Or was his unfounded accusation just an excuse to get rid of her and take the money?
His eyes too bleary to continue reading, Sebastian put the transcripts aside and reached over to turn off his computer. Before he could press the off button, however, the response he’d been waiting for finally appeared on the screen.
WhosYourDaddy: You up? Sorry, I didn’t see your message.
The exhaustion that’d been dragging at him fell away as Sebastian considered how to reply. He didn’t want this session to be more inane chitchat, leading nowhere. He wasn’t here to entertain Malcolm while Malcolm fantasized about getting it on with his ex-girlfriend.
After stretching his neck to loosen the tense muscles, he typed.
BrownEyedGirl: I’m up, all right, wishing you were here to hold me.
WhosYourDaddy: We’ll be together someday.
BrownEyedGirl: I’d like that. You make me feel special-like more than a tired soccer mom. LOL
WhosYourDaddy: Because you are special.
BrownEyedGirl: Do you mean that? Or is it just a bunch of writing on a screen?
WhosYourDaddy: Touch yourself for me. Be my hands. I’ll tell you what to do.
Sebastian rolled his eyes. Internet sex? “Mary” couldn’t settle for that.
BrownEyedGirl: No, it’s not the same.
WhosYourDaddy: It’s the next best thing. I can’t be there, babe, but I can do my part from here.
BrownEyedGirl: Why won’t you agree to meet? L.A. isn’t that far.
WhosYourDaddy: I can’t.
BrownEyedGirl: Even if I come to you? I already told you I would. Let’s get together and see if what we’re feeling is as real as it seems.
There was a short delay.
WhosYourDaddy: My life is complicated right now, Mary.
BrownEyedGirl: You’re not married, are you? You haven’t been leading me on while you have a wife sleeping in the next room!
WhosYourDaddy: No, nothing like that. I swear it.
BrownEyedGirl: Then what?
WhosYourDaddy: I’m just…having some trouble with my roommates. It’s been a rough night.
BrownEyedGirl: You’ve never mentioned any roommates.
WhosYourDaddy: They didn’t have a place to stay. I was nice enough to take them in.
BrownEyedGirl: When?
WhosYourDaddy: A few weeks ago.
BrownEyedGirl: Are they male or female?
WhosYourDaddy: Female. Sisters. But there’s nothing going on between us. They’re not my type. I thought they could help out with the cooking and cleaning, that’s all.
BrownEyedGirl: Right.
WhosYourDaddy: What’s that supposed to mean?
Sebastian didn’t respond
WhosYourDaddy: I can tell what you’re thinking. But stop it. I told you, I’m not sleeping with these girls.
BrownEyedGirl: Then why don’t you want to see me?
WhosYourDaddy: I do. I’ve wanted to be with you for years.
BrownEyedGirl: And yet all you do is chat. There’s got to be a reason. You’ve got to be hiding a wife or a girlfriend.
WhosYourDaddy: I’m not! I’m just taking it slow, like you asked me to. Don’t pick a fight. We were doing fine.
BrownEyedGirl: Having no physical contact is fine? Making empty promises through a computer is fine? You say I met you at a party, but I can’t even remember what you look like.
WhosYourDaddy: I sent you a picture.
BrownEyedGirl: It’s not enough.
When this brought no answer, Sebastian got up and opened a beer from the courtesy bar. He had so much adrenaline pumping through him he couldn’t stay seated. Was he being too aggressive? Maybe. But this Internet relationship could go on indefinitely. He had to trick Malcolm into blowing his cover.
At last Malcolm’s response appeared.
WhosYourDaddy: Someday, like I said. I promise. I think about you all the time.
Sebastian studied those words. Should he give up for tonight? Back off? He decided to at least change his approach. Sitting down again, he wrote back.
BrownEyedGirl: Forget I said anything.
WhosYourDaddy: No, it’s okay to want to see me. I like that. I want to see you, too.
BrownEyedGirl: Then why don’t you pick a place to meet? Harris Ranch is between L.A. and Sacramento. We could meet there.
WhosYourDaddy: I don’t understand why you’re suddenly in such a rush. You’re the one who wanted to take this slow, remember?
BrownEyedGirl: But it’s as if I know you already. I mean, more than just a brief acquaintance. There’s a kinship here I haven’t felt with anyone in a long time. Am I crazy?
WhosYourDaddy: Not at all.
BrownEyedGirl: I think it’s because you remind me of someone I used to care about.
WhosYourDaddy: Who?
Sebastian waited, hoping his delay would make Malcolm believe “Mary” was reluctant to respond.
WhosYourDaddy: Are you going to tell me?
BrownEyedGirl: No.
WhosYourDaddy: Why not?
BrownEyedGirl: Because it doesn’t matter. It’s not like I’ll ever see him again.
WhosYourDaddy: Tell me!
The real Mary had made it sound as if she was still bitter over Malcolm’s betrayal. Sebastian needed to spin that into something more appealing. If he played it smart, maybe he could make Malcolm so eager to reclaim Mary’s adulation, the adulation he remembered from his glory days, that he couldn’t help but step forward.
BrownEyedGirl: Just someone I once knew.
WhosYourDaddy: That’s all the info I get?
BrownEyedGirl: You know him, okay? You’ve mentioned him to me before.
WhosYourDaddy: Are we talking about your ex-husband?
BrownEyedGirl: No.
WhosYourDaddy: Someone you met before that?
BrownEyedGirl: Yes.
WhosYourDaddy: This is driving me nuts, Mary. Tell me who you’re thinking about.
BrownEyedGirl: Tomorrow would’ve been our anniversary.
WhosYourDaddy: Is it Malcolm Turner?
Bingo. He knew about the anniversary.
WhosYourDaddy: I’m right, aren’t I? It’s Malcolm.
BrownEyedGirl: Maybe.
WhosYourDaddy: I am.
BrownEyedGirl: Okay, I’ll admit it. But if you talk to him or anyone who knows him, please don’t say anything. He’s no good for me. Even if he’s single, I’m determined to leave him in the past.
Sebastian hoped he wasn’t being too obvious. Malcolm wasn’t stupid. But he was vain and arrogant enough to believe he could cheat on a girl, break her heart and have her pining for him fifteen years later.
WhosYourDaddy: You’re telling me you’re still in love with Malcolm?
BrownEyedGirl: I don’t know what I’m saying. It’s late, and I’m not making sense.