This is not a response to the negative comments on Part 4. It's just something that has been knocking around in my head for a while so I decided to write it. I did at one time consider ending the last story with the writer's finger hovering over his mouse button then deciding not to submit the original ad to Craigslist, making the whole story a fantasy, but this was right after the story was published and I didn't want to change things. So here it is. It's not as good as I wanted it to be but I hope you enjoy it. And if you don't that's okay too.
My phone beeped. I pulled it out to see who could be texting me this late at night.
"Miss you" was all it said. It wasn't from any of my contacts so figured it had to be a wrong number and didn't think any more about it.
A few days later I received another text. It came up in the same box as the "Miss you" that I had gotten earlier so I knew it was from the same person.
"Been thinking about you a lot, Baby. See you soon."
No one called me "Baby" except my wife. I figured someone had to be playing a joke on me but I couldn't figure out who it could be. I checked the number to see if it looked like anyone I knew.
I didn't recognize it but there was something vaguely familiar about it.
This time I replied.
"Sorry. I think you have the wrong number."
"Nope."
"Then who are you? You're not in my Contacts."
"No worries. If you think long and hard I'm sure it will cum to you. See you in a few days."
"What do you mean?"
No response.
I waited an hour then tried again.
"What do you mean by you'll see me?"
Still no answer. I was starting to get a little freaked out. Who was coming to see me? Why? And what was up with how "come" was spelled? My wife and I sexted occasionally but this wasn't her number. It couldn't be anyone from work. I mean, I wasn't cheating or anything. I didn't even flirt with anyone. The only time I had done anything that could be considered being unfaithful was...Will!
It couldn't be him. He had been...gone...for almost a year.
Frantically, I checked the number again. Was it his? I couldn't remember. I racked my brain. I knew I didn't have his business card and I had deleted all our texts and e-mails. He had always told me he had done the same thing to keep anyone from finding out about us. (See? I'm trying to fill in the plot hole from the last story.)
I could text and see if it was him but that would mean someone knew about us. And about how I had...ended things.
I had to know. I picked up my phone and typed a reply. My hands were shaking so much it took me several tries before I finally got it right.
"Will?"
No answer. Five minutes passed. Then ten. Fifteen. I tried again.
"Will?"
Finally I got an answer.
;-)
I almost dropped the phone. Holy shit! It couldn't be Will. He was dead. This could only mean one thing. Someone knew about us. And that I had killed him. But who? Will always said he had never told anyone and I trusted him on that. But maybe I shouldn't have.
It was four days later and my wife was out having dinner with her parents. I told them I was going to have to bow out because I wasn't feeling well. Which was the truth. I had hardly slept or ate since I had last heard from Will. Or whoever it was. He said he would see me in a few days. When? Or was he bluffing? All I could do was pace the floor, waiting for him, or whoever, to show up. I drank myself to sleep each night and it looked like tonight wasn't going to be any different.
Poured myself my third scotch on the rocks for the evening and forced myself to sit down. I turned on the TV, flipping through the channels, looking for something to take my mind off things. After a few minutes I gave up and tossed the remote aside. There was a knock at the door.
"Who is it?" I called out.
No answer.
