Page 36 of Hold You Close
I didn’t think.
I didn’t remember.
She’ll never get the text.
My finger hovers over the send button, and then I backspace over every letter as the tears stream down my face.
I open the photo album on my phone and look at the last picture we took together. We were at Ian’s pool when he was at work. He had no idea we were there until Sabrina set off the alarm and we ran back to my house, dripping wet, and laughing the entire time. We’re standing on my deck, with the pool behind us, with our hands over our lips.
Not wanting Ian to know, I made her send me the photo and then delete it from her phone. She would’ve sent it to him because she loved making him crazy by ignoring his wishes. I also didn’t want to have any reason to interact with Ian unless absolutely necessary.
But suddenly I have the urge to send him the pic, to let him know I had gotten away with something at his expense.
* * *
Me: I thought you might want to see what happened a few weeks ago when the cops had to go to your house.
Ian: You think I didn’t know it was you two?
* * *
I smile, knowing he had no clue.
* * *
Me: Please, you didn’t know!
Ian:
* * *
There’s a photo of me and Sabrina in the pool, one of us running off the deck with our clothes in our arms, and the last one is of me staring right at his security camera with a huge grin.
I burst out laughing, wiping away the sad tears that were there just a moment ago.
* * *
Me: You knew!
Ian: I know everything.
Me: Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.
Ian: I let you keep your secrets, but you two idiots cost me $400 in a false alarm fee from the city.
* * *
I laugh again, thinking how Sabrina would taunt him about how if he didn’t have such a cool house, we wouldn’t break in. Or how if he gave her a key and didn’t change the codes once a week, then all of it would’ve been avoided.
* * *
Me: I should get back to work. I’ll see you later.
Ian: Thanks for sending me that photo. I’m happy to see your faces that way instead of the criminals you both are as you sneak off my deck.
* * *
I turn the phone to selfie mode and make a kissy face.
