“I’ve waited this long,” I replied sarcastically, “I think I can wait a little while longer.”
Laughing into the phone, he said, “Your patience will be rewarded.”
“Oh?” I asked. “How so?”
“You’ll see,” he replied with a chuckle before hanging up the phone.
As I walked toward the bar, I looked down to check for the address. I recognized the name of the place as I had been there several times before after leaving work with Greg. We all tended to hang out in the neighborhood after a night of booze and sex, and Greg lived further away than I did, so we’d find a cool place to relax nearby.
Ten minutes later, I was standing in front of the door to the dive bar, looking through the window to see if my favorite bartender was nearby to pour drinks. He liked us just as much as we liked him, and he would usually offer us free drinks all night long. Even though I was making decent money, I still couldn’t say no to a free drink.
Looking inside, I scanned the room for the bartender, but I noticed a new girl behind the counter and figured that I probably wouldn’t be able to charm her into free drinks. Frowning to myself, I started to turn away from the window, but something caught my eye before I could look away.
Squinting my eyes, I peered through the dirty glass and finally realized what I was looking at: Clint’s girlfriend, Kelly, was seated at a small table in the back of the bar, locking lips with a guy I had never seen in my life. Opening my mouth in disgust, I quickly turned to look away before realizing that I needed to double-check and be sure about what I had just witnessed.
I moved a little further to the left, trying my best to remain out of sight, and looked through the window again. This time, I was sure of it; Kelly was inside, eagerly devouring a strange, tattooed man’s mouth.
Not so conservative anymore, I thought with a smirk.
I didn’t want to take pleasure in the irony of Kelly cheating on Clint the entire time he was avoiding cheating on her, but I couldn’t help but laugh to myself. People passing me by on the streets turned and stared, wondering if I was having a conversation on the phone with someone or just laughing to myself like a maniac.
I looked back through the window, did a triple-check to make sure it was her, and noticed that – not only was she kissing him – but he had one hand delicately slipped up her leg and under her skirt. The bar was dimly lit, and it was known for fostering a carefree environment, but I was still surprised.
You’re surprised at two people fooling around in a bar, I thought, even though you do it every day?
Reaching into my pocket for my phone, I pulled it out to see that I had missed a text message from Clint, informing me that Kelly was not home, and telling me that he was going to call her instead.
Yeah, I thought, she’s not home because she’s out here getting fingered by a random dude. Super conservative.
Before deciding to call Clint, I decided to take a quick snapshot of what I was seeing, just so that there would be proof. I held my phone up to the window and waited for it to focus on Kelly and the strange man before capturing the image which could never be erased. For good measure, I decided to record a quick video of their fling as well.
After recording crystal-clear video of the two of them for a few seconds, I quickly called Clint, delighted to tell him the news. I knew that he had no feelings for her whatsoever, and he was only dating her out of fear of losing his job, so it wouldn’t be a particularly heartbreaking conversation for him.
“Hi,” Clint said as he answered the phone. “I was just getting ready to call Kelly. I really don’t want to do this over the phone, but I guess –”
Before he could finish, I interrupted him and began to tell him the good news.
“Where are you?” I asked.
“Just a couple of blocks away from the bar,” he answered.
“Why don’t you come on over?” I said. “Don’t call Kelly yet. There’s something you need to see here.”
Hanging up the phone, I realized that I didn’t want to be the one to tell Clint about what was happening. If I did, he would always associate the negative memory with me, and I didn’t want that to happen. Tapping my feet on the cold concrete, I waited what seemed like an eternity for him to arrive.
Finally, I saw him turning the corner and approaching me, and I quickly walked over to intercept him and give him an idea of what I was talking about.
“Kelly’s inside the bar,” I said, stopping him before he could walk any further. “I saw her inside when I was looking around to see which bartender was working tonight.”
“She’s inside?” he asked, his face lighting up. “Well, that’s good…I can go inside and get this over with in a public setting; maybe she won’t make a scene.”
“Oh, there’s already quite a scene going on in there,” I said with a cheeky smile, hoping it was okay for me to smile about what was happening.
“What?” he asked, obviously confused.
“She’s inside kissing a random guy,” I said, pointing toward the window so Clint could walk over and see for himself. “And they’re not just kissing.”
He walked over to where I was pointing and looked through the window at the two of them inside. Turning back to face me, he had a look of shock on his face at what he had just seen. I noted, however, that it was shock alone, not anger or sadness.
“I can’t believe this,” he said to no one. “I just can’t believe this.”
“I can’t either,” I replied, walking up behind him and placing my hand on his shoulder. “I thought you said she was conservative.”
“Well,” he replied with a scoff, “based on where that guy’s finger is heading, I wouldn’t call her a good-girl anymore.”
“What are you going to do?” I asked.
Looking down at my phone, I added, “By the way, I caught a picture and a short video of them in action. You know, just in case.”
