Page 216 of Flipping His Script
In the end, I gave her the camera money in cash, which she wrapped in a paper towel and slid under the stall.
Afterward, I grudgingly stepped back and let the guys make for the door, even I wasn't happy about it.
After they left, I told Anna, "You're too nice. You know that, right?"
For someone who'd just gotten her way, she looked nearly as irritated as I felt. She muttered, "Well, that's rich."
"Meaning?"
She glanced away. "Nothing."
"No," I said. "Tell me."
When she made no reply, I crossed my arms and waited. Yeah, I knew that people were outside waiting. And I knew this wasn't the best place for whatever she was going to say. But I also knew that if I didn't get it out of her now, she might clam up later on.
I wasn't going to let that happen.
Finally, she sighed. "I'm just saying, for weeks – no,years– you've been acting like I’m some sort of monster. Andnowyou're telling me that I’m 'too nice'?"
She was right. And the monster was me.But unlike the idiots we'd just sent packing, I was planning to make it up to her.
If she gave me the chance.
I was just about to tell her so when a noise from one of the stalls made me stop short. I turned to look.
Anna said, "Well? Aren't you gonna say anything?"
I was still focused on the stalls. "No."
"But—"
I held up a hand. "Not now."
"What do you mean, 'not now'?"
I meant, not in front of an audience. But hey, I could take care ofthateasy enough.
I moved toward the stalls and began checking them one by one. When I pushed the door of the final stall, it didn't budge.
Locked.
But not for long.I stepped back and gave the door a good kick. The door flew open, revealing another guy in a rumpled suit. He was standing on the toilet – one foot on each side of its seat – and he was holding out his cellphone like a camera.
To catch what?Pictures? Audio? Video?
Not if I could help it.
I reached in and yanked him out of the stall. The guy's phone clattered to the floor as I slammed him up against the neighboring wall and said, "What the fuck were you doing?"
"I, um…" He swallowed, hard. "Nothing."
Nothing, my ass.
Anna rushed toward us, saying, "Let him go, okay?"
Slowly, andwithoutletting go, I turned to look at her. Through gritted teeth, I said, "What?"
"Let him go," she repeated.
