“Baby, it’s me—Rob. From the app. You told me to meet you here tonight.”
“What app? What the hell are you talking about?”
“I sent the money. You said you wanted to meet here tonight for drinks and a little dancing before we head back to myplace—for a littlealone time.” His eyes glinted with mischief, and Ellie’s grip on me tightened.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. The only people I made plans to meet here tonight are my girlfriends.”
“Ooh, I like that. Girlfriends joining in are A-OK with me, baby.” His slippery voice sent a chill down my spine.
Ellie scoffed sarcastically. “Yeah, dream on, douchebag. That isnothappening.”
With a scowl, he fished for his phone and held it up for me to see. “Yousaidit—it’s right here!”
Curiosity got the better of me, and I leaned in.What?On his screen was a picture of me, smiling. I noted the profile name, “Kinkymom1991.” Below that was a series of chat messages between Kinkymom1991 and “ThrobbingRob17,” who I gathered was the pervert standing in front of me.
“Let me see that,” I said, taking the phone from his hand.
ThrobbingRob17:You look like a nasty girl who likes to have a lot of fun. I think you need a big throbbing man to give it to you, hard.
Kinkymom1991:Yes, I need it so bad right now. Want to get together Saturday night and have some fun?
ThrobbingRob17:Oh, hell yeah, baby. Just name the place and time and I’ll be there, hard and ready.
Kinkymom1991:Good. I’ll be at the High Note in Bernal Heights around 9:30. I’ll be hot and wet and waiting for you, thinking about all the kinky things we’re going to do when we get back to your place. Send $500 by Friday.
ThrobbingRob17:I will. Oh God, I’m getting so hard right now just thinking about it.
Kinkymom1991:Good. Hold that thought. I’m going to tie you up and do things to you that no one has ever done before. I want you hard and throbbing and ready for me.
ThrobbingRob17:Damn, girl, you’re getting me SO worked up right now.
I felt dizzy as I looked at the messages. My heart pounded hard against my chest.
Rob took his phone back. “Don’t be embarrassed, baby. I know you want it bad. And I’m going to give it to you.” He moved toward me again.
“Whoa!” Ellie put her hand out to stop him in his tracks. “Back off, dude. There’s been a mistake.”
“What mistake? You can come too. Come on, we’ll all have fun,” he said, slipping his phone back into his pocket.
“That isnotme on that app,” I said. “Someone played you, using my picture.”
His eyes turned cold. “Look—you took the money. You promised me a good time. There’s no backing out now.” He took another step toward me.
Before I knew what was happening, my foot shot out and kicked him hard in the groin. He doubled over, clutching his crotch and groaning in agony. I ran toward the front door, where the large, imposing bouncer stood, arms crossed.
“Sir? Excuse me—we’re being harassed by a guy who isn’t taking no for an answer.” I pointed back in Rob’s direction where Ellie stood, waving, watching Rob, who was still doubled over in pain.
The bouncer pushed his way forcefully through the crowd toward Ellie, grabbed ThrobbingRob by the arm, and dragged him out a side door. When the bouncer came back, he said to let him know if anyone bothered us again. Ellie turned to me and gave me a high-five.
“You’re a ball-busting badass!” she said.
“Thanks,” I said. Even though I was proud of myself, now that the adrenaline was waning, I was feeling shaken and deeply disturbed.Who the hell made that account on that app? Did they really take five hundred dollars from him? And how did they know I’d be here tonight?
The profile name they’d used me was bothering me too—“Kinkymom1991.” Not only did they know the year I was born, but they’d specifically called me a mom. Did whoever this scammer was know I was pregnant?
As the band took a break, Ellie and I headed back to the booth where our friends were sitting. The waitress brought us another round of drinks, including a Cucumber Lime Gimlet mocktail for me. Ellie rubbed my back as she told the other girls our crazy story.
The subject changed; as the bride-to-be launched into a long story about her future mother-in-law and drama over the floral arrangements, something caught my eye across the room. I froze.
