Page 24 of Joey's Trick

Anger flitted over Vince’s face before it disappeared behind a fake moue of disappointment. “I know you don’t mean that.”

“I do. Get out.”

When Vince tried to protest again, Joey grabbed him by the arm and yanked him through the house to the front door. He shoved him out of the house, glaring at him. “This is entering stalker level bullshit, Vince. If you don’t stop this and get the fuck out of here, I’ll call the police.”

He slammed the door in Vince’s face, locking it. Shit. Vince had been clingy since those nights months ago, but he hadn’t expected him to go full blown single white male.

“Are you really in a relationship with him?” his mother asked from behind him.

Joey turned and leaned against the door. “No, Mom. I swear. We hooked up twice and that was months ago. He knew the score or at least I thought he did.”

She frowned at him. “He seems to think it’s more than that.”

Joey moved to sit on the couch. “I know. He’s been texting me and calling me ever since, but I really didn’t think he’d follow me down here like this.”

“Maybe you should call your company and let them know what’s going on. I wouldn’t have let the young man inside if I had known who he was. He seemed so convincing. I thought maybe you were…” she trailed off.

“Cheating on him?” Joey asked, his brow raised. “I wouldn’t do that.”

“I know your involvement with Trick wasn’t exactly planned. I wasn’t sure if maybe you were acting impulsively, considering.”

Joey shook his head. “Mom, I’m not exactly comfortable discussing my sex life with you, but I promise you, I have not been in a relationship with anyone since college. There’s been no one I’ve had any interest in long-term.”

She frowned at him. “Is that because of Trick?”

He opened his mouth to deny it, but then closed it. “I don’t know.”

They sat in quiet for several minutes before Joey stood. “I’m going to go grab a shower. Let’s go out for breakfast, okay?”

“Let me let your father know.” She paused and then said, “I don’t think you should take the young man’s actions lightly, Joey. He wasn’t very pleased with your dismissing him the way you did.”

“I won’t, Mom. I’ll call HR and advise them of what is going on after my shower. No one will be in the office yet.”

Joey headed upstairs to shower and change his clothing. The entire time, his mind replayed everything he’d ever said to Vince, or as much as he could remember. He’d never led the guy on and felt certain he hadn’t. Once dressed, he called the office.

“All-Star Formula.”

“Hi, Becca. It’s Joey Waters. Can you put me through to Jenny?” The agency wasn’t but a couple hundred employees across the various departments. Most everyone knew each other, so he didn’t have to expand on exactly who Jenny was.

“Sure thing, Joey.”

Hold music came on and Joey paced his former bedroom while waiting for Jenny to pick up. “Jenny Matheson.”

“Jenny, it’s Joey.”

“Hi, Joey! How’re things going on your vacation?”

“They’re good. I need to speak with you about Vince.”

“Oh. Is something wrong?”

Joey explained about their previous “relationship” and how they weren’t really together as Vince had led her to believe. He also informed her of his stalking and constant barrage of texts and phone calls. “It’s getting out of control now. I know he convinced you we were together to get my parent’s address, but him showing up here?—”

“Wait. I didn’t give him your parent’s address, Joey. I take our employees’ privacy seriously! Did he tell you I gave it to him?”

Uneasiness settled into Joey’s stomach and he rubbed at his belly. “He did.”

“Never would I breach your privacy for anyone, Joey. I hope you know that! I’ll talk with Mr. Rigario about this. I don’t know how he got the address for your parents, but it certainly wasn’t from me.”

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