Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Matt
I didn’t feel like going home, so I stopped at Belle’s Beanery for something sweet. I didn’t indulge often, but I’d convinced myself it would make me feel better. There I was, thirty minutes after I’d finished my chocolate coconut-cluster brownie and half of my mocha cocoa chai, still feeling like a mess.
“Hey, Matt, are you okay?”
I lifted my head to see Beth showing an expression of deep concern.
“Yeah, sorry, did you need the table?”
She dismissed my worry with a wave and sat down across from me. “You’re fine, you just look so sad. Can I do anything?”
“Can you make me three hours younger?” I chuckled.
She tilted her head. “You got bad news or something?”
“Or something.”
She reached out and patted my hand that clutched my chai. “I can’t guarantee I’ll know the answers, but I do have a great ear for listening.”
I glanced at the counter, where one of the other baristas was helping a customer. “Don’t you have to work?”
“I’m on break.”
I took a sip and peered up at Beth. I knew she had a crush on me, and I didn’t want to encourage that. I tried to keep it customer-barista friendly. Plus I couldn’t tell her what had upset me.
“I’ll be fine. I’m going to go home, veg out, maybe call Darnell or Mika to chill. I’ll be okay.”
For the briefest of seconds, I swore I saw a flash of anger, but when I blinked she beamed. “Sounds like how I would get through it too. Here…” She pulled out a slip of paper, wrote something on it, and slid it toward me. “My number. If you find yourself needing to talk and your friends aren’t around.” I wouldn’t use it, but I took it all the same.
“Thanks, Beth.”
“No problem, Matt.” She stared at me for a moment, then stood. “I’m going to get back to work.”
I finished my drink and headed out. I wasn’t actually going to call my friends—I’d rather be alone because both Darnell and Mika would press me to tell them why I was upset. I planned to keep my promise and not tell a soul. Unfortunately, that promise made me feel very isolated.
The drive to my building was quick. Most people were still at work, so there wasn’t any traffic. I checked my mail and took the elevator up. As soon as the doors opened, Nicole and James were there, about to enter.
“Oh, excuse us.” James grinned. “Home early?”
“Yeah, only one client today.” I peered down to their luggage. “Taking a trip?”
“We are.” Nicole patted her carry on. “Since we haven’t been able to go to the lake, we decided to make it an extended weekend.”
It was Wednesday, so they’d be gone for a few days, and that would mean I wouldn’t have to worry about their nosiness for a bit.
“Sounds like a great idea. Have a wonderful time.” I slipped between them and made my way to my door.
“Oh, Matt.”
I turned and James approached. “Someone came by today, knocked on your door. They were persistent and loud, so I told them you were at work. They were upset. I asked their name, but they just stormed off.”
“Oh…okay, thanks for letting me know.”
He nodded, and I watched as the two of them got onto the elevator. I had my phone on silent and hadn’t turned it on since leaving the Saints’ house, so I hadn’t been alerted to anyone by my Ring app.
Once inside, I dropped my bag and plopped onto my couch. I kicked off my shoes and took my phone out. I had a few text messages. One was from JJ saying he hoped I’d come back. Another from Darnell wondering if I wanted to hang out Friday, just the two of us, and I wasn’t sure about that. The last was my doctor confirming my appointment for my yearly physical. I’d likely reschedule that. Too much was going on.
I’d deal with all of that in a minute. I clicked the Ring icon and rewound. I saw the blue line that read “Person detected” followed by “Someone is at your door.” They came up to the door, head down, and started banging.
I raised the volume. “Matt, open up.” I knew that voice. “Come on, let me in.”
Across the way I saw James exit his apartment.
“Can I help you?”
“Are you Matt? No you’re not; I need Matt.”
Then they faced my door again and looked up. Trinity.
“He’s not there, sorry. I’ll have to ask you to stop making so much noise. If you give me your name, I’ll gladly let him know you stopped by.”
Trinity huffed and stormed away, just as James said.
Why had Trin come here? We hadn’t talked in a while. Our breakup had been hard. They’d wanted so much more than I’d been willing to give at the time, and I’d broken their heart. They’d told me very clearly they’d wanted me out of their life.
I scrolled through my contacts until their name popped up and I hit Call. It rang for a few.
“Matt?”
“Trinity, what’s going on? My landlord said someone came by, and I saw on my camera it was you. What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong? Oh, I don’t know, Matt, maybe you sending me flowers with a note that read, ‘I hope you’ve found a new love.’”
What the…?
“Trin, I never sent you flowers.”
“Uh-huh. Matt, there’s not a lot of people who have my address and know that I love red tulips. Why did you feel the need to do this? For what it’s worth, I’m so over you. Maybe you’re not over me—maybe you’re cruel?”
“Trin, listen to me, I didn’t send you those tulips. I swear it, someone is playing a mean joke. I’ve been having problems with some stalker.”
There was a pregnant pause. “And why would this stalker send me flowers?”
“I don’t know. Hell, I haven’t seen you in a long time, Trin. Since all this started, you’ve never been seen with me. It makes no sense.”
Trinity sighed loudly. “I don’t want to be part of your drama, Matt.”
“And I don’t want to drag anyone into it. Is there any way you can tell me the florist it came from? I have a police officer helping me—maybe he can look into it, and I can finally know who is doing all of this.”
“The florist is Shanell’s, but they aren’t going to disclose anything. And if this stalker is smart, they went in, paid cash, and disappeared.”
“Maybe so, but I’m going to send the info off to him anyway.”
“Whatever, just keep me out of it.”
“I will. I’m so sorry, Trin.”
Another sigh. “Fine…be safe, Matt.” They disconnected the call before I could thank them.
I immediately called Officer Mendez, but he wasn’t in so I left him a voice mail, letting him know what was going on. I then sat back on my couch and stared at the ceiling. Why would they send Trinity flowers?
My phone vibrated, and I looked at the number. Tony?
“Why are you calling me?” was how I answered.
“Really, Matt? I got chocolates from you with a note that said, ‘I hope you find a new sweetie soon,’ and that’s how you greet me?”
What the fuck is going on?
“I never sent you anything, Tony.”
“Okay, sure. Look, Matt, we’re over, and you need to stop.”
“Tony, I told you about the person sending me gifts. I think they’re tracking down my exes and gifting them things in a passive-aggressive way, telling them not to try to be with me.”
“You’re quite full of yourself.”
“Fuck you, Tony, I’m serious. Where was it sent from?”
“I have no fucking idea. I tossed them in the garbage. You know I don’t eat chocolate.”
“Just…if it happens again, can you please let me know? I’m having a problem with this person.”
He didn’t say anything right away. “Maybe.” He disconnected.
This was getting out of control. My phone vibrated, and it was my Ring camera. I saw that it was Darnell, and he had a stuffed bear in his hands.
I thought I knew what this was about.
I opened the door, and he was chuckling as he lifted it up.
“Come in, I’ll tell you all about it.”