Chapter 7 #2
“I sent the money. You said you wanted to meet here tonight for drinks and a little dancing before we head back to my place—for a little alone time.” His eyes glinted with mischief, and Ellie’s grip on me tightened.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. The only people I made plans to meet here tonight are my girlfriends.”
“Ooh, I like that. Girlfriends joining in are A-OK with me, baby.” His slippery voice sent a chill down my spine.
Ellie scoffed sarcastically. “Yeah, dream on, douchebag. That is not happening.”
With a scowl, he fished for his phone and held it up for me to see. “You said it—it’s right here!”
Curiosity got the better of me, and I leaned in. What? On his screen was a picture of me, smiling. I noted the profile name, “Kinkymom1991.” Below that was a series of chat messages between Kinkymom1991 and “ThrobbingRob17,” who I gathered was the pervert standing in front of me.
“Let me see that,” I said, taking the phone from his hand.
ThrobbingRob17: You look like a nasty girl who likes to have a lot of fun. I think you need a big throbbing man to give it to you, hard.
Kinkymom1991: Yes, I need it so bad right now. Want to get together Saturday night and have some fun?
ThrobbingRob17: Oh, hell yeah, baby. Just name the place and time and I’ll be there, hard and ready.
Kinkymom1991: Good. I’ll be at the High Note in Bernal Heights around 9:30. I’ll be hot and wet and waiting for you, thinking about all the kinky things we’re going to do when we get back to your place. Send $500 by Friday.
ThrobbingRob17: I will. Oh God, I’m getting so hard right now just thinking about it.
Kinkymom1991: Good. Hold that thought. I’m going to tie you up and do things to you that no one has ever done before. I want you hard and throbbing and ready for me.
ThrobbingRob17: Damn, girl, you’re getting me SO worked up right now.
I felt dizzy as I looked at the messages. My heart pounded hard against my chest.
Rob took his phone back. “Don’t be embarrassed, baby. I know you want it bad. And I’m going to give it to you.” He moved toward me again.
“Whoa!” Ellie put her hand out to stop him in his tracks. “Back off, dude. There’s been a mistake.”
“What mistake? You can come too. Come on, we’ll all have fun,” he said, slipping his phone back into his pocket.
“That is not me on that app,” I said. “Someone played you, using my picture.”
His eyes turned cold. “Look—you took the money. You promised me a good time. There’s no backing out now.” He took another step toward me.
Before I knew what was happening, my foot shot out and kicked him hard in the groin. He doubled over, clutching his crotch and groaning in agony. I ran toward the front door, where the large, imposing bouncer stood, arms crossed.
“Sir? Excuse me—we’re being harassed by a guy who isn’t taking no for an answer.” I pointed back in Rob’s direction where Ellie stood, waving, watching Rob, who was still doubled over in pain.
The bouncer pushed his way forcefully through the crowd toward Ellie, grabbed ThrobbingRob by the arm, and dragged him out a side door. When the bouncer came back, he said to let him know if anyone bothered us again. Ellie turned to me and gave me a high-five.
“You’re a ball-busting badass!” she said.
“Thanks,” I said. Even though I was proud of myself, now that the adrenaline was waning, I was feeling shaken and deeply disturbed. Who the hell made that account on that app? Did they really take five hundred dollars from him? And how did they know I’d be here tonight?
The profile name they’d used me was bothering me too—“Kinkymom1991.” Not only did they know the year I was born, but they’d specifically called me a mom. Did whoever this scammer was know I was pregnant?
As the band took a break, Ellie and I headed back to the booth where our friends were sitting. The waitress brought us another round of drinks, including a Cucumber Lime Gimlet mocktail for me. Ellie rubbed my back as she told the other girls our crazy story.
The subject changed; as the bride-to-be launched into a long story about her future mother-in-law and drama over the floral arrangements, something caught my eye across the room. I froze.
Ellie spotted the look on my face. “Savvy, are you okay?”
I turned to her with a loaded look. “Madison—I think I just saw her at the bar.”
I’d filled Ellie in on the balloon delivery to my office and the unpleasant letter Madison had sent with it. She knew Madison was the last person I wanted to see—well, maybe the second to last, after ThrobbingRob17.
Ellie craned her neck. “I don’t see her. Just relax, babe. Try to forget all about that stuff and—” Her face froze as she saw mine morph into an “oh shit” expression.
It was Madison, making her way through the crowd toward us, flashing her bright Miss America smile. “Hi, ladies!” She waved as she approached our booth.
Ellie and I shared a stunned look as Amber looked up at her, confused.
