“What about the women’s shelter in town?” someone suggested.
For the next few minutes, she and Damion ate while everyone else plotted and joked about a River Camps calendar.
“You did that on purpose?” she said to Damion.
“It was your idea. You mentioned it the other night. I just…”—he waved slightly— “got the ball rolling. And the conversation away from me.”
“Yes, but I never planned on telling everyone about the idea.” She sighed.
“It was a good one.” He took her hand. “If you want, I will give you full credit.” He opened his mouth, but she laughed and quickly covered it with her hands.
“No, thank you.” She laughed. “You can keep the credit for this one.”
He shrugged and went back to eating.
The group’s conversation grew quiet when someone went to Lisa Tribberton’s social media page and saw the live video she was posting.
Everyone listened as the woman half-heartedly explained what was in the video. She actually blamed Zoey, once again. Then she said, her eyes full of tears, that Damion wouldn’t leave her alone. That he was harassing her.
The woman looked crazed. Off. Desperate.
“The video doesn’t show what happened before. The man’s hands were all over me. He wouldn’t let me go. Then that woman stepped in and, because she owns like one-fifth of the tacky camp, she starts yelling and pushing me. I was only defending myself.” Lisa sniffled. “My husband wasn’t there. He couldn’t defend me. We’re thinking of suing the camp.” Here her eyes dried up. “That place should be closed down. It’s a known fact that Zoey Costas had an abortion. The Costas are baby killers. Each and every one of them. They probably sell drugs that caused her to lose her baby.”
“She fucked up now,” Liam said getting everyone’s attention. “Defamation is no joke.” He touched Elle’s shoulder. “I’m just going to slip out and make a call.” He winked at her.
“Go get ’em, honey,” Elle said. “I’m going to finish your cheese sandwich. Babies are hungry.”
“Can you believe that woman?” Jules asked Damion.
“Yes.” He nodded to Brett. “Go ahead and initiate plan B.”
“We have a plan B?” she asked, looking between the pair.
Brett smiled. “Yes, we do.” He got up and disappeared through the doors.
“You’re going to release the whole video?” she asked.
“Up until Zoey passes out in my arms. We don’t want her to have to relive the rest,” he said softly. “But the truth is there for anyone to see.”
“Why do people like her get such a big following?” Jules asked after looking at the woman’s social media page. “She has three point eight million followers. I have ten.” She showed him her screen. Jules scrolled through her timeline and then stopped. “She has a couple videos here of before the incident.” She played one.
Lisa was sitting by the pool in a barely there bikini, a drink in her hand as she talked about how wonderful this little camp was and how they were comping her and her husband’s stay for the entire trip. Then she stilled and bit her lip. “Yowzer. Look what just strolled in.” The camera flipped and Damion walked into the pool area and took the net and started cleaning the pool. “I think I’ve found my next boy toy. Stay tuned followers. I’m going to bag me a real live pool-boy toy.” The camera flipped again, and Lisa wiggled her eyebrows before the video ended.
“There are three more of those,” someone said.
“She was basically stalking you,” Carter added, holding up his phone. “In each of these, she talks about winning you like you were some sort of prize.”
“If she only knew,” Dean joked and got a few laughs.
“I can’t believe she’s not smart enough to pull these down,” Jules said.
“Quick, do a download,” someone suggested. “Proof.”
“I’d better get back to work,” Jules said a while later. “The calls have been nonstop.”
“I’ll walk you.” Damion dumped their trash and put their trays away. Then he took her hand and they started walking back down the hallway. He stopped and pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “I don’t care what others think of me. Only you.” He rested his forehead against hers. “All this attention is nerve-wracking and embarrassing. Plan B should clear things up.”
“I’ve seen the whole video. Trust me when I say that the attention on you will only get better. You stood up for Zoey, a pregnant woman, your boss. Then you jumped into the water and saved a woman that didn’t deserve it, in my opinion. Follow that up with that ladder climbing and wet clingy shirt.” She ran her hands over his chest and smiled. “Yeah, that bit we’ll have to replay later tonight, when we’re alone.” She bit her bottom lip. “Then you hoisted Zoey up as if she weighed nothing. Trust me when I say that a man carrying a woman is one of the sexiest things ever. Every woman’s fantasy come true.” She shook her head and took a deep breath. “I’m just thankful I got my hands on you first.” She lifted on her toes and kissed him, then laughed when he lifted her up and spun her around.