Thrust Into His Arms

The pictures are of low quality and were apparently taken from a long distance and zoomed to make it appear somewhat close. Her face is not included in the ones I have seen because they were taken from behind.

The front shot ones partially shows her face and are grainy. "You could not even use a quality camera." I complain, feeling ripped off.

"I do not have any talent for photography." He argues, munching on an apple. "I’m not a professional PI.

I don’t stalk for a living. I put in my best there.

Keep looking. There are nice ones." He said.

I see one that has a full shot of her face.

Two.

Like it had been taken from a very close distance. Like she was aware of it being taken. She is looking up. Her face is holding a blank expression. She looks pale. Eyes seeming expressionless.

"How did you take this one?" I immediately probe, knowing that it cannot come out like this unless he met with her one-on-one.

He grins mischievously.

"You know those spy glasses? A special eye-glass that takes videos an—

"I know what it is." I cut in, wanting him to get to the main point of whether or not he met her.

"Right.

I knew you would complain about the quality of the camera. Honestly they are bad. So I had to use my spy glasses to take this one. And another one. Smart right?"

"You met her?" I finally ask directly.

His grin widens. "Yes."

I feel like smacking him. "I thought I told you not to."

"I know, I know. But I was just really curious to meet her. She is even more gorgeous in person than in photos. What’s her name again? I wanted to ask her, but it come off as suspicious, and you said not to—

"What did you say to her?"

"Mmmm. . ." He trails off as if trying to remember to bury me in suspense. "Say it!" I almost snap.

"No need to give me that mad look, it was just a few words.

I noticed that she uses keychains a lot. She has them hanging off her bag’s zipper.

I collect them too. I happen to have one on me that day and had an idea to approach her asking if it was hers."

"What did she say?"

"That it was not hers of course." He states matter-of-factly.

"How did she sound to you?"

He sighs, throwing his head back in exhaustion. Massaging his temples. "Oh fuck it. You should have done it yourself then.

This interrogation is more tiring than following her around."

"When did you get it?" He did not even put a timestamp. Then again he tried for an amateur. But he was never supposed to go near her. I know that I do not have the right to feel mad as though she belongs to me.

But its there hardening in my chest like a small rock.

"Does it matter?" I give him a serious look that answers that it does.

"Three or four days back. When she almost got hit by a car."

That landed like a blow. "WHAT?!"

"Calm down. I saved her." He wears an hero-ish grin. "It would have been really bad otherwise. She wasn’t looking at where she was going.

I used the opportunity to tap on my glasses and take the shots. I was already planning to find a way to get it done before that. The opportunity just fell into my lap."

"Which one is the most recent?"

"Those two you’re looking at."

"You said that was four days ago."

"Yes. That is when I stopped because I needed the time knowing you would soon be returning.

It is not an easy process getting spy glasses shots out on paper. And I also needed time for myself."

"Got anything else?"

He smirks. "Thought you would never ask." He brings out a Polaroid picture from his leather jacket pocket. "This guy." He says, placing it in front of me. "He seems close with your girl." He grabs another apple from a fruit plate on the table, taking a bite. The pictures are of Gweneth and a scrawny-looking guy. In one they appear to be walking together. Another of them standing near a car. This one is pretty good quality, allowing me to see that she was smiling at him.

"You need to see your what is going on between them." He advises. "If she is cheating on you with a below-average guy like him means you’re a terrible boyfriend."

"She’s not."

"Hmmm?"

"She is not my girl." Regretfully. I let out a mournful sigh, leaving the pictures and grabbing the half-empty wine bottle close to me, refilling my wine glass and his. He keenly shifts closer demanding answers.

"Wait. You two are not together anymore? Why did you break up?"

Break up? We were never a thing.

I down the contents in one gulp. "Thanks for this." Seeing that she is okay puts me a little bit at ease with myself.

"So you’re secretly obsessed with her now?

Fixated? Wow. I never pegged you as that type."

I take something out of my pajamas coat pocket and throw it at him. Keeping to our deal. "It’s at the back."

I had placed an order for it before I left to the middle east because I was not certain of the condition of the one I had after learning that Curtis has been driving it. I return to seeing the pictures again, staring at them for God knows how long before I decide to put it away.

I got changed and headed out to see if maybe I can have the privilege of enjoying a couple minutes of pleasure as a distraction.

********************

"An escort bar. Wow. This is going to be fun!

This is exactly what you need to help you get your mind over that girl.

Nothing a good time won’t fix. Come on, let’s go in." K’s enthusiasm is irritating and giving me a headache. Just why did he have to tag along? Damn it.

I should have waited for him to leave first.