Turning to look back at me, Clint smiled and said, “Good thinking. I might be able to use that to my advantage so that I won’t lose my job. Send the picture and video to me right now so I’ll have them on my phone.
I quickly sent the video and picture to him, making sure to save them myself.
“Are you going to go inside and –” I began, but Clint turned and quickly walked through the doors.
He didn’t gesture for me to follow him or stay outside, so I decided to stick to my spot and wait to see what the outcome would be. Looking on through the window, I watched as Clint walked directly up to Kelly and addressed her.
She looked up from her make-out session and was floored. I watched her lips move and she seemed to be stuttering: What are you doing here?
The random guy sitting beside her quickly rose to his feet and made his way toward the door. I noticed that Clint paid him no attention whatsoever, which further added to my theory that Clint’s feelings weren’t hurt at all.
I decided to walk around the block to give them some privacy, so I quickly turned and walked to a shop on the corner. I stepped inside, grabbed a bottle of water, and resumed walking around the block while I waited. Looking down at my phone, I could see that five minutes had passed, and I still had no message from Clint, so I decided to walk back to the bar.
Just as I arrived, Kelly pushed through the doors and walked back toward her apartment. I noticed that Clint was sitting inside, and I walked in to see what had just happened.
“Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s just fine,” he said, “thanks to you.”
“Why me?” I asked, sitting down at the table beside him, realizing that he was calmer than I expected him to be.
“Well,” he began, motioning for the bartender to come over and take our drink orders. “First, I would have never known that Kelly was here if it wasn’t for you. I would have just called her phone and ended things, and possibly lost my job in the process.”
“And you don’t think you’ll lose it now?” I asked with a smile, nodding at his
phone.
“Nope,” he replied confidently. “I showed her the picture and the video, and we came to an agreement.”
“What kind of agreement?” I asked, just as the bartender arrived.
We ordered two whiskeys and Cokes, and she quickly disappeared to prepare them.
“I agreed not to show anyone those images,” he answered, “and she agreed to tell her father that she was breaking up with me because she met someone else. That way, I don’t look like a heartbreaker, and I don’t get fired.”
“Do you think that’ll work?” I asked.
“Believe me,” he replied. “If she wants to make sure those pictures and videos don’t see the light of day, she’ll make sure I’m able to keep my job. But, you know, I’ve been thinking…”
“What?” I asked.
“I’ve been thinking about my future,” he answered, giving me exactly what I was hoping for. “And I think it might be time for a few changes. Maybe I don’t need Rock Fitness anymore. Maybe I can build my own brand and my own company.”
“Oh,” I replied, “I think you absolutely can; and you should.”
“Go home,” Clint said, abruptly changing the subject.
“What?” I asked, leaning back to look him in his eyes.
“Go home and get your overnight bag,” he said. “You’re staying with me tonight.”
17
Walking up the stairs in my building, I quickly began to dread having to look at my neighbor’s apartment. Of course, I felt bad for her, but I felt bad for myself for probably having to listen to heavy construction work as they rebuilt her space. Noticing that no one else was in the hallway, I was grateful for a few seconds of peace and quiet.
As I walked toward the door of my apartment, I began to think about what my evening with Clint would be like. I wondered if we’d get to do what I had been longing to do since the first moment I met him. I wondered how comfortable and natural he’d be, since I was going to be his first time with a guy.
As I pushed the key into the lock and turned it, I noticed that it was already unlocked. Pushing the door open quickly, I watched as a shadowy figure moved throughout my apartment. Reaching over to the light switch, I quickly flipped it on and realized that Kenneth was standing in my apartment.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I yelled, shocked and horrified to see him standing before me.
I noticed that he was fidgeting with something behind a picture frame, and I quickly began to walk toward him. I had no regard for whether he had any weapons or not, I just knew that I wanted him out of my house.
“I’m calling the police,” I said, looking past him to see what he was doing.
He quickly moved past me, making his way toward the door.
“I know where you live,” I blurted out, suddenly wishing that I hadn’t said anything at all.
I knew I should have waited for the police to arrive, given them his address, and allowed them the opportunity to surprise him. He didn’t turn around to acknowledge me, and I watched as he fled down the stairs and out of my sight.
Turning to look at the picture frame, I pushed it out of the way and looked behind it to see a small camera which Kenneth had obviously tried to hide. Instantly, millions of thoughts flooded my mind and I began to wonder if he had just placed it there that day, or if he had placed it there a few days before.
Disgusted with him – and a little disgusted with myself – I began to pace back and forth frantically, wondering how long the camera had been in my apartment and what he might have seen. Looking down at my phone, I began to dial 911, but I decided to call Clint instead.
Clint answered the phone and asked, “Did you get your bag?”
“No,” I replied curtly, wanting to explain what had just happened but finding myself at a loss for words. “I tried to…I was looking…”
“What’s wrong?” he asked, obviously noting that there was something off in my tone.
