Chapter 3

When I woke on Saturday, I spent some time just sitting on the edge of my bed. I had no idea what to make of the night before, what it said about me, or where to go from there. My only solid thought was that it had been one of the best nights of my life in terms of just watching porn into the wee hours of the morning. I sat through the entire video, jacking off more times than I ever had in one night before, and the Flannery segment in particular was mind-blowing. My only definite course of action was to pop into my computer, rip the video file for later use, and return it to the video store. It’d at least give me some time to think.
Maybe I’m on my way down the hole, I thought to myself as I pulled on some pants and went downstairs. I headed right for the door, with the case again stuffed in my waistband.
“Where are you going? I just made lunch,” mom said, turning away from her show to look at me as I headed to the door. She knew something was wrong when I ran out without even asking about lunch. She was an average looking woman, of slightly above-average height and enough on her to make me believe the irritating midget who slept one room over was adopted. Even at home on a Saturday, she wore her usual business casual clothes and carried herself like it was her office. Her hair-the same light shade of brown as Amy and I-was kept short and professional looking, and when a mother had shorter hair than her son, it always led to wonderful stares and questions.(only time she will be in storie and father never is)
I shrugged, pulling my jacket off the coat rack. “I feel like taking a walk. I’ll only be a few minutes, then I’ll come eat. Need some air.”
She nodded and returned to watching her show as I stepped out in the brisk air and made my way to the video store. The plan was simple; come up, stick it in the slot they had at the entrance, and get out in under thirty seconds. Nobody had to know what I rented, nobody had to see anything or talk to me. I was just a regular returning a movie early, and so long as it wasn’t one of the clerks I was familiar with, I was gold. Small talk was the enemy.
My head raced as I approached the door. It was so risky that the taboo thrill surged through my body again and my heart pounded so hard I was sure a vein was visible on my neck. Returning a movie had never been nearly as exciting as it was in that brief moment. Another step, and music played in my head that made me feel far cooler than I really was, likely painting my face with a massive, goofy grin. Secret agent Adam Conlon. Mission accomplished, return to-
“Oh, hey Adam,” drawled a voice, and the swirl of pride, excitement, thrill, and joy plummeted. I turned on my heel and hid the souring of my self-satisfied smile as Angie came up behind me. “Fancy meetin’ you here.”
“Yeah,” I muttered. My hand had made its way to the waistband and clutched at the plastic case, but it let go. Angie was no idiot, she’d have spotted the case immediately if I pulled it out, and I didn’t want to risk her asking about it-or, worse, recognizing it. “Just returning something I watched last night. You?”
“Same.”
I nodded, opening the door and letting her pass. She took the bait, and by the time she turned around to face me, I had pulled off the delicate procedure of getting my arm ahead of me through the door and sliding the case down the slot without her noticing me. It worked, and now I could-
“Hey, Adam,” called the clerk, and my heart sank. The manager. Terry was one of those managers of small stores that took the time to learn the names of regulars, and with an eidetic memory, knew what movies they’d rented. It was a very useful skill for recommending movies to customers, but not when you want your rental history kept a secret. His voice sounded like he had something more to say, to get my attention rather than just to greet me. I cursed myself as I turned to greet him again. “I didn’t know you know Angie.”
“He’s workin’ at the daycare with me,” she said as she slipped a case of her own into the slot, too quick for me to get a view of it. “At least, I hope. Adam, can we talk outside?”
I nodded frantically, hoping that was all he had to say, that he’d make no mention of my strange rental, and that we could get out of there as soon as possible.