rocked onto her toes, scanning the row of trucks. “Challenge accepted. Find a table in the shade. We’re going to be here awhile.”
Tessa followed Kate to a picnic table on the grass near the water.
A massive willow tree cast its shadow over everything within ten yards.
Tessa suspected Kate chose the table strategically, not just for the abundant shade.
They sat far enough from the trucks and activity to make it difficult to identify her, especially in her hat and wig.
Honestly, she didn’t blame her. She couldn’t imagine how awful it must feel to have been exposed like that, then publicly mocked for it.
Kate chose the seat facing the river, with her back to everything and everyone else. “I’m a meme now. Did you know?”
Tessa felt her heart break. “Barenaked Katie?”
“Worse.” Her gaze moved forlornly to the water. “They use that zoomed-in image with the overlay text: Influencer’s secrets revealed. Then they write about whatever new gossip they have on any content creator.”
Tessa felt nauseous. A story would die down the moment something new came around. But memes? Those were forever. “I’m so sorry.”
“Commenters on those posts like to make up secrets and list them under my ass.” She slid her eyes to Tessa. “No matter how compelling the post’s content, the response circles right back to my most humiliating moment. It’s as if the world is personally attached to my bare ass.”
“Let’s talk about the fake secrets,” Tessa said, thoughts whirring. “Maybe you can turn this around by participating.”
Kate delivered her most bland expression, mouth closed and silent.
“I’m serious. Surprise them by commenting that at least one of the secrets is actually true, then let the crowd fight to figure out which one.”
Kate scoffed. “Why on earth would I do that?”
“To change the story,” Tessa said. “To steer the crowd. People will think you’re being a good sport, which might motivate some of them to want to protect you.
Instead of being just another unrelatable influencer, you become relatable.
And in this instance, you’re also an underdog.
People love to rally for the underdog. Plus, this gives them something else to talk about. ”
Kate slouched. She tugged at her muumuu, fanning the fabric away from her lap. “Someone said I hide a little man under my skirts, like the Harry Potter villain hosting Voldemort under his hat.”
A loud laugh burst from Tessa without warning, and a nearby dog barked.
Kate’s lips curved slightly. “I hate when people are funnier than me.”
Tessa patted her arm. “You couldn’t control what happened, but you have the power to change the narrative.”
Kate sighed. “I did get three new followers today,” she said. “Two are from your former office. Millie and Nina left me private messages of support. They told me to ask you to call them.”
Tessa smiled, chest warm. “They’re good people. Speaking of controlling narratives, I need to tell my side of that story soon, before the rumor mill at Hello, Marketing sets the record for me.”
Kate angled on the bench, eyes serious but kind. “How’s your dad doing?”
“Good.” Tessa took a moment to relish the words.
“He seems happy, and Devin’s helping with everything he can around the house.
He cooks and cleans, rakes leaves, and clears gutters.
He’s applied for full-time positions at all the places I suggested and at least two dozen others.
I think he’s doing too much, trying to prove himself to us when he doesn’t have to, but I appreciate the joy it brings Dad to see him looking so healthy and well. ”
Kate’s fair brow puckered. “So Devin really has changed?”
Tessa shrugged. Did people change?
She certainly wanted to believe so. She was changing, wasn’t she?