Page 98 of Devious Gambit

“Mr. Ed be gone,” I announced, waving my invisible wand, “so I can enjoy a healthy love life.”

“Can I see you tonight?” Hayden asked me when he stepped out of the bathroom, smelling lovely.

“Tonight?”

“Yeah. Come over and stay the night again?”

“Oh. Sure. Okay.”

He pressed his lips against my forehead, just as my phone beeped.

Unknown/SexEd: I’ll be home in a week. I’ll take you out for dinner.

Me: No.

Unknown/SexEd: It wasn’t a question (:

“See you later,” Hayden called out as he left.

“Bye,” I called from my bed, tossing my phone aside in a huff, only to grab it again.

Me: From this point onwards, I’m not answering anymore of your messages. Understand?

Unknown/SexEd: You already said that. You’re not good at sticking to your word.

Me: Neither are you. May I remind you that you agreed to stop contacting me etc.

Unknown/SexEd: There you go answering my message when u just text ‘From this point onwards, I’m not answering anymore of your messages.’

Me: From now on.

Unknown/SexEd: You’re cute when you’re angry.

Me: Stop it!

Unknown/SexEd: You just answered my message AGAIN.

Me: You’re a deceitful liar and I don’t want to see you ever again.

Unknown/SexEd: Okay, so close your eyes when I pick u up to take you out to dinner. Then u won’t see me. And u just answered my message AGAIN AGAIN.

Me: From now on!

Unknown/SexEd: U just answered my message again lol

Me:

Putting my foot down, showing him how strong I am, I refused to reply to anymore of his messages. However, when I got up and caught a look at myself in the bathroom mirror, I was smiling. Not just a little forced smile, but a brimming in happiness smile. Bastard.

THIRTY NINE

Rhys

Even though I ghosted him, he kept messaging me every day without fail, until I blocked him. I blocked him from my FB account and blocked his number from my phone. Job done. I didn’t feel good about it, but it was necessary. My priority was to protect myself from getting hurt again and this was the only option. I also changed my favorite study spots. Regrettably, I turned my back on the literature section of the EAP library and found a dusty corner in the thesis/dissertation section on a different floor. He’d never find me there because no one ever goes there. Also due to it being too cold and snowy, I stopped sitting on my favorite bench in the university gardens.

That left my garage top apartment and my shifts at Stads. He knew where I lived and had easy access to my door. It had crossed my mind to find another place, but it would be too hard at this time of the year. Besides, the apartment is conveniently close to school and work and I had a great support in Marjorie Dwight. I didn’t want to move and refused to. If he turned up, I’d play dead and hide in my bathroom, hoping he’d get the message that I wasn’t home and leave.

If he turned up at Stads, I’ll serve him a trespass notice. My plan wasn’t exactly fool proof, but it was the best I could do under the circumstances.

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