Chapter 36
I handed ten dollars over to the plump CVS cashier, trying hard not to stare at the red and green reindeer antlers affixed to her headband. There were little bells sewn to the end of each antler, so she jingled with every movement.
“I know, I know,” she said, waggling her head. Jingle, jingle, jingle. “I’m pushing it now that we’re three days past the holiday, but I just like dressing up. Anyway, happy reading! Wait, hang on…” She looked down at the four tabloids I’d just paid for, then at my crutches, then up at me and Ryan, who was standing right beside me.
“Are you…?” she asked, bug-eyed.
“Yup!” I said cheerily as Ryan grabbed the tabloids. She was still watching us, jaw slack, as we left the store.
The livestream had spread like wildfire across the Internet, and traditi
