Chapter 30
JAMIE
“You can’t do that.”
Sitting on the couch, a laptop at the ready, Tyler cracks his knuckles.
“Watch me.”
“Tyler!” I throw myself at him, mindful not to crush the laptop. “It’s illegal. You’ll be in big trouble.”
He huffs. He only needs to use one hand to manhandle me off his lap, doesn’t even break a sweat. Under different circumstances, I’d find it hot.
Okay, I still do. Very much so.
“You know what’s illegal? Threatening to post vulnerable pictures of someone with the intent of defamation.”
“I should’ve never let him take them.” I press my face into his shoulder. “I brought this upon myself.”
Tyler’s fingers slide into my hair. “Don’t you dare blame yourself. You gave your consent because you trusted him. And he betrayed that trust.”
He isn’t saying anything I don’t already know, but hearing it from him takes considerable weight off my shoulders. Even though we didn’t get to go on our date today, I’m glad I’m with him. I’m glad he’s still here, despite the drama that seems to follow me everywhere I go.
“Still, you can’t just go and hack his accounts.” I can’t believe that was the first solution he came up with. It’d be a problem if anyone did it, but Tyler? “You could lose your job, or worse.”
He grunts. “I’m willing to take the risk.”
“I’m not. No, listen,” I stress when he wants to argue. “I get that you want to do this for me. You want to protect me and I…” I love you for that. “I’m grateful. Truly. But David has already ruined so much. I don’t want to give him a chance to cause more damage.”
“What about the damage he’s causing to you? Is that not important?”
“We’ll find a way. We will. Just…give me some time.”
I have no idea what to do. Last night, I didn’t sleep a wink, searching for a way out. I’ve still got nothing.
My phone dings with a text, and I stiffen automatically. So does Tyler. David’s number is still blocked, but he could contact me from a different one.
“Is it him?”
My shoulders unclench as I read the name of the sender. “No. It’s Nat.” I squint at the text, uncomprehending. “She wants to meet.”
Tyler doesn’t seem to be any wiser. “What for?”
“She doesn’t say.” We exchange a look. “I don’t have a good feeling about this.”
“You don’t have to go. Just ignore her. You don’t owe her anything.”
I’m not so sure about that. A part of me feels guilty for never telling her what a scumbag she’s dating.
Is it because I was angry at her for ‘stealing’ David from me?
Maybe. But it wasn’t her fault. I’m almost certain she had no idea David was leading a double-life either.
She’s the type of person who has more self-respect than that.
“I should go. But…would you come with me?”
Tyler looks at me like I’m ridiculous for even having to ask.
“Of course. I have your back, little bunny. You can count on me.”
“I know.” And I do. I really do. “Thank you.”
Whatever happens, with Nat and with David, I can handle it. As long as I have Tyler by my side.
The café Nat suggests is small, just off the main road. Not busy, but public enough to quell any possible drama. Hopefully.
In the end, I asked Tyler to be on stand-by, in case things get ugly and I can’t handle it on my own. But I want to try to do this one-on-one first.
Nat’s already inside when I arrive, tucked away at a corner table, a coffee in front of her that looks untouched. Her eyes flick up when I approach, locking onto me instantly.
I swallow. This isn’t the girl I know. We used to get along before. Now she regards me like an enemy.
“Hi, Nat,” I say, sliding into a chair opposite her.
“Long time no see,” she answers.
“Yeah.”
A waiter rushes over just as I sit down. I rattle off the first thing that comes to mind, not really planning on drinking anything. I wouldn’t be able to anyway.
“I’ll cut to the chase,” she starts, leaning forward slightly, her fingers curling around her cup even though she doesn’t lift it.
“Okay.”
“I know about you and David.”
I figured as much, considering she reached out to me after almost two months of no contact.
“I see.”
“And I want you to stop.”
I blink. “Sorry?”
“Don’t play dumb. I’ve seen everything.” Her face twists with distaste. “I’ve seen the pictures.”
My stomach rolls, even though I expected it.
“I’m not proud of it, but I checked his phone. He’s been acting weird lately. Distracted, irritable, and I’ve had enough. I braced myself for all kinds of things, but I didn’t expect that.” There’s a short, tense pause. “There were phone calls. A lot of them. From him. To you.”
