Blackmailing The Untouched

Surrender And Shame

I walk over to him, sleeping on the sofa, and I give him a soft peck on his cold forehead before I carefully open the front door and step out.

I get into my jeep and will it to be quiet when the engine roars to life. I try to