“Look, we haven’t really hooked up in like two months, and I know me not wanting to go anywhere is hard on you— “
“Ohbullshit! Don’t pull the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ shit with me. I know it’s you. All you do is bitch about everything and play the dead parents card every chance you get. You don’t even ask about me and what kind of shit I’ve got going on.” His voice is rough and his words sting like a knife in the side.
“H-how dare you? What the hell, Kyle…” I choke on my words and can feel my hands start to shake.
“See? Here you go again. What the hell, Kyle.” His voice is mocking and a chill runs through me as I contemplate just hanging up on him. “Poor little Trissa Wilde, all alone in her fucking mansion, wiping her spoiled ass with her boat loads of money while she bitches at her boyfriend for borrowing a few bucks!”
“It was one hundred dollars! You know I have a fucking monthly allowance, Kyle.” My body is vibrating with rage, and I feel an almost euphoric sense of relief wash through me as Ifinallyfind my missing backbone. “And I text you all the time, you ass-wad! It’s not my fault you only ever respond when you need money or can’t find someone else to fuck.” Part of the reason we haven’t been intimate in months would be the infidelity that I’ve pretended not to know about, until now. I know, it’s stupid and I should have said something sooner… but if I ignored it, it somehow felt less real. Less irreparable…
“I don’t need this shit. You know what, fuck you. I was going to offer to come over and help you unpack, but screw that. Have fun doing all that heavy lifting by yourself.”
I grit my teeth together but keep quiet. I’m not taking the bait. I am making the right choice, for once.
Kyle laughs but it sounds hollow and derisive. “I hope you like that house, because you’re gonna die in it all alone, and it will be your own fault for pushing everyone away.”
“We’re done.” I quickly hang up the phone and put it down in my lap, taking a deep breath to try and fend off the panic I feel slowly creeping in. Oh gods. What if he’s right? My vision swims and I pinch my arms in an attempt to help ground myself. No. No, he’s just mad I cut him off. A watery smile steals across my lips… besides, I won’t be alone, not really.
My phone dings and I groan. I should have known he wouldn’t let me have the last word. I’m tempted to just ignore it, but I know in the long run not looking at it will flare up my nerves and send me spiraling. I take a deep, steadying breath and look at my phone… only, it’s not Kyle.
Unknown: Good girl
I feel a little flutter in my stomach and groan. Of course the best message I’ve gotten all day is a wrong number. I shoot off a wrong number reply and scooch down further into the couch cushions. I should get up and get ready for bed, but I just don’t have the will power to do anything right now.
Unknown: Bad girl
Unknown: Funny girl
Unknown: Clever girl
A dinosaur GIF follows the last text and I laugh out loud. A snort fills the air and I shake my head.
Trissa: What are you doing? Do I know you?
I start to sit up and grab my teacup, moving it to the coffee table. This could be Kyle trying to mess with me, but for some reason that doesn’t feel right. Plus, this person can spell… so, there’s that.
Unknown: Good girl wasn’t what you wanted to hear, so I figured I’d keep guessing until I found one that caught your attention. Should have led with dinosaurs. Silly me. Girls love dinosaurs.
I grin then purse my lips. I wait for the little voice in my head to tell me why it’s a bad idea to talk to strangers, but the bitch is silent for once. Damn. Even the voice in my head is lonely. Alright, I’ll play.
Trissa: Interesting strategy, and wonderful deflection attempt. Do I know you?
Unknown: Do you want to?
My stomach does a somersault as I try to slow my racing heart. Do I?
Trissa: Maybe.
Unknown: I’ll take it.
I smile and re-read the messages again trying to find any clues that might give away anyone I may know. It’s definitely not Kyle… and I’d like to think that I’m not pathetic enough yet that Gabbi would consider catfishing me as a new friend so I feel less lonely. Oh man. Why does my brain put these kinds of scenarios in my head. And why is Gabbi pity-catfishing me worse than a total stranger who could be a serial killer? I sigh in resignation. Fuck it.
Trissa: I’m Trissa.
Unknown: Beautiful. Hello, Trissa. I’m Cian.
Chapter eight
Paranormal Paramour
