Chapter 3: Slippers, Shouting, and New Crushes

I turned to the other guys: "Thanks for coming—you can head out now."

I was about to chat with Ashley when I spotted a familiar face by the bar, phone out, snapping a picture of me.

When she saw me looking, she hugged her phone to her chest, then waved awkwardly. "Hey, what a coincidence."

A classmate from Taekwondo club.

I waved back, then told Ashley, "She’s my classmate. I’ll pay for her coffee!"

"No need, no need!" the classmate called, grabbing her cup and making a quick getaway before I could stop her.

Ashley shook her head. "We’re pay-before-you-drink here, you know."

…Oops.

That night, a post shot to the front page.

"Saw Brooke dating three guys at once with my own eyes!"

Photo: Me sitting across from three guys.

Caption: [Today I saw Brooke dating three guys at a café, all handsome! (Well, not as handsome as Carter.)]

[Anyways! Three guys! Three! Not fighting, not arguing, just sitting there like good boys. Who else can do that!]

[Queen’s words: It’s you! You two can go now! It’s like a harem roll call!]

[Don’t call Brooke a player—if it were me, I’d want a whole forest too!]

[Brooke! Please teach me!]

First of all, I don’t deserve it.

Second, it’s not necessary.

Honestly, if I wasn’t the main character in this mess, I’d be cheering too.

Girls, listen up: first, it’s not true. Second, even if it was, it’s not worth bragging about.

So I sent her a private message.

"Hey, could you please delete the post? It’s not what you think."

Before I got a reply, my phone buzzed.

Carter called.

I’m not scared of him, so I answered right away.

"Hello, the number you dialed is powered off. Please try again later. Sorry, the subscriber you dialed is powered off, please…"

"Brooke, stop messing with me!"

Sigh!

He was totally faking a customer service message—bad pronunciation, but whatever.

"What do you want?"

Carter was fuming. "You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? Don’t you feel guilty at all?"

"Nope! Not at all!"

Gotta be heartless so no one can hurt you.

He hung up with a loud smack!

But the online drama didn’t stop there.

Carter started a poll himself.

"What’s the hardest breakup reason to accept?"

Options: "incompatible personalities," "long-distance," "feelings faded," "cheating."

Why even bother with the other options? Everyone knew "cheating" would win.

People commented: [Just say Brooke’s name.]

This guy would not stop until he’d dragged me through the mud.

I’d had enough. Time to make a scene.

"What does it feel like to be slandered by your ex after a breakup?"

"Only those who’ve been through it know what it’s like to see someone’s true colors after a breakup!"

"People, who gets it? A failed relationship, and I lost my reputation!"

Carter and I started throwing shade at each other online—nobody was backing down.

The onlookers were getting whiplash from all the drama.

A law student jumped in.