“Kenneth,” I replied, “he was here in my apartment…there’s a camera…”
“What?” Clint asked. “The creepy guy you were telling me about?”
“Kenneth,” I replied, babbling incoherently, stunned at what had just happened. “He was in my apartment when I got here; he was placing a small camera behind a picture frame…”
“I can’t believe this,” Clint replied. “I’m coming over; where is he now?”
“No,” I replied, “don’t come over, I’m leaving. I can’t be here. I don’t know how long he’s had the camera hidden.”
“Did he just place it today?” Clint ask, the protective tone in his voice shining through.
“Yes,” I replied before adding, “I don’t know. I don’t know how long it’s been here.”
“I’m so sorry,” Clint said, “tell me where to go, I’m coming over.”
“No,” I replied. “I have Kenneth’s address here, and I want to call the police.”
“You have his address? Why?”
“I had a cab driver follow him home after I saw him leaving my building the night of the fire,” I said, realizing that what I was telling Clint probably sounded crazy. “I paid the driver to follow him and report back with his address. I’m calling the police.”
“Is this the same guy who offered you money?” Clint asked.
I nodded my head as if he’d be able to see me through the phone.
“Is it?”
“Yes,” I replied.
“So, you have his address?” Clint asked.
I looked around for the piece of paper with the address written on it, and finally located it.
Speaking back into the phone, I said, “118 East 8th Street. Apartment 6A.”
“Don’t call the cops,” Clint said.
I heard the sounds of him throwing on clothes in his apartment, before finally hearing the sound of jingling keys in the background.
“Why shouldn’t I call them? I can give them his address and they can handle this situation. He’s obviously not going to leave me alone, and I can’t have someone following me around.”
“I’m going to handle this,” Clint replied in a calm, direct manner.
I didn’t process what he said immediately, and I continued rambling. “I think there’s going to be a severe punishment for what he’s done. You can’t just go into someone’s home and place a camera there and…wait…”
My voice trailed off Clint’s words finally sank in. “You’re going to handle it?”
“Get out of your apartment,” Clint replied, “and go to a café or something nearby and wait for my call.”
“No,” I replied, as if I had any control over what Clint would do. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to make him realize that you can’t go around harassing people, following them home, breaking into their apartments, and placing video cameras. I would think that would be obvious to him, but he’s going to learn the lesson the hard way today.”
“You can’t do anything to him,” I said, immediately regretting giving Clint the address. “If you hurt him, he’ll definitely report you to the police. I don’t want you to get into trouble for anything.”
“Meet me at a café in your neighborhood in thirty minutes,” Clint said before hanging up the phone.
“Shit!” I said, throwing my bag over my shoulder and rushing out the door.
As I walked into the hallway, I checked around to make sure that no one was nearby. I stopped dead in my tracks and listened to see if I could hear anyone creeping around in the building. After a few seconds, I assured myself that it was safe for me to descend the stairs and walk outside.
As soon I walked out onto the sidewalk, I began frantically looking around for a cab to take me to Kenneth’s building so I could intercept Clint before he got there. Looking around, I could see that there was no one around on the block and no cars coming down the street. Rushing to the corner, I looked up and down the avenue, waving my hand like a maniac for a cab, but none were in sight.
&nb
sp; Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I opened Uber and searched for a driver in my area, but the estimated time for a driver to pick me up was twelve minutes.
I can walk faster than that, I thought, remembering that Kenneth didn’t live very far from me.
As I turned around to walk, I attempted to call Clint but he didn’t answer his phone. I assumed that he didn’t want me to try to talk him out of whatever he was about to do. I wondered why he had become so protective suddenly, but I understood that it was probably more than that. He was likely frustrated with the entire situation – his previous inability to act out his desires with me, and his frustration with Kelly for what she had done to him.
This is going to be bad, I thought as I walked as quickly as I could. Clint’s going to hurt Kenneth and he’s going to get arrested. What’s that going to do for his career? If his boss finds out about it, he’ll be in even more trouble.
Rushing down the sidewalk, I noticed that people passing by were giving me strange looks, probably wondering why I was practically jogging down the sidewalk. I tried my best not to focus on them, but their stares and glares caught my eye and made me slow my pace just a little.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I tried to call Clint again and still received no answer. I knew that we both lived equidistant from Kenneth’s apartment, so I knew that I had a decent shot of getting there before he did, especially if he couldn’t find a cab either.
But what if he did find a cab?
Turning a corner, I noticed The Warehouse in the distance and saw Greg and Allen standing outside having a smoke break. I decided to stay on the opposite side of the street in the hopes that they wouldn’t notice me, because I knew there would be no way I could hide my anger from them.
They would want to know where I was going in such a hurry, and why I seemed so furious, and I didn’t have time to explain it to them. I made it about halfway down the block, and I thought had cleared their field of vision, but I realized I had been spotted when I heard Greg shouting my name.
The Warehouse Page 15