Page 27 of The Other Guy

“The fact that I’m not who these women think they’re messaging.”

“That doesn’t sound like a bad thing.”

I blow out a breath and look at him, look away, look back to Dad who raises an eyebrow at my clear avoidance.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’ve been talking to some of them rather than telling them up front that they have the wrong number.”

“Talking?”

“I felt bad,” I explain, hoping that will be enough. But he simply raises an eyebrow and crosses his arms across his chest. “Fine. I was bored, really, and didn’t see any harm. Rather than being honest with them, I would talk to them a day or two and let them down later.”

“Jack…” he warns and I raise a hand to stop him from saying anything further.

“I know, Dad. But some of these women seemed so hopeful when they texted him and I didn’t have the heart to tell them what a jerk they’d spent the night with.” I drop my face into my hands and groan when my phone buzzes again.

“Another?” He chuckles.

“I don’t want to know.”

That makes him laugh harder. My phone buzzes again, reminding me that I just received a text. “Listen, I get what you were trying to do. You weren’t setting out to deceive anyone, at least I don’t think you were.” When I shake my head to let him know he was correct, he continues on. “But you need to put a stop to it.”

“How? I actually texted with this guy the other day and he doesn’t seem willing to stop giving out my number.”

His eyes widen. “You talked to him?”

“Yeah, it was… well, let’s just say that he got caught red-handed.”

“Ha! I bet that didn’t go over well.”

“No, it didn’t.” I chuckle because it is kind of funny. Not for what I’m going through, but that this guy thinks he has everyone fooled. And apparently he does, at least for now. “A girl he’d been with had texted me, I didn’t tell her she had the wrong guy then she saw him somewhere but he apparently didn’t see her. She texted me, she noticed that he wasn’t the one texting back. I felt terrible. He had no remorse.”

“Hmm.”

“That’s all you have to say?”

“The only way to stop it is to let these women know from the beginning that they have the wrong number and hope he stops. Text him again and let him know you’re done with this and move on.”

“I don’t know that he’ll care what I want.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. But you won’t know unless you try.”

“True.”

“So what else is new?”

“Not much. I’m getting ready to remodel the master bath. Got some ideas yesterday.” I gaze at the door, thinking back to yesterday’s adventures with Sierra and all the ideas she had for me. I have plenty of space to include a huge tub even though I’d originally not planned on it. But the way Sierra kept hopping into them and pretending to relax with a glass of wine makes me want to rethink my plans. Maybe someday there will be a woman living there who would appreciate it.

“What’s that?” Dad asks, pointing at my face and bringing me back to the present.

“What?” I ask, wiping at my face.

“Not going to be able to wipe that look off your face, son.”

“What look?”

He stares at me so long I begin to squirm then nods once. “You’ll tell me when there’s more to tell.”

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