Page 29 of His Reward
Your new man thinks he’s a tough guy.
He’ll be sorry when he finds out that you’re a heartless bitch.
My first instinct is to delete Tyler’s new message chain.I pause with my thumb hovering over the trashcan icon.
When I told the police last night about Tyler’s unwanted texts, they asked me for proof, and I didn’t have any because I’d deleted them.They instructed me to keep them from now on just in case they were useful for the investigation.
What new man?
Who could he possibly—
Oh.He means Malcolm.
Tyler must have assumed we’re dating because Malcolm protected me from him at Daphne’s party.
This is the first time he’s sent me such a mean text.Maybe the reason he’s been so persistent was because he thought I was available.Now that he believes I’m with someone else, he’s like the fox that calls the grapes sour because it can’t reach them.
It’s wrong to pretend Malcolm is my boyfriend, but if that’s what it takes to finally make Tyler back off, then good.Let him continue to believe that.
Come to think of it, I might sell the lie even harder by posting a picture of me and Malcolm celebrating his move-in on my feed.I will have to stop my family from seeing it so they don’t ruin the façade.
Tyler will think “my boyfriend” has moved in with me and that our relationship is serious.Hopefully, that’ll crush any remaining hope in his heart we’ll ever get back together.
Pleased with my plan, I lock my phone and head to my bedroom to change out of my work clothes.
* * *
Malcolm shows up just before nine, his arms laden with various bags: two large duffel bags, a reusable one from a department store, and a paper one emanating a delicious scent.He hands the last one to me.
“I hope you like green curry.”
“I’ve never had it before.”I open the bag and inhale the contents.“If it tastes as good as it smells, there won’t be a problem.”
I carry the food to the kitchen while he takes his bags to the spare room.He returns with just the reusable one, holding it open for me to peer inside.It contains a lock kit and a security camera.
“We’ll have to check in with your landlord about installing these and adding my name to the lease.”
A warm feeling goes through me.The list of Malcolm’s admirable traits just keeps growing.Handy, strong, brave, protective, caring, thoughtful.And that’s without adding attractive too.
Because of my dad’s disappointing behaviour, I’ve always believed there’s no such thing as the perfect guy, but Malcolm is pretty close.Some lucky woman will snap him up some day.I’m already pissed off at this unknown person.
I nod.“I’ll text him.I’m not sure how it’ll go, though.Mr.Wolsey is unpredictable when it comes to changing things.The tenant above me said she asked him if she could repaint her kitchen, and he told her no.But he didn’t tell me no when I asked him if I could do it to my bedroom.”
Malcolm furrows his eyebrows.
“Is that the only time he showed you special treatment?”
“I don’t know.I think so?Oh, well, I heard he gets aggressive with some of the other tenants if they’re even a day late on rent.But there’s been a couple of times I forgot to send the transfer on time, and he didn’t seem to mind.”When his frown persists, I prompt him.“What?”
“Just thinking I’d like to meet Wolsey face to face.”He sets the bag down beside the utility closet door and heads into the kitchen.“Anyway, let’s eat.I’m starving.”
We sit at the dining table and enjoy our green curry with the cheap wine I bought to celebrate his move-in.I tell him what Penny said about Kevin, and he backs up my suspicions, especially when I mention seeing Kevin in the park.
“How long were you there before he showed up?”he asks.
“I don’t know.Maybe ten minutes?I had already finished my lunch.”I sip some of my wine.“It’s hard to say if he was following me.The drug mart is close to the park and lots of people go there on their breaks.”
“Was it the first time you ever saw him there?”When I nod, his features become unreadable as he takes a moment to reply.“We’ll let the police contact him first.I don’t want to interfere.If they’re taking too long, I’ll have a chat with Kevin myself.”
