Textual Encounters: 2 (9 page)

9:40am:

Aren’t you working today?

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Jake

9:40am:

LOL,
I called in tired.

9:40am:

And t
hat wasn’t Christine’s husband, btw. I met him last year, remember? He doesn’t look like that guy in the photo. Assuming they showed you the same photo they showed me.

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9:41am:

The photo was a security pic from the building’s lobby. Is that the on
e you saw?

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Jake

9:42am:

Yes. You coming over?

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9:42am:

You called in tired, and
if you’re tired, you should sleep.

Jake

9:42
am:

Can I sleep with you?

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9:42
am:

LOL, I’m all done sleeping, remember?

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Jake

9:42am:

Then c
an I see you?

9:48am:

Hello? Did you ditch me again?

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9:53am:

Sorry, just finished in the shower. I’m nervous about swinging by your place, though. With this guy still out there and obviously the police have seen me in the area. That’s kind of creepy.

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Jake

9:53am:

You’re safe. If you were involved in any of this, I’d be the dead guy, not Eduardo.

9:54am:

Better? You want to come over now? I can meet you somewhere so you’re not walking alone…

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9:55am:

OK, if you’ll meet me. What else did you have in mind?

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Jake

9:55
am:

Of course
I’ll meet you. And I’ll make some eggs and toast. I don’t have any bacon.

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9:56am:

I’ll bring the bacon.
I can use it as a weapon if I need to.

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Jake

9:56am:

LOL.

9:57am:

It seems
a little backwards that you’ll bring home the bacon, don’t you think?

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9:58am:

Very funny.
I AM the med student after all.

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Jake

9:59am:

But in my version of our future together, I am the one who will take care of you. And you’ll only have to work if you want. I’ll do everything and anything for you, Katie. Always.

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10:01am:

Jake, you slay me. What do you want from me, exactly?

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Jake

10:01am:

Just. Love. Me.

10:03am:

Are you still coming over after my sappy confession?

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10:04am:

Yes.
I’ll see you in an hour.

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Jake

2:05am:

I just walked in the door. I’m home. Hope you sleep well, Katie.

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2:05am:

OK, I think I will.

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Jake

2:06am:

I just wanted to thank you aga
in. These past two days have been Heaven for me. But dropping you off after the work party was like having my heart ripped straight out of my chest. I love you.

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2:07am:

Your friend Ben talks a lot.

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Jake

2:08am:

He likes you more than he liked Christine.

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2:09am:

LOL, he mentioned that a few times! Except he kept calling her Rachel.

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Jake

2:09am:

There are rumors that he’s officially an alcoholic. I’m sorry about Ben.

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2:10am:

LOL, yes, I counted six martinis in forty minutes. Seems harmless enough, though.

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Jake

2:10am:

You should meet
his wife. Total opposite. But in my line of work, it’s about appearances. And my boss’s boss is starting to worry that Ben is becoming a liability.

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2:11am:

You mentioned Christine… do you know that Ben thinks she’s involved in that murder across the street? I think he’s serious.

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Jake

2:12am:

Ha, he probably IS serious. He thinks anything that goes south in my life is Christine’s fault. Before her, he blamed Rachel.

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2:14am:

Another Rachel? Who is she?

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Jake

2:15am:

I told you about Rachel. We were engaged and I called it off a week before the wedding.

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2:15am:

Oh, right.
It’s hard to keep all of these women of yours straight. I guess I’m more tired than I want to admit.

2:15am:

I’m going to bed now. Good night, Jake.

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Jake

2:16am:

Good night. I’ll see you Friday night.

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7:35pm:

Hey Jake?

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Jake

7:43pm:

You’re not working your rotation?

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7:44pm:

Quick b
reak.

7:44pm:

I have a question.

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Jake

7:45pm:

Ask anything.

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7:46pm:

Will you be honest?

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Jake

7:46pm:

Yes, of course. I have no secrets from you.

7:52pm:

Still there?

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7:53pm:

Sorry, I have a patient I need to see. So I’ll ask now and wait for your HONEST answer.

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Jake

7:53pm:

OK

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7:54pm:

If I were to look through your phone, what kind of conversations would I find between you and
these other women? I want names and the status of your relationships with each of them.

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Jake

7:55pm:

Are you OK?

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7:56pm:

If you ever want to see me again, Jake, you’ll answer the fucking question.

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Jake

7:57pm:

Okay, relax.
Can we talk about where this is coming from again? You asked this question already, why are you asking it again? Is it something you saw on my phone? Give me an indication…

8:12pm:

OK, so you’re not going to talk to me until I answer the question?

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8:12pm:

No, it has nothing to do with talking or texting. You will NEVER hear from me again, Jake. I swear, if you don’t answer me honestly, I’m out of your life forever. And I will know if you’re telling the truth, asshole.

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Jake

8:13pm:

Let’s talk about this. In person. I don’t know where this is all coming from and I want you to be 100% certain that I’m being truthful with you. Can we meet?

8:20pm:

OK, f
ine, you’re not going to answer your phone when I call. I get it, ignore me. You’re pissed. Since you’re ignoring me, I will ignore you.

8:32pm:

OK,
I can’t ignore you. I can’t play these games. I’ll give you the information you want. All of it. With complete honesty, no secrets. Full disclosure. Will you talk to me once I do that?

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8:33pm:

Maybe. Start typing, asshole.

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Jake

8:42pm:

Okay, so there’s Rachel
, my ex-fiancée.

8:48pm:

And Michelle
is a girl that used to work with Christine and just recently joined my company.

8:50pm:

And
of course there’s Christine, who never answers my texts.

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9:11pm:

Tell me about Rachel.

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Jake

9:12pm:

I already have. We were engaged. I called it off. We’re still friends.

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9:12pm:

But you’re more than friends, aren’t you? I thought this was full disclosure, Jake. Did you think I was fucking joking when I said I’d be out of your life forever?

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Jake

9:14pm:

No, I know you weren’t joking. I will sometimes text Rachel. We get along. It’s all good, it’s all safe and that. She’s married after all. I get that.

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9:16pm:

When’s the last time?

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Jake

9:17pm:

Three weeks ago.

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9:17pm:

I thought you loved me three weeks ago, Jake.

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Jake

9:18pm:

I did and still do, Katie. But you don’t love me in return. And that makes me sad. Very sad. Because when I needed someone to help me through some shitty times, like when you ignored me after I called you Christine by accident, I called Rachel. I wish you had answer the call. I wish we could have talked it through because I was in serious pain and all I wanted (and still want, for that matter) is you. To hold you. To love you.

9:19pm: