I cringed at the word ex, “was following me. It turned out to be an old couple.”
“So, you used me?”
“No, I…”
He let out a hearty laugh. “It’s okay. I like being used by hot chicks.” He got
up and refilled my glass of water from the sink. When I finished it, I asked where the bathroom was.
“Second door on the right.” He pointed down a hallway.
I passed by a master bedroom that was nicely furnished and as clean as the
rest of the house. He didn’t trick you into the bedroom, I thought, forcing myself to stop having negative thoughts.
Just past a guest bedroom on the right, I found the bathroom. When I returned to the kitchen, Marcus was gone. I heard clicking in another room. I followed the sound into an office.
“Hey, sorry, I thought I would answer a few work emails while you were gone.”
“What do you do?”
“Website design. Some people are so foolish.” He punched the return button.
“Really, some shouldn’t even have computers. So, what do you do, Caitlyn?”
“I’m a junior at USD. I’m majoring in English,” I answered.
“So, this stalker ex… want me to scare the daylights out of him?”
I looked at the massive man. His dirty blonde hair was neatly pulled back, and his beard was short and neatly trimmed. His arms were tattooed from hand
to biceps. He was intimidating. I nodded yes.
“Okay, babe, bring me your phone and pull up that jerk. I am going to make
sure he never bothers you again.” Marcus’ green eyes sparkled with impish glee.
My hands trembled as I unlocked my phone and found Christopher’s
number. Why did you keep this? I scolded myself. I handed it to him, and he began to call. The familiar ring of FaceTime sounded. I turned to stone.
“I knew you would call,” Christopher purred as the phone connected and he
popped up on the screen. His voice turned to steel when he saw Marcus, instead
of me. “Who are you?”
“I’m your worst nightmare, preppie. If you hassle my old lady again, they’re
going to be looking for your remains all over California.” Marcus held a hand out to me and motioned me close. When I took his hand, he pulled me onto his
lap. “This is now my property.”
Christopher started to protest.
Something came over me. I grabbed Marcus’ face and kissed him, slowly
and deeply, for the camera. Underneath his thick mustache were the softest lips.
He tasted like peppermint.
He tugged lightly on my bottom lip, clearly for show. When he broke away,
he smiled at me. “Come on, babe. This small-dicked jerk has nothing left for you.”
Christopher turned red and began screaming. “I’ve been in every bit of that
person. She’s —”
Marcus ended the call and wrapped his arms around me. He held me as if I
was a fragile doll. In his arms, I felt safe. Pushing the memories of pain deep into the crevices of my mind, I let him comfort me.
Ding, Ding, Ding. The obnoxious ringtone of my cell ringing frightened me.
I jumped and reached for it. Marcus grabbed it first. He grinned and handed it to me. On the screen was a picture of Thomas in a rainbow beret and pop-up heart
sunglasses.
