‘I’m sorry he did that to you. You didn’t deserve it.’
‘I know. Thanks.’
‘Well, anyway. Has Ava told you about the plan?’
‘Plan?’
About an hour and a half later, James was climbing into the back seat of my car. He tucked the paper bag between his legs and handed us his phone. Morgan had recruited him at work since he was the only one of us who Vic didn’t know.
‘Phase one completed,’ James said, his eyes darting around the parking lot. ‘Babe, Bahama, commence phase two.’
‘Should we wait for Morgan and Ava to come back?’ Gabe asked.
I grabbed his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. ‘They’ll be fine. Let’s go.’ Gabe and I got out, leaving James to talk to himself in the back seat of my car and hopping into Gabe’s car right next to us. It was nestled between Morgan’s and mine behind the P.F. Chang’s dumpsters.
Gabe looked nervous as he started his car and pulled out of his space toward the shopping center’s main parking lot.
‘We’ve got this.’ I opened the most recent video in James’s phone and sent it to our group chat, making sure it went through before I tucked the phone into the breast pocket of my shirt. ‘Which one is his car?’
Gabe pointed. ‘Right there.’
I nodded, took a picture with my own phone, and sent it to the group text. ‘Park across the aisle.’
Gabe did as I said and turned off the car. I reached across my still-bandaged left hand and grabbed his arm, getting his attention. ‘It’s going to work. I promise.’
He nodded and we got out, heading for Oscar’s Ice Cream. I checked that the camera lens was just above the edge of my breast pocket and then hit record.
Vic looked up as we walked through the door, his smile dropping immediately when he saw me. There were two bowls of ice cream in front of him. I waved to Grant behind the counter, and we joined Vic at the table.
‘Had I known you were bringing a third, I would have gotten another spoon.’
I glanced at the Frances McDor-Mint and what I assumed must be the Reese’s with a Spoon Sundae – it even came with a dark-chocolate spoon! Adorable!
‘I’m more of a Jodie Bananas Foster fan myself,’ I said.
‘So what’s up? You wanted to see me?’ Vic turned his attention away from me and toward Gabe. But not before I saw his eye flick to the phone sticking out of my pocket.
‘I want you to stop contacting me and my family. It’s creepy, it’s an invasion of my privacy, and if you don’t stop I’m going to call the police and tell them you’re harassing me.’
Vic looked surprised. ‘Youcontacted me. I never reached out to you or your family. I sent you gifts to apologize, but I never did what you’re saying.’
Gabe let out a frustrated sigh. ‘Fine, whatever. The police probably wouldn’t do anything anyway.’
‘But,’ I said, taking my cue perfectly, ‘they probably would care that you bought alcohol for Gabe’s party. A party full of minors.’
And Gabe jumped in with his line. ‘Andthatis probably a bigger deal for you than just a harassment complaint.’
Vic’s smile dropped. ‘I don’t … No. I really have no idea what you’re talking about.’ He turned to me. His eyes drifted down to James’s phone again. Then he looked at both of us, one then the other. Daring us to continue.
He knew exactly what we were trying to do.
I sighed and took the phone out and stopped the recording. His smile returned, and he brought his attention back to Gabe.
‘You made me watch that stupidVeronica Marsshow where she pulled this shit all the time.’
‘Goddammit.’ Gabe leaned back in the booth, looking defeated.
‘You think I’m an idiot? At least she was better at hiding it than the two of you.’