“Hi … do I know you?” Amber asked.
“Madison, what are you doing here?” I groaned.
“Well, I came here to talk to you, Savannah. I’m worried about the baby. I don’t mean to be rude, but this is pretty irresponsible of you. You shouldn’t be out partying like this.”
My cheeks burned, and my mouth fell open. But anger pushed any embarrassment I felt to the ground. “Oh my God, Madison,” I said with a frustrated sigh. “I’m not partying—I’m just hanging out with my friends to celebrate Amber’s bachelorette night.”
Madison narrowed her eyes at me. “You’re drinking, and you’re grinding up on trashy guys on the dance floor. It sure looks like I have reasons to be worried.”
I was speechless. How dare she talk to me like this in front of my friends?
Amber stood up, her expression as angry as I’d ever seen it. “Savannah, who is this?” She jerked her thumb in Madison’s direction.
Ellie spoke up. “Madison, we’re having a private get-together here. And I don’t appreciate your accusations toward my friend. Please leave.”
Madison paused as she scanned the stony faces around the booth. “Well, I suppose I don’t want to ruin your little celebration. I’ll get going—but why don’t I give you a ride home, Savannah?”
“No thanks, Madison.” I gave a tight, phony smile.
Madison’s face twisted into a frown. She crossed her arms at her chest, jutting out her hip.
“I’m sorry, Savannah, but this is not okay.
This is not good for the baby. Look how crowded this place is—what if someone knocked you over, or bumped into you, and hurt the baby?
I know how much you love to party, but you need to think of your child now, and not just yourself. ”
My blood boiled beneath my skin; she wasn’t letting up. “Madison, I am not drinking. I’m the designated driver. And also, my life is none of your business, so I would appreciate it if you would leave us alone.”
“I’m happy to go, but I really think you should leave too. You don’t belong here—and the baby especially doesn’t.”
At this, every single girl around the table stood up.
Behind Madison, the band walked on stage and started checking their instruments for the next set. It was about to get really loud again.
“Madison,” growled Ellie. “Savannah is drinking virgin drinks, and we are all looking out for her. She and her baby are not in any danger, and we don’t need, or want, your help.”
Madison looked me right in the eyes with an expression that sent chills throughout my body. “That baby can’t speak for itself, so someone has to—and I guess that person is me. You’re being irresponsible, and you should really go home.”
I clenched my fists together, feeling the sting of my fingernails digging into my palms. My heart was pounding. I’d tried reasoning with her; it didn’t work. I had nothing left to say. What was she going to do—drag me out of the club?
Madison’s eyes glared daggers at me. “Well, I guess I’m just going to have to have a serious conversation with Max about this.” Then she finally turned and walked away.
The energy drained from me, and I practically fell back into my seat, breathing heavily from adrenaline. I felt a small ache in my belly.
“Who the hell was that, Savannah?” Amber asked.
I groaned as I buried my face in my hands. Ellie rubbed my back. All I’d told my friends earlier that evening when I announced my pregnancy was that I had briefly dated the baby’s father a few months before. I’d left out the fact of his girlfriend—and how horrible she was proving to be.
I uncovered my face and tried to compose myself. “It’s a long story. In a nutshell, she’s now dating my baby’s father, and she obviously thinks I’m doing a terrible job of caring for my unborn child.”
Amber’s eyes widened. “Whoa. Well, that’s bullshit.”
I gave a weak smile. “Tell me about it.”
“I’m sorry you have to deal with that, Savannah. Just forget about her,” said Priscilla, one of the other girls. The rest chimed in their agreement.
“Yeah. I’ll try. Thanks, guys, for standing up for me.”
But forgetting about Madison was easier said than done, especially when she—and her “helpful gifts”—kept showing up at the worst moments.
Even as the mood lightened again and the happy party energy resumed, my mind was racing. She’s going to go home and tell Max that I’m out partying and putting the baby in danger. What if he believes her?
The band launched into their first song of the second set—it was one of Ellie’s and my favorites from back in our college days. Ellie stood up and grabbed my hand. “Come on, Savvy—let’s dance!”
I smiled at her and followed her onto the dance floor.
I tried to salvage the rest of my night with more dancing and many more tasty mocktails. My friends all did their best to help cheer me up.
Ellie ended up coming home with me, crashing in my bed the second we set foot in the apartment.
As I was finishing up brushing my teeth a few minutes later, my phone dinged. It was a text from an unknown number.
You don’t deserve that baby.
A chill spread throughout my body, leaving me lightheaded. A second text quickly followed.
I guess someone needs to teach you a lesson.