My head is still in the clouds when I arrive at my apartment. I just want to soak in a hot bath and reminisce about my perfect trip with Mason. First, I need to call Ian. “Hey girl, I was beginning to wonder about you. Thought he might have you tied to a tree somewhere. How did it go?”
I can’t help the smile on my face, remembering his body arched above me in the moonlight. “It was fun.” I grab my mail and switch the phone to speaker so I can open a thick manila envelope.
“Just fun?”
“We hiked, swam, and went canoeing. Talked a lot.”
“That sounds like a good sign.”
“Oh fuck! No! Goddamn it!” I shout as a pile of photos slide out of the envelope.
“Ev? What’s wrong?” Ian asks, but I barely hear him.
In the first photo, Mason sits with his arm around a thin blonde woman. Her head is bent, and their hands are clasped. Another shows him embracing a petite red headed woman, his hand resting on her back. I don’t want to see the rest. “I have to go. Talk to you later,” I tell Ian, ending the call before he can reply. When he instantly calls back, I turn off the phone. I have to think.
Maybe the pictures were taken before we were together. I force myself to look through the photos, paying more attention totheir surroundings, hoping to see some clue they’re old. Preferably years.
The only thing I notice is they’ve all been taken outdoors. Of course, Mason is an outdoors type of guy. My tears overflow as I picture him stretched out beside the fire, his smile as he motioned for me to join him.
Ian bursts through my front door just as I spot something that steals all my hope. In the shot of him and the blond, a bank ticker shows the date and time. May 24, 3:17pm. The day after he supposedly came back to town. He must’ve met her when he went out for the pizza and movies while I napped. Right after he swore he wasn’t seeing anyone else and called me his girlfriend. He lied. There is someone else. God, how many are there?
“Everly,” Ian says softly, embracing me as I try not to cry. His concern pushes me over the edge, and I sob into his neck. I know I’m probably freaking him out. I don’t think he’s seen me cry since I was a kid. “Shh, whatever it is, we’ll figure it out.”
I let him go and shove the pictures toward him. He studies them before asking, “Where did you get these?”
“In the mail. Probably some bitch he’s fucking wants him to herself.”
He picks up the envelope and pulls out a white sheet of paper with one line of bold type across the top.Are you happy being one of his whores?
“Ev, you need to call the cops. This is probably the same person who smashed up your car.”
“I don’t care. She can have him.”
“You’re upset. You aren’t thinking straight. I’m calling the cops. Some crazy bitch could be stalking you. She’s obviously stalking him.”
“And fucking him,” I hiss, my anger overtaking the shock and heartache.
Ian hugs me tight. “You don’t know that.”
“I know he lied. He said he wasn’t seeing anyone else, that all he could think about was me. And my dumb ass fell for it.”
“Stop that shit.” Ian holds me at arms length and his dark eyes burn into mine. “You finally put yourself out there. Maybe itwon’t end well this time, but I’m proud of you for trying.”
My phone beeps with a message from Mason.
-Miss you already beautiful.-
Fucking son of a bitch! It’s a wonder my screen doesn’t crack as I type my return message.
-Take me off the list of bitches you sent that message to.-
I quickly take a picture of each of the photos and attach them to the message before sending it. A few minutes pass, and he starts ringing my phone. After the second time I send it to my voicemail, Ian snatches it and accepts the call. “She doesn’t want to talk to you.” Ian moves to the kitchen table, rubbing his temple as Mason talks. Part of me wants to hear his side even though it won’t change anything.
“She’s safe. You’re the one being followed. I called the cops.” After listening to his response, Ian snorts. “She’ll never go for that. Yeah, I’ll tell her. You need to straighten this shit out, man. You’re breaking her heart.”
Damn it Ian! I flop across from him, shaking my head vehemently and reaching for the phone. He easily dodges my attempts and tells Mason, “Let me know what you find out.”
I glare at him as he ends the call and hands me my phone. “Making a new friend?”
