Chapter 35
TIM
I’m wracking my brain, going through my phone, looking to see if the video was stored anywhere else.
Did someone get ahold of my phone? Hack it?
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Nanna asks.
I sit on the couch, my laptop by my side. Nanna sits in the adjacent love seat.
I went ahead and told her after my attempts at getting the video pulled.
Like he said, no telling how long it’ll be before news gets around about it.
Although it’s been taken down. I just checked, and I think one of my emails to the company got some lazy ass to take the time to pull it, which is somewhat of a relief.
Not that it makes it easier. Obviously, if Greg saw it, it’s likely there were others.
Likely someone who would use it as political leverage against Mark’s mom.
“I don’t know,” I say.
I keep rifling through my apps and folders.
“I don’t know what to fucking tell him. I fucked up. Obviously.”
“It was a lot for him to process. It surprised him, but he’ll come around, and understand that you didn’t do it on purpose.”
“I don’t know about that.”
I think about how much I’ve changed since I met him.
From dealing to working at the bar. To being happier and more open and honest with Nanna.
It’s fucking amazing how much has changed, but I’m still the same old fuck up I’ve always been.
Maybe I should still be dealing. Maybe I was on to something when I was talking to Greg. About not deserving to be with Mark.
“Don’t go second-guessing everything that’s happened,” Nanna says.
“I see what you’re doing, and you have got to stop it.
You’ve made a lot of changes in your life.
A lot of good changes. You’re happy these days, Timmy.
And do you know how much that means to me?
To see that you’re not just miserable and taking care of me anymore?
To see you out there trying to make a real life for yourself? With someone you love?
“He’s not coming back, Nanna. Not after this.”
“Maybe not. But even if he gives up on you, don’t give up on yourself. Not again. You already did that once.”
Her words are what I need right now.
“Thank you, Nanna,” I say. “You said you needed to go to the grocery store earlier. Go ahead and do that.”
“No. I’m going to stay right here with you.”
“Please. I’m begging you. I could use the space.”
It’s clear she doesn’t want to go, but she resigns. “Okay. I’ll get ready and get out of your way.”
“Thank you. There are a lot of things I want you to be a part of in my life. When I became an adult film star isn’t one of them.”
I meant it as a joke, but neither of us is laughing because there isn’t anything funny about what just happened.
She forces a smile, and I can see the worry in her gaze.
“Oh, come here.” She approaches and kisses my forehead. “You’re a good kid. Don’t ever forget that.”
“Thanks.”
She grabs her things and heads out. I continue inspecting my phone, trying to run through all the possibilities. All the ways someone could have pulled that video from it.
I remember deleting the video, so someone would have had to have hacked my phone or something to make it happen.
I’ve heard stories about people hacking people’s phones for information, and I wonder if that could happen with a phone.
I google it, and find out it’s possible.
I read a few articles talking about looking for suspicious apps, but I’ve checked a few times and nothing looks suspicious.
I’m looking through everything yet again when I notice that I have two “Stock” apps on my phone.
It’s not an app I ever use. Just part of the default package.
There are two subfolders with them in it.
Maybe a coincidence or something I did by mistake.
I click on one and it shows prices from some Dow Jones stocks, so I close out and click on the other.
A screen pops up that says, “Mobile access allowed.”
Shit.
I’ve been fucking hacked. And there’s only one person who had the chance to do this…