Page 49 of Ripped & Shipped
Jimmy had been obsessed with me since junior high, or maybe even earlier than that. He used to follow me around like a lost puppy. His mom is the whole reason I’m nominated Miss Corn Husk every year. Yes.Miss Corn Husk. I used to think that was an honor, but the older I get, the more I dread wearing that itchy costume and riding on that float down Main Street in the Fourth of July parade while everyone stares at me—and I try not to scratch myself silly.
Thankfully, Jimmy met a girl when he was showing livestock at the State Fair in Columbus. Word has it, they were the top two finalists in the hog competition and, well, the rest is history.
“But back to this Beef It Up guy,” Meg says. “I don’t like the way his comments are escalating over time.”
She’s holding my phone, scrolling through posts and finding different times he commented.
“And go, EllasSoBella! This girl tells him to back off the stalker vibes. She’s awesome.”
Meg keeps scrolling, reading comments aloud. And, I do have to admit, hearing her read them makes them sound worse than I thought they were.
“He’s probably harmless,” I say, for some reason.
“You should totally block him.”
“He hasn’t done anything. I mean, he compliments me. Says he wants to take me out. Lots of guys say that. They put fire emojis or hearts or that face that looks like it’s on fire, or they say I’m their dream girl. I’m used to it. It comes with the territory. Check out any female influencer and you’ll see the same thing.”
“Doesn’t make it right,” Meg says plainly. “If this were any other workplace, which thisisyour workplace, these kinds of comments could get a man fired. It’s harassment.”
“I hadn’t thought of it that way. I guess I’ve just gotten used to blocking it all out.”
“Well, I think you should block him. That’s my vote. And please, let me know if this gets more intense.”
“I will.”
“And that EllasSoBella named her whole account after you. She reposts your stuff all the time. She’s just as obsessed as this Beef It Up guy, but she’s respectful about it. Can you imagine naming your whole account after another person?”
“It’s probably just her fan account. She probably has another account that has nothing to do with me.”
“Face it. You have rabid fans, roomie. I’m in the presence of greatness!”
“You’re in the presence of a woman who can’t get off the couch because of all the food she ate today.”
Meg laughs hard. I smile watching her. She’s still riding the high of her engagement, as she should be. I push down the fact that life is going to shift within a year. I’ll need to move someone in here or find another place to live. Maybe I’ll finally leave Bordeaux and reinvent myself somewhere else—somewhere I’m not seen as a puffy pink pariah.
I could have a fresh start anywhere.
If it weren’t for Mom.
CHAPTER18
Chris
I pullup to Alex and Courtney’s house. It’s a modest brick and clapboard, ranch-style home on the outskirts of Columbus. Their large front yard is framed with some pine trees and other deciduous trees, and a long driveway leads to the garage.
I bet my car would drive here on autopilot if I didn’t navigate. I’ve been coming every Wednesday for the nearly two and a half years since my discharge from the army. As soon as I finish up at the main office downtown, I head to Alex’s home like clockwork.
Alex and I served overseas together. I was the captain of our company, and Alex oversaw one of the platoons in my company as a first lieutenant. He was due to be promoted to captain when the accident happened that changed everything.
The front door is open, so I shout through the screen door before I walk in.
“Hey, hey! Look what the cat drug in,” Alex jokes as he wheels into the front living room. “Courtney,” he shouts. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”
“Let me guess,” her voice rings through from the back of the house. “It’s Chris!”
“The woman’s a psychic, I tell you. One of her many talents.” He waggles his brows.
Alex is a lot like Duke. Maybe that’s why I was drawn to him in the first place. Within a week of us meeting, it already felt like we’d known one another forever. We both entered the Army straight out of college, ROTC completed, ready to take our roles as commissioned officers. I’m two years older than Alex, so I rank higher because I started serving sooner.