I don’t respond yet. Something doesn’t add up, but I can’t say anything without getting the full picture.
“I didn’t get it,” she says. “Why would he call you so many times after you heartlessly kicked him out?”
I did what? Is that what he told her?
“It was strange, but it didn’t seem like the proof I was looking for,” she continues. “So, I checked his pictures.” She laughs, and the sound sends a chill through me. “That’s what I get for snooping around in someone’s phone.”
“Nat—”
The waiter comes back with my order. I mumble a thanks, turning to Nat, but she speaks first.
“I confronted him about it, y’know? I could see they were from several months ago, but I had to know.” Her voice is sharper now. “And he admitted it. That you two had a fling before me.”
A fling. Right. And before her, on top of that.
“I’m not happy he’s been keeping it from me,” she admits, averting her gaze for the first time. “But I can understand why. It was a mistake. You were friends living together, and his dumb ass thought it was a good idea to experiment.”
Experiment. There’s that word again, slicing through me like a serrated knife.
“So I need you to back off.” She’s back to glaring at me. “Stop following him. Stop trying to get him back. Just let him go. He’s with me now. You could’ve at least stayed friends, but I guess that wasn’t good enough for you.”
Everything clicks into place, then, the picture coming together in a jumbled, painful mess.
“Nat,” I start again, trying my best not to sound defensive. “You’ve got it wrong. I don’t want him back. Never did.”
“Don’t lie,” she hisses, tears welling up in her eyes.
“I’m not. He’s the one who came back into my life. Why else would he be the one calling me?”
“To get you to back off,” she’s quick to answer. “Because you’ve been showing up wherever he goes.”
“Is that what he told you?” She nods. “Do you think people normally keep titillating photos of the people they want nothing to do with?”
“H-he said he kept them to have the upper hand. In case you won’t let go.”
Judging by her sour expression, she doesn’t approve of that reasoning.
Good. That means that even though she’s on David’s side, she still disagrees with his choices.
And it just confirms what I already knew—being with David doesn’t mean she’s like him.
We were both deceived by him, and I’m once again hit with the bitter taste of guilt for not warning her sooner.
“Right.” I reach for my phone with an unsteady hand. “Give me a second, I just need to send a text.”
Suddenly, the door jingles open and Tyler walks in. He stalks towards us like a bodyguard on a mission. He stops at the table and glares at Nat, who looks like she can’t decide whether to be intimidated, confused, or intrigued by a man his size.
Tyler’s hand finds my shoulder and squeezes. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” I look at the half-written, unsent message. “I didn’t even get to send the text.”
“You think I’d let you out of my sight?” He takes the chair next to me. “Wouldn’t be a very good knight, would I?”
I huff a laugh. Seriously, this man… Where has he been my whole life?
“You can leave the armor for now. I just wanted to make something clear.” I reach for his hand on the table and interlace our fingers. I look at Nat, who’s watching us with growing confusion. “Nat, this is Tyler. My boyfriend.”
Maybe this isn’t the time and place for it, but wow, does it feel good to announce it without fear or doubts.
Nat gapes at us, no words coming out.
“He’s also my roommate. I moved in with him when it was over with David, because I couldn’t afford to pay rent all by myself.
” I talk slowly, making sure she gets the memo.
“I never kicked David out. He left. I came home one day, and he had packed his things and said we were done. And that he was moving in with you.”
“What?”
I spell it out. “He was two-timing us. He cheated on me with you too. I don’t know for how long.”
“No,” she says, but the protest is weak, her resolve visibly crumbling. “He wouldn’t.”
Next to me, Tyler scoffs. “Yeah, right.”
“Tyler,” I scold him gently. “Don’t.”
“Why? She’s fucking delusional.”
“So was I,” I whisper, and Tyler bites back whatever he was about to say next. “People always believe what they want to believe. Whatever is easier.”
A muscle in his cheek jumps. He nods, frowning. “Okay. Sorry.”
I shake my head to let him know I’m not upset, then turn to Nat. Her expression has transformed into something fragile and anxious.
“I’m happy, Nat. I’m happy with Tyler. I have no reason to look for the past.” I give her a wry smile. “Although I wish we’d stayed in touch. We were friends, weren’t we?”
Pulling in a shaky breath, Nat swipes a hand over her cheeks.
