Page 210 of Irreversible

Bee

Checking in. Did you get there safely?

Me

I’m here.

Bee

Good. I took a sleeping pill, so I’m fading fast.

Me

Look for me in your dreams. I’ll be the one with the massive cock.

She sends an eggplant emoji followed by a pink heart, and a ridiculous grin spreads across my face. Fuck, when did I get so damn sappy?

You know when.

Me

Night.

I back out of her text thread and switch to Garrison, the guy I’ve reluctantly tasked to keep an eye on her while I’m here. Though I don’t really trust many people other than Tanner, I’ve worked with him before. He’s a decent person and has been instructed to act as backup while keeping his distance.

Also, I’m paying him well, and he’s too familiar with my temper to risk fucking around.

Of course, I still have the camera trained on her doorway, my tracking app connected to her phone, and she knows to check in with me often. But even with all those safety measures, my gut has turned into a pit of paranoia.

Garrison messages that all is well, and I send Tanner a text to keep him updated. Just as I’m ready to toss my phone to theside and settle in for a potentially long night waiting outside this shithole, I catch a notification I missed.

It’s another message from Everly sent ten minutes ago.

I’d lost track of time.

Bee

If I’m quiet tomorrow, don’t worry. I’ve decided to do the modeling show I told you about—I think it will be good for me. Maybe I’ll never do one again, but at least I won’t wonder what would happen if I had. I’ll check in whenever I can. Hopefully you’ll be back tomorrow night, and I’ll see you soon?

Wait…

What in the fuck?

I read the text over, biting down on my tongue until a coppery tang registers. I wasn’t thrilled about being out of town as it is, but I’m only an hour away, and Garrison is watching…

There’s a growing pressure just over my eyebrows. My thumbs itch to type a hundred thoughts at once, but I finally settle on one.

Me

I didn’t think you were doing that show.

She wasn’t—was she?

When she mentioned that gig, I wasn’t thrilled over the thought of her getting back into a world where her ex-husband still exists. But it hadn’t sounded all that serious, so when the subject was dropped, I forgot about it. I just assumed…

I wouldn’t have left town if I’d known.

After a minute of staring at my phone, there’s still no response. I keep staring for five more minutes. Then ten.

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