CRYPTO: Infidelity (Book 1)

CHAPTER 46: POSITIVES

"Isn't this nice?" I asked Rockie as we looked around an antique store.

"The glass elephant?" he asked.

"No. I mean, did you notice that nothing bad is happening? It's all about how you look at things. If you look for the negative, you'll only see the negative."

"You're probably right. I should focus on the positives more often. Hey, do you think I should get something for Birdie while we're here?"

"Like what?" I asked.

"Just a souvenir."

"Well, I mean..." I leaned against the shelf as I thought about what I should say. I was actually thinking about getting Birdie a gift, but it probably wouldn't mean much if Rockie got her something better and I knew he could afford something good.

The shelf started to tip and I quickly took my pressure off it, but it was too late. The shelf filled with expensive antiques went crashing down.

All the shoppers looked over at me and the broken shelf and glass on the floor.

"I ain't payin' for that," Rockie said.

The shopkeeper went off on me in her native language. I assumed she wanted me to pay for all the damage so I paid with my credit card. I didn't currently have enough in my bank but I would once I was paid for the mission we just went on.

"What was that you were saying about focusing on the negative?" Rockie asked me.

Later on, we passed an ice cream shop.

"We should get some dessert," Uncle Blade suggested.

"I'm not spending any more money," I said.

"I can pay for whatever you get," he said.

"Alright. Fine."

As we waited in line, I checked my phone. I had a missed call from my work partner and a few texts. The texts said:

"Hey. Just wanted to drop off something for you. Consider it a get-well-soon gift. What's your address?"

"I know you're home. If you don't tell me your address, I'll have to look it up for myself. Is that okay?"

I couldn't let him find out my address. Not only would he find out I lived with my criminal uncle, but he might also see that I wasn't home. I had taken sick days off. He expected me to be at home, sick. Not on vacation in Paris.

"What do you want?" Uncle Blade asked me. It was our turn to order.

"Uh, I can't read French. Just get me whatever looks good," I told him.

I started to text my partner to tell him I didn't want him to come over at all. My ice cream was ready in a matter of seconds so I took it and started to type with one paw as we headed outside.

Another text came in from my partner: "I hope your silence means I have permission because I'm looking up your address now."

I couldn't let that happen. I quickly finished my text and was about to send it when I was hit by an animal on rollerblades. My ice cream splattered onto my chest and my phone went flying.

"Pardon!" the animals shouted as they continued rollerblading away.

I watched as my phone bounced off the curb and slid into a sewer drain.

"No! No! No!" I shouted as I ran over to the sewer. My phone was a goner. The sewer was deep and dark and filled with nasty water.

"You really shouldn't text and walk," Rockie commented.

"You're really not having a good day," Uncle Blade said.

"You think?" I said. "My partner said he's gonna look up our address and come over. I was trying to text him to tell him not to come over but now I can't!"

"I didn't know you were gay," Rockie said. "That explains a lot."

"My work partner," I told him.

"Oh."

"If he finds out I'm not really sick, I'm probably gonna get fired."

"Let's not jump to conclusions," my uncle said. "People call in sick all the time even when they're not sick. They could be having family issues."

"Speaking of family issues, "I said. "He's gonna find out I live with you when he looks up our address."

"What's wrong with that?"

"You're a criminal!"

"Not so loud! There are tourists around," he said. "You have nothing to worry about. I've never been caught so I'm not on record of breaking the law, other than maybe speeding."

"Why is he coming over?" Rockie asked.

"He wanted to drop a gift or something off," I said.

"He'll probably just leave it on the doorstep then. It's not like he'll barge into your house looking for you."

"He might if he notices my car is missing and I haven't been answering my phone."

"You should've told him you were visiting a sick family member," my uncle said.

"Well, it's too late for that."

"Well, since there's nothing you can do now, might as well move on," Rockie said.

"If you know his number, you can use my phone," Uncle Blade offered.

"I don't know his phone number," I said.

"Bummer," Rockie said. "Oh well. I'm sure it'll be fine. You know, you should be more like me and focus on the positives."