Chapter 13
Bathroom Selfie
WES
Should I have left one of my freshly baked apple pies in Callie’s apartment? No.
Was it helpful in building trust with a new client? Also no.
But was it hot to sift through her underwear drawer, touch the pillow she lays her head on, wonder if she has any toys hidden somewhere, because her bedside drawer didn’t have them?
Yep. Absolutely.
However, given the freaked-out messages she’s sending me, maybe it wasn’t the best choice. I run my hand down my face, then lean on the cold brick wall of the building that has the perfect view of her window.
But I’m doubting what I’ve done. What I’m doing.
She liked my apple pie, but perhaps she didn’t need me to break in while she was out and leave her one.
That visit to her library on Tuesday was thoroughly enjoyable—I could’ve gone back there instead of creeping into her bedroom. Or, like, done none of that.
Sigh.
I’ve made a little progress this week with tracking Shane.
He was definitely in Boston three weeks ago, but I don’t think he’s been at that fight club since.
I managed to get the address from a chat room and hacked into security cameras in the area.
While I’ve never seen Shane in person, the identification program I developed didn’t find any potential matches for him on the security camera footage.
CC95
why is there a pie on my counter that looks exactly like the picture you sent me a little while ago?
were you in my apartment?? how do you even know my address?
wait—are you here right now??
Through the window, I watch Callie dart into her bedroom and throw open her closet doors.
Damn. I fucked up. I wish I could see her face clearly.
I guess I could check the camera I installed earlier this week (and adjusted during the pie delivery), but they are solely of her bed.
I might go back and install more cameras, but that feels too intrusive.
Me
no, Callie, I’m not in the apartment with you
That would be preposterous. I’m across the street. I watch as she moves out of view. Hopefully she’s calming down.
Me
and I thought you liked the pie
CC95
I did but—
Me
but what?
CC95
how did you get in here? I’m so confused
Me
think of it as my reference. It was easy as pie (get it?) for me to find out all about you and make a delivery
CC95
that’s creepy as shit
Me
sorry. How can I make it up to you?
CC95
you can fuck right off
Me
come on. What can I do? Bring you another pie?
CC95
take a selfie in your cabin so I know you’re not creeping around here
Uh-oh. That’s not going to work at all.
Me
now now, weren’t you the one who was creeping around my cabin just last weekend?
CC95
we’re not talking about that
Me
fine, but I’m not at home
CC95
where are you? Take a picture now or I’ll think you’re under my bed
Me
okay
I’ve still got the one problem. I’m in a freezing cold fucking alleyway across from her building, and I really don’t want her figuring out that I’m right outside.
Maybe she wasn’t super observant when I first sent the pie picture on her own kitchen counter, but she’ll pay more attention to the next image.
I dash around the corner and jog a block and a half before ducking into O’Connor’s. She might recognize the bar she was just at, so I head straight for the men’s restroom. This probably won’t help me avoid appearing creepy, but it’s the best idea I’ve got.
I lock myself in a stall and strip off my coat.
I slip my arm out of the left sleeve of the henley I’m wearing and push it up, allowing me to take a picture of one full arm and half my chest. She’s already seen my forearms, but my left bicep has an image of a bear standing on its hind legs with its teeth bared.
It takes a few tries to get a picture where I’m flexing my ab muscles just so, which makes me hate myself more than a little.
I send it.
CC95
what the fuck was that. I didn’t say to strip
and are you in a bathroom stall? Seriously, what the fuck are you doing tonight
Me
no other comment on the picture?
CC95
what’d you want me to say? Okay, I’ll try.
nice tat
I crack up and shake my head, slipping my arm back into the sleeve.
Me
now you send me one
CC95
you have got to be out of your mind
I figured I’d get that kind of response. I stare for a few seconds and am about to leave the bathroom stall when a picture pops up in our text chain.
Jesus fucking Christ.
It’s the same view as what I sent her, but of her curvy body lying on her bed. She’s wearing a plain bra, thicker than the one she wore the other night so I can’t see her nipples, but it’s pushing up her tits so they spill over the top. My hand clenches on my phone.
Fuuuck.
Her thumb is hooked in the waistband of her sweatpants, pushing them down enough to give me a full view of the phoenix tattoo I already saw the other night in my cabin. Her long hair lays flat down her side on the bright pink comforter. I bite my lip so hard I taste blood. This is fucking hot.
I immediately screenshot the picture just before it disappears. I shouldn’t be able to do that, but I disabled the screenshot blocking feature of Gone with little trouble.
CC95
but you’ve already have seen my tattoo when you FUCKING UNDRESSED ME last weekend
Me
I don’t know what you’re talking about
Callie sends five eye-roll emojis. I snort. So she’s thinking about that too. I decide to push my luck.
Me
have any more? Tattoos? Or pictures?
CC95
nope
So she’s not mad? Noted.
I open the saved image and let my eyes feast on her while I adjust my half-hard cock in my jeans.
I want more of her, so I click through to the app that connects to the camera in her bedroom.
It comes into focus, and I groan before remembering I’m in a public bathroom.
She’s on her bed with her shirt still pulled up over her breasts, and as I watch, she pushes her sweatpants down so they’re bunched up around her knees.
“Fuuuuck,” I whisper as she slides her hand down her belly and into her underwear.
I moan and reach down for my cock, pulling it once hard, which doesn’t help at all.
I shouldn’t be watching this, and definitely not in this bar bathroom.
I really, really should close the app, but now she’s got her whole hand moving on her pussy, and she’s arching her back and grinding against her fingers.
I put my fist in my mouth and bite down.
I want to hear her noises, smell her desire. I want it to be my finger inside her, my tongue, my cock.
Am I going to fully jack off in this bathroom? Gross. No.
Suddenly she stops and looks at her door, withdrawing her hand and pulling her sweatpants up and her shirt down. She stands and tiptoes over to her bedroom door, leaning an ear against it.
Dammit.
I switch to the living room camera, where her worthless brother is in the kitchen at the fridge. The asshole couldn’t make sure Callie got home safely? He better not eat her apple pie.
It’s gonna become a full-time job if I have to follow this woman around to keep her safe since no one else in her life seems to care.
I adjust myself one last time, then get out of there. The cold air hits me outside and helps calm my cock, and I head back to her place, tugging my hat further on my head and slipping my gloves on.
Me
I should have some more information for you in the next few days
CC95
and then we’ll meet up again?
Me
yep. We can do Maine Coffee Co again, or you can try to break into my cabin, then I can catch you and tie you up
CC95
again
Me
again
CC95
just… let me know
I grin and make one last sweep of the outside of her apartment.
I stand in the alley across the street until her light flicks off in her bedroom and the cameras confirm she’s burrowed under her thick comforter, this time sleeping.
It’d be better if I could stand in the shadows of her room and watch over her.
Instead, I head home.