What If You & Me (Say Everything #2) - Roni Loren Page 0,87

I could get some time alone in a room with this guy. Teach him some manners.”

“The best thing that I can do is continue my podcast,” she said, appreciating Hill’s protective instincts but knowing there was nothing to be done about it. “People like him want me to stop. That’s why they come for me. They want to shut me up.” She smirked. “But I won’t. Instead, I’ll probably put him in my next novel and have him murdered in a really humiliating way. Ooh, maybe I’ll write an internet-troll-hunting vigilante. That actually could fit in the book I’m currently working on.”

Hill laughed. “I like this evil, vindictive side. I’ll be sure to be on my best behavior so I don’t make it into one of your books.”

She smiled. “Well, I wrote a love scene this morning, so you’re already serving as great inspiration. But I promise, I won’t murder you in a book—or, you know, in person, man-hater that I am.”

“A love scene inspired by last night, huh? And how can I preorder this book?” he said in a mock-formal voice. “I need to write this down.”

She snorted. “No one’s going to be able to preorder it if I don’t get back to writing it, but I promise both characters were very satisfied. Now they have to outrun a crazed killer so they don’t get hacked into little pieces.”

“Well, at least they had some fun beforehand,” he said genially. “I’ll let you get back to writing. Thanks for sending me the video.”

“No problem. You got some great comments—and some flirty ones. I better not post where this firefighters’ auction is taking place. I think I’d have to get in line to make a bid on you,” she teased.

“Don’t even joke. I only want one karaoke partner Saturday night,” he said firmly. “But I didn’t hate watching the video like I thought I would, so thanks for making me do that. It’s given me some things to think about.”

“Really?” she asked, delighted.

“Don’t get too excited,” he warned, his voice a low rumble against her ear. “Thinking is different from doing, but it reminded me how much I like being in the kitchen.”

A warm, sunny feeling moved through her, but if she gushed too much, she’d scare Hill back into his shell. “Noted.”

She could almost hear him smiling patiently over the phone, like he sensed she was holding back. “Good luck with the writing. We’ll talk soon.”

She told him goodbye, still grinning, and went back to her book, completely forgetting about the internet threat still sitting on her account.

Chapter Twenty-One

Hill stood across the street from the police station, the bland edifice familiar, the dread in his stomach new. He used to pop into the station regularly when he and Christina were together because the fire station wasn’t that far from here, but now it seemed like a lifetime ago. He no longer felt welcome in Christina’s world. However, he wasn’t going to let his sour feelings for his ex stop him from doing what he’d come here to do.

Ever since the call with Andi the day before, Hill had been filled with unease. He’d watched the comments on his and Andi’s video blow up. Andi’s followers had jumped to her defense, aiming vitriol at the trolls, but there had also been more comments from the offenders and new ugly ones added to the mix. Hill couldn’t get over how disgusting the comments had gotten. Why were these guys so angry? By late afternoon, the comments had been removed, but he’d taken screenshots of everything he could beforehand.

Andi seemed to be able to shake off what had been said. But he couldn’t. In no world should a woman—or anyone for that matter—be expected to accept that people could threaten them and suffer no consequences.

Hill checked to make sure no traffic was coming and then made his way across the busy street. The minute he opened the door to the station, he was greeted with the sound of ringing phones and the stale smell of burnt coffee. His relationship had changed but the station hadn’t. It was like walking back into a former version of his life. He headed toward the main desk, where Officer Bernice Winters was searching through a stack of papers, an annoyed look on her face.

“Hey, Bernie,” Hill said, trying for casual, like he still came in here all the time.

Bernie looked up, her glasses sliding down her nose, and then a smile broke out, making her brown skin