Shelley’s sufficiently all fucked out, and she’s in that blissful, chatty stage. There’s been a report filed on the lawyer as a missing person, possible homicide, and they’re trawling through the ashes of the building looking for him. There’s enough to get him on the dead list. It’s not until she tells me about a stalker case and mentions the name Jacob that my ears prick up. I know there are millions of Jacobs in the world, but somehow, this has fucking Vic written all over it.
“So, what happened?”
“Well, he first noticed things moving slightly in the house, then his hoodie went missing from the side of his bed.”
“Maybe he just misplaced it?”
“Yeah, we fobbed him off a few times after he said someone had moved things. He then got a book.”
“So, someone sent him a gift.” I shrug. “I don’t get it.”
“The message said, ‘Forever yours. Eternally mine. Always and forever, V.’ Then a few days later, another book arrived.”
I grimace. Fucking V. Is she stupid? “So, what’s the issue with being sent books from an admirer?”
“They’re part of a set. The guy has the other two but not these ones, so someone’s clearly been in his house to see them, and then this morning, he got a rare vinyl jazz record.” She shakes her head. “Then they broke into his office at the university, took some photos, and laid a picture of him and his sister face down on the shelf.”
“Well, it sounds like someone just showing him he’s special.”
“Well, it’s fucking creepy, dude’s tripping, and I can’t blame him. He’s changed the alarm code, and the locksmith has been there all afternoon changing the door and window locks, but until we find some evidence, there’s not a lot we can do.”
I sigh. “Well, maybe he should see it as a compliment?” Shelley barks out a laugh and flicks me. “Yeah, right, weirdo. Let me make sure when we break up, I move and don’t tell you where I’ve gone.”
“When?”
“What?”
“You said when we break up.”
“I just mean… I didn’t mean it like that, just that I like you. We’re having fun, but we’re not exclusive or anything.”
“Not exclusive?”
“Yeah, we’re not in a relationship.”
I sit bolt upright. I’ve just started allowing myself to think I could have a future, to just have it fucking ripped away with ‘we’re not fucking exclusive’. I climb off the bed, feeling like I’ve just been kicked in the nuts. It’s all fucking fake. I should have remembered my place instead of dreaming of something better.
I start pulling clothes on. “Wait, what are you doing?”
“I’m going home, Shelley. Maybe one of your other not-exclusives will come round and finish you fucking off.” I grab my t-shirt and storm out the door, pulling it over my head. Fucking Vic. This is all her doing.
I storm back into the apartment, and her gaze flicks to mine. She’s on the laptop, and she shuts it before I get near her.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I spit at her.
She flinches back but rises to meet my gaze. “What the fuck’s wrong with you?”
“Jacob, that’s what.”
“What about him?”
“He’s not your fucking boyfriend, is he? You haven’t been seeing him. He doesn’t even know who you fucking are. You’re stalking him, Vic.”
She goes to turn.
“Don’t fucking walk away, Vic. You’re being fucking reckless. You’re sending gifts, breaking into his goddamn house, stealing his things. Are you fucking serious? Then you break into his office at the university and take his shit and lay a photo of him and his fucking sister face down!”
“Sister?” She sighs and smiles.
