Page 18 of In Love with the Devil

Mindy: I have no idea, but I'm already looking up baby names.

Me to Mindy:Yikes! I’m glad no one has me like that.

Mindy:Wanna grab lunch?

Unknown:I’ll put a few pups in that belly of yours soon, prettiest of birds. Don’t worry. And I’ve already looked up the names. If it’s a girl, we’ll name her Reyna (notice me thinking of your Latina background here) and if it’s a boy, we’ll name him after me.

Only the relief of finally finding the aisle with the door locks comforts me from how psychotic this man sounds.

Me to Mindy:Stop it.

Mindy:What?

Oh shit!The two locks I have in my hand slip out and I bend down to pick them up.

Me to Mindy:Oh sorry, wrong number.

Me to Unknown:Stop it.

Mindy:Who are you texting, ‘stop it’ to?

Unknown:Make me.

Mindy:Astoria?

Me to Unknown:No one.

Unknown: LOL

I roar with exasperations. Why do I keep typing in the wrong chat? Fuck.

Me to Mindy:No one.

Unknown:I’m glad you’re being smart about this.

Me to Unknown:What are you talking about?

Mindy:Astoria? I can tell you’re still on.

Unknown:Don’t tell her about us.

Unknown:Yet.

Me to Mindy:I’ll tell you over lunch. Twerking Cafe at one.

Unknown:Go ahead, little bird, tell her so that I can show you how I handle defiance.

I freeze and have to lean my back against the shelf. The hand holding the phone is clammy and trembling. How crazy is this guy? He must be insane to do what he did to me. My heart skipsa beat and I forget how to breathe. The heat melts from my face. It’s too cold and hot all at the same time. I force myself to take a few deep breaths.It’s going to be okay. The locks will keep him out. I’ll be safe this time.

By the time I walk up to the counter, I have a bunch of locks in my arms. The cashier stares at me. “Should I call the police?” she asks, raising her eyebrow.

“To be honest, I’m not sure.” I chuckle nervously with my hands still trembling while combing my eyebrow, changing my weight from one leg to the other.

Her eyes lift, studying me with a glare that puts my mom’s to shame as scans the first two locks.

“Better to be safe than sorry. Put a report in before some sick shit happens so that when it does, the cops already have an idea of what’s going on.”

“But what if if shit wasn’t going to happen and then I piss him off.”

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