willing to be helpful—but thirty minutes before closing, she couldn’t stop herself from texting him again.
Sure you were at work. Why’d you lie to me? What have I ever done to you?
She doubted he’d respond. She’d had trouble getting him to answer her before. But she wanted him to know that she was aware of his dishonesty.
She waited fifteen minutes, but when he didn’t reply, just as she’d suspected he wouldn’t, she added:
At least I’m learning who I can trust. Maybe it really was you who filmed and posted that video.
A customer walked in. It wasn’t until she’d made the man’s ice cream sandwich and he was gone, and she’d said goodbye to Susan, who was staying behind to clean and lock up, that she was able to check her phone again.
Surprisingly, Tommy had answered.
I had nothing to do with it.
So why won’t you help me? You’re that in love with a total narcissist—a narcissist who will never return your feelings.
His response came as she was getting into her car:
What’s done is done. There’s nothing I can do to fix it. Why should I ruin my relationship with Ethan? He just loaned me $300 so Thiago could pay his electric bill. Ethan might be an asshole, but he can be a nice asshole—sometimes.
After she started her car, she called Tommy via Bluetooth so she could drive.
“If he’s being nice to you, it’s for a reason,” she said as soon as he picked up. “You realize he wanted you to move out, or he’d be furious that you did. He needs help with the rent.”
“Why would he want me to move out?” he asked skeptically. “We were getting along fine.”
“Think about it. What he did to me is a crime. He has to cover for it—and his story is far more believable if you’re not still there, living with him.”
No response.
“Tommy?” She heard him sigh. “Do you think he gave you that money because he cares whether you keep the lights on?”
“When you put it that way...”
“He only cares about himself, and you know it.”
“Maybe so. But like I said, what’s done is done. There’s nothing we can do about it now. The video is already out there.”
“There is something we can do.”
“What’s that?” He sounded suspicious.
“I’m suing him, and you could help me.”
“Whoa! You’re kidding.”
“I’m not. He’ll be served tomorrow.”
“Are you sure you want to do that?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because he’ll win. He never plays fair. He’s so used to getting what he wants he cheats if he has to.”
“That’s the kind of thing I need you to tell my attorney! How he throws a tantrum like a child anytime he gets upset. How he tries to get revenge. That’s all important in establishing who he is and why he might’ve done what he did.”
“Shit. I’m going to have to get involved—right after he loaned me money,” he said as though realizing he couldn’t avoid it.
“Again, he didn’t do that for you.”
There was a long silence.
“Will you at least talk to my attorney? I’m only asking you to be honest about who Ethan is, what he’s like and what you might have heard about me or that video or both.”
More silence.
“Tommy?”
“Okay,” he said in resignation. “I don’t know that I can really help. I hate ruining my relationship with Ethan for nothing. He’ll never forgive me, and you know that. But what the hell. I don’t live with him anymore. I guess it doesn’t really matter.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. Tommy had always been a little starstruck. He loved being personally acquainted with a local celebrity. But Ethan wasn’t a true friend to either one of them. And it wasn’t fair for him to get away with destroying her life. Everyone who could needed to stand up and stop him. Otherwise, he could go on to victimize someone else. “Thank you.”
“Are you going to be able to get back on at the station?” he asked.
“If I win the suit, they might have to offer me my job back.”
“You’re suing them, too?”
“I am.”
“Damn. You are the wrong person to piss off.”
“I’m only demanding what’s right.”
“But would you want to go back to the station even if they made you an offer?”
“I doubt it. I’ll probably try to continue my career somewhere else. I might even move to New York.”
“What are you doing now?”
“I work at a cookie store in Silver Springs, where I grew up. But only until after the holidays. Then I’ll have no income whatsoever.”
“That sucks.”
“It’s frightening, and it’s