Page 36 of Unfiltered
“It’ll look like it once I get done with the video.” Blythe held up her cellphone. “Back to the tour. Are you ready for your reaction scene?”
Abby glanced around the bedroom. “Didn’t you already get it?”
Blythe gestured to the far side of the room at the closed door. “I want to get your reaction when you step inside.” She jogged to the door. “I’m gonna go inside and close the door, so I’ll be ready when you open it.”
“Uh…okay.” Abby’s voice held a note of hesitation.
“You’d better get used to it,” Ricki said. “She films everything. Hence why I have a rule: She can’t shoot me.”
“Smart,” Blythe heard Abby say as Blythe slipped inside and closed the door.
She waited longer than she thought it should have taken Ricki and Abby to get there, but she didn’t want to miss the natural reaction, so she stood with the phone poised and already recording.
When Abby stepped inside, her reaction was perfect. Her mouth went slack and dropped open. Blythe couldn’t have staged it any better. Her head was on a swivel as she surveyed the room. It served as Ricki’s office, library, and study all in one. Originally, the space had been one continuous room, but Ricki had separated it into two distinct areas. Blythe always thoughtit weird that Ricki put the office behind the bedroom, but it was typical Ricki.
Blythe followed Abby as she explored the bookshelves tucked into every crevice of the space. It would be social media gold. Once Blythe shot enough video, she joined Abby and Ricki, who stood in front of the bookshelf along the back wall. It spanned the entire space and was built at an angle to match the lines of the ceiling.
“At least Blythe won’t hit her head here,” Abby said as she approached the bookshelves on the side wall. Since the walls angled down and were only a few feet high at their lowest point, the bookshelves were positioned several feet from the wall, leaving a sizeable gap behind the shelves. The wall opposite was designed the same.
Ricki chuckled. “Yeah, because she’d never get near enough to a bookshelf to hit her head.”
“Such a comedian.” Blythe snorted. “See why I want her in my videos?”
Abby chuckled. “You two make me laugh.”
“See!” Blythe pointed at Ricki. “That’s what I keep telling her, but she’s bullheaded.”
“What can I say? I’m a Taurus.”
“Aww, an earth sign. Dependable,” Abby said.
“Ugh, don’t encourage her,” Blythe said. “Everyone knows Aries is the best.”
“What sign are you?” Ricki asked Abby.
“Cancer.”
Ricki smiled. “Nice.”
Blythe wasn’t sure why it was nice since she put little weight in astrology. “Well, now you’ve seen it. Ricki’s pride and joy.”
“Can I look around for a bit?” Abby asked.
The hopeful look in her eyes was adorable, so despite Blythe wanting to get on with their evening, she nodded. “How aboutyou kids do the grand bookshelf tour?” Blythe held up her cellphone. “I’d like to edit the video from Union Station and get the rest queued up.”
Abby smoothed her shirt and squeezed the hem, not making eye contact with Blythe. “It’s okay. Maybe I can get a look tomorrow.”
“Nonsense,” Ricki said. “When she edits, she’s lost to the world. A tornado could rip through, and she’d never notice.”
“She’s right,” Blythe added.
“Are you sure?” Abby’s voice was tentative. “I don’t want to be a bother.” She glanced at Ricki.
“No bother at all. My library is yours for the viewing.” Ricki swept her arm toward the shelves.
Abby met Blythe’s gaze. “I don’t want you to be upset.”
“I’m good. Like Ricki said, I get in a zone when I’m editing, so I won’t even notice.” Blythe saw Abby’s face fall, so she said, “I mean, of course I’d notice, but you’d just be bored, and I want you to enjoy yourself when you’re here.” Blythe gave Abby a flirtatious smile. “That way, maybe you’ll come back.”
