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Unbelievable.
“Good luck finding work,” I said, speaking over her. “My lawyers will be in touch with yours. I’m suing you for slander.” She responded, but I didn’t listen. I ended the call and took the deepest breath of my life.
Exhaled when Bennett put himself on top of me. Straddled me. Hands on my neck, my chest, then lower. His tongue massaged mine, the ease of his kiss releasing the tension that had settled onto my shoulders. Twenty-four hours had passed since we last touched each other. In that moment, my mind comprehended that time as longer than thetwelveyears we spent in silent abstinence from one another.
I ground his hips into mine as I lifted my waist. Pulled off the t-shirt he had slept in.
Vvvt-vvvt.
The vibration of a phone alert broke through the susurrous noises of our kiss.
Vvvt-vvvt.
“It’ll never end,” I told Bennett. “I should just turn it off.”
While still kissing me, he fished around on the bed until his hand grabbed my phone. He brought it around to give to me. I spared half-glances at the phone to turn it off while Bennett’s mouth moved away from mine, down my neck, going lower.
A message from an unknown number. I quickly previewed it.
A single emoji of the Greek flag. Then an emoji of a telephone.
“Hold on,” I told Bennett. He groaned and picked his head up from my lap. I called the unknown number. “Neighbor?”
A light chuckle rolled through the speaker. “You understand subtlety. I like that. I called so you could hear me out. Let me explain myself.”
“You leaked them,” I said without venom. “You took the good photos from the batch and sent them to the right people.”
“Yes. Are you angry with me, my friend?” There was genuine concern in his voice.
“No. No, not at all. Not even a little. You saved me from returning to that hell pit. I’m never going back to that town again. What did you do with the rest of the pictures?”
“I sent the ones you see online and then destroyed the memory card.”
“And Jersey?”
Silence. Then, “He is my burden. This should not concern you.”
I sighed. “What if we want to press charges against the studio?”
“Connor, no,” Bennett said in a hoarse whisper. I shook my head at him.
Deacon said, “You can if you wish. I can provide you with the evidence and details you need. But… it is not recommended, my friend. This opens too many doors.”
“I understand. And our safety?”
“I am told that heads are rolling at the studio. They are busy feeding on each other. You are no longer a thorn in their side, let us say. You’ve become more of a tasty morsel, now.”
Yeah, no kidding.I thought of the eye-watering deal they offered me.
“I can’t thank you enough,” I said. “Really. I’m a little sad I won’t be your neighbor anymore. I need to call the center. Resign from teaching. Would it be too much to ask to have you at my house when I send movers?”
“No, it is not too much to ask. Just wait, yes? I need a vacation and plan to stay in the state for a while. It is nice here. The weather is just turning.”
“You’re still around? We should have dinner. You can come to the house if you don’t want to be seen in public.”
I could hear his grin as he spoke. “You are a good friend. I will take you up on that. For now, I will leave you in peace. Please give Bennett my best.”
“I will,” I said, but he had already hung up.
