Page 3 of Only When It Breaks

Me: If this is you, Austin . . .

Unknown Number: I’m not one of your dumb arse friends.

Me: What the hell? Just give it back.

Unknown Number: Don’t you want to have some fun?

Me: What kind of fun?

Unknown Number: A little, get to know each other game. Although I have to say, I’ve seen your gym pics, and I’m at an advantage.

Me: Okay, then give me a clue.

Unknown Number: I’m not in your circle.

What the hell? And also, why is this a little hot.

Me: Male or Female?

Unknown Number: F

Me: Interesting. How do we know each other?

Unknown Number: That’s enough clues for one day.

I stare at the screen, my heart thudding with a mix of panic and something else. Curiosity. Annoyance. A tiny flicker of amusement.

This could be entertaining.

The music’s already thumping when I arrive at Henry’s place. It’s the usual Friday night chaos, bodies packed wall to wall, plastic cups everywhere, and half the football team crowded around the PlayStation arguing over FIFA.

Austin hands me a drink the second I walk in. “You looked fucked. Want a shot?”

I shake my head. “Nah, taking it easy tonight. I have a friendly game tomorrow with my Saturday team.”

“Any luck with your phone?”

I groan, holding up my smashed old one. “Nope. I got this dinosaur to work though. And guess what? Someone’s found my other phone and is messaging me.”

His grin spreads, “What? No way. What’d they say?”

Before I can reply, Bella slides up beside me, gently scratching the back of my neck with her fake nails and pouting her freshly glossed lips my way. “Hey,” she purrs, looping her arm through mine. “I was wondering when you’d show up.”

“Yeah?” I say, distracted. “Nice.”

Her smile falters. “Rude,” she mutters, “What’s got your boxers in a twist?”

I hold up the phone. “Some anonymous psychopath has my phone. They’ve been texting me. Teasing me. Maybe even flirting, I can’t tell.”

Austin laughs, “Wait, hold up,flirting?”

“I’m serious,” I say, shrugging, “She called me pretty boy, said she went through all my gym pics.”

Bella narrows her eyes. “So, you’re talking to someone, and you don’t know who?”

“Not a clue,” I state. “They know me . . . I think. That’s the impression I got. Like she knew Austin was a friend.”

Austin laughs harder, almost spilling his drink. “Man, you’re being catfished with your own phone.”

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