Page 4 of Thirst For Me
“A meme of what?”
The words aren’t even out of my mouth before it hits me.
Oh.No.
“Where?Why?”
“Don’t watch it!” Sophie cries as I pull the phone away from my ear and tap my messages app, where the little icon tells me that twenty-three unread messages are waiting for me. The first few are from Soph. The rest seem to be from my family.
And Kyle. At this point, this is probably not good news.
“Sierra? Are you there? Please don’t watch it. I can tell you what’s in it. You don’t have to—”
Too late. I’ve opened the texts from my stepsister, Kim, and I see the meme. It’s a video clip. From a video call I was on four days ago, with my then-boyfriend’s entire family.
But I’m the only one onscreen.
I tap it and the few-second-clip plays. Wherein I exclaim, wide-eyed, “I can’t believe howBigit is!” A quote that is taken completely out of context, but which any casual viewer would assume is referring to the large purple dildo that is plainly visible, sitting on my nightstand in the background, over my right shoulder.
Whoever made the meme has outlined the purple penis in bright yellow, so you can’t possibly miss it.
It’s not all that clever, as far as memes go. But it is funny.
I mean, to anyone who isn’t me or someone who actually cares about me, I’m sure it’s snicker-worthy.
Kim’s text reads,Are you okay? Call me. And is accompanied by a screaming-in-horror emoji.
“Oh my god,” I breathe as all the blood drains from my face. And I ask the question that no one can reasonably answer once something hits the internet. “Who’s seen this?! Has this been uploaded anywhere?”
“Babe,” Sophie laments softly, “tell me you didn’t just watch it.”
“Andwhowould make ameme... aboutme?”
“An absolute asshat with nothing better to do—”
“Do you think it was his mom? I swear she never liked me ...”
“Kyle’s mom probably wouldn’t have the first clue how tomakea meme.”
I know Kyle didn’t make it. He wanted to get as far away from my embarrassing blunder as possible.
I scroll through my messages and tap on Kyle’s name. The only text he’s sent me since our stupid argument last night is unread, from about an hour ago.Did you get the email from my parents?
Dread seeps through me as I hurry to open my email and find it. The subject line readsUpdate on Our Proposed Investment. I click it open, my stomach sinking like I’ve swallowed a lead ball, and the words blur as my eyes grow hot.
“Sierra? Babe. Are you still there?”
I raise the phone back to my ear. “I’m here.Fuck, Soph. Kyle’s parents ... they’ve withdrawn the investment.”
“What?!”
“They’re dumping me, too.”
“Oh, Si. Shit. This isnotyour fault,” she says firmly. “And it’s not right. You don’t deserve this.”
“But I—”
“You made one silly little mistake, and Kyle dropped you like a bad habit. He chose his family over you. Someone who truly loves you wouldn’t make you second-choice, honey. He’d fight for you. He’d stand up for you, because youarehis family.”
