Suddenly, Justin sighs. “I’m sorry, I can’t give you the number back because it’s been assigned to someone else.”
“You havegotto be kidding me,” I protest. “Justin, it’s been turned off for a couple of days, not weeks or years. They must hold those numbers aside for a little while before reassigning them.”
“Usually they do, but if someone requests it, they’ll release it.”
Tanner’s hand on my shoulder tightens.
“Are you telling me that someone requested my number?”
Justin’s face pokers up. “I can’t give you that information. All I can say is that the number isn’t available.”
“Fine. Just give me a number, and I’ll figure it out.”
“Why would someone request my number?” I demand once Tanner and I are back in his vehicle. “It’s not special.”
“Someone isreallydicking with you,” Tanner replies as he pulls out of the parking lot, his face set in grim lines.
“It’s a coincidence,” I begin, but when he shoots me a warning look, the one that says he’s pissed, I just shrug. “Okay, maybe it is, and maybe it isn’t. It’s mostly just a pain in the ass.”
“It’s harassment,” he mutters. “I think it’s time you got an attorney, Sarah.”
“For what? I don’t have proof of literallyanything.”
“Then we’ll hire a fucking private investigator. We have to do something because I can’t just sit back and watch all of this shit happen to you, over and over again. It’s not okay, and it has to stop.”
“The private investigator isn’t a bad idea.” I tap my lips with the pad of my finger, thinking it over. “They might be able to dig something up that we haven’t.”
“I’m glad we see eye to eye on that one.”
“Do youknowany PIs?”
Tanner nods. “As a matter of fact, I do.”
July 30,2018
Dear Diary,
I found out about another affair. This makes six in the past ten years that I know about. Honestly, I just feel dead inside at this point. He doesn’t love me. I don’t think he ever did. I simply serve a purpose for him.
Obviously not well because he hasn’t had sex with me in more than five years and gets it elsewhere.
That doesn’t bother me. I have no interest in him physically.
I have no interest in him at all.
But I don’t have anywhere else to go. I’m stuck here.
I miss my friends and my brother. And I have so many regrets.
-Sarah
ChapterSixteen
Tanner
“So, what now?”
The question comes from Scott. I’m having lunch with him at Three Sisters, filling him in on everything that’s been happening with his sister.