Page 96 of Cocky Brutal Sinner

I bite my lip. “I’m not so sure it’s a good idea. I don’t want to antagonize anyone.”

Eden slides a clip into her own blonde hair and shrugs. “Whatever you want to do. I just don’t think you should have to cower at your own shop. Anyone who comes in here is on our turf. So I say, let’s own it. I’m team Peppermint, and I’m not ashamed of that.”

Trevor puts on the hat, his hair sticking out messily from under his cap. “Team Peppermint,” he echoes, pumping his fist. “We fight as one.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Is that a quote from something?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. It just thought it sounded epic.”

“Come on, Brin,” Eden says. “Wear it with pride.”

They both whoop as I use the clip to pull back my bangs. “Let’s do this,” I declare, with less enthusiasm than I feel.

With that, Trevor unlocks the door.

Nobody yells at me all morning, except for Ms. Grimsworth, who snaps at me for closing the shop the day before.

“I had books on hold here, young lady,” she says disapprovingly.

“Next time, I’ll have them delivered if we have an unexpected closure,” I promise.

She sniffs. “There shouldn’t be a next time. If there is, I will be very put out.”

“I think she missed you,” Eden says as Ms. Grimsworth wheels out of the store.

“She despises me, Eden.”

“Oh, she despises everyone. I think she just despises you a little less than the rest.”

When I’m not straightening up the shelves, I camp out behind the register to check customers out. If anyone comes in who has a problem with me, I’d rather they come after me themselves than go after Trevor, who I put behind the café counter in the back.

Just before lunch, it happens. A woman wearing round glasses and a cardigan approaches the register, staring at me with something like surprise. “You’re Peppermint,” she says.

I stiffen. I knew this would happen eventually. Someone would come in to confront me in person, to tell me that I’m a bitch who betrayed her friends and doesn’t deserve to breathe the air in the same city as them.

From across the room, Eden points at her hairclip, reminding me to be proud. I straighten my shoulders. “Yes,” I declare. “I’m Peppermint.”

“Oh my god, I can’t believe I’m actually meeting you!” she says. “I read your last post, and it’s like you reached into my head and pulled out my memories. The same thing happened to me. Well, not exactly the same—nobody read my journals. But a guy did ask me to prom as a joke, and after I bought a dress and did my hair, he never showed up. Everyone at school laughed at me. I wish I could do what you did and hold him accountable to the world.”

I blink, confused. “Oh. Wow. I’m so sorry that happened to you. It’s just—I’m actually surprised that there’s someone on the internet who doesn’t hate me.”

Now it’s her turn to look puzzled. “What do you mean? People love you!”

I snort-laugh. “That’s sweet, but you don’t have to lie to me. I saw the reaction.”

“Did you?”

“I mean, I did a few days ago. That’s when I decided it wasn’t a good idea to read the comments.”

“So you don’t know that you went viral?”

“Fuck,” I mutter. The last time Peppermint went viral, it was for the kinky interview about Luke. More attention from the internet is never a good thing.

“No, it’s good,” the glasses girl says quickly. “You made a lot of people share their stories. We all think you’re kind of a rock star.”

A blush creeps at my neck. I don’t know how much I like being praised by random strangers. The girl places several books on the counter, and I check her out as quickly as I can.

“Maybe read the comments,” she says in parting.