“He said not to contact you. When he first moved in with me, he said you two had a falling out. That you got into a big fight, because you hadn’t paid rent in two months and he had to cover your share.”
I laugh. I have to, because the whole situation, the story that David fabricated to suit him, is the most hysterical, ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.
“He did, didn’t he.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Yeah, it was kinda the opposite. I covered almost 70% of the rent for months, waiting for him to find ‘a proper job that doesn’t suck’.”
“What?” Tyler snaps. “You never told me that.”
“I didn’t want you to know how stupid and gullible I was,” I explain, so he doesn’t feel bad about me keeping something from him.
His expression instantly softens. “Jamie, I’d never think that.”
Before I can reply, Nat lets out a heartfelt, “Fuck.”
That reaction says everything.
“You’re covering his share too, aren’t you?”
She buries her face in her palms and lets out a frustrated scream. “He said he was broke because he’d been paying for you. That he just needed a little headstart and would catch up eventually.”
“I assume he has yet to catch up?”
“Fuck,” she repeats. “That cheating, lying scum.”
“So you believe me?” I thought it would take more to convince her, but then again she’s always been smart. And kind.
“I don’t want to,” she presses through gritted teeth.
“But your version definitely adds up more than his. I mean…” She sighs.
“There was a video too. And the way he talked to you, the way he reacted to…” She makes a face.
“He didn’t sound like someone who was unsure about liking sex with men.
It definitely didn’t look as one-sided as he made me believe. ”
“I’m sorry,” I feel compelled to say. “If I’d known, I would’ve ended it with him the second I found out, I swear.”
“Gosh, don’t apologize for that prick!” she fumes. “Can’t believe that after what I’ve done for him, he was planning on dumping me.”
“I don’t think he was,” I say carefully. “He’ll never admit that he’s attracted to men too. He was probably planning on starting over with me and keeping me as his dirty little secret while officially dating you.”
Her fingers curl into fists on the table and she bares her teeth. “I’m going to fucking kill him.”
“Or,” Tyler cuts in, leaning his forearms on the table. “You could get back at him and help us out. Help Jamie out, and rebuild the bridge that asshole burned between you.”
Nat’s brows jump up. She leans forward as well, mirroring Tyler. “I’m listening.”
“What are you talking about?” I question.
Tyler keeps his attention on Nat. “The pictures. The video. He’s planning to send them to everyone Jamie knows if Jamie doesn’t take him back.”
“What?!” She stands up abruptly, drawing the attention of the staff. “What?” she asks more quietly, lowering herself to her seat.
“He showed up at my work yesterday,” I explain. “He tried to blackmail me into giving him another chance. I told him no, and he threatened to release the photos if I don’t give him the answer he wants by Saturday.”
Her expression goes from disbelieving to horrified. “He can’t do that. That’s… He can’t possibly do that.”
“He won’t,” Tyler says, brooking no argument. “If you help us.”
She doesn’t miss a beat. “What do I do?”
Tyler’s mouth curves in a grin. “That’s the spirit. You said you have access to his phone, right?”
“I do.”
“Do you really think that’s helpful?” I interject. “He probably already deleted the pictures after Nat found them.” Which means he has backups.
“It doesn’t matter,” Nat says. “I’m pretty sure he has them on Cloud. If I can get in there, he’ll have nothing.”
“Can you?” Tyler asks, eyebrows raised.
Nat gnaws on her bottom lip. After a moment of hesitation, she nods. “Fuck yeah, I can.”
Nothing is certain yet, but I can feel a freaking boulder falling off my chest. If this works, if Nat can do this, it will all be done and over.
“But what about getting back at him? I want my revenge.”
“Ah. For that, we’ll need to ask Jamie a favor.”
“Huh? Me?”
“Yeah. But you’re not gonna like it.”
I don’t like anything about this, but it’s not like I have a choice. “Okay… What do I have to do?”
“You need to unblock him. And you need to text him. And let him text you back.” He cups my jaw and strokes my cheek, as if in apology. “We need proof of how rotten he really is.”
Yeah, I don’t like this. I want nothing to do with him ever again. But if this is the only way…
I couldn’t care less about revenge, but Nat deserves closure and justice too. I’m not the only one who was hurt here.
“Okay. I’ll do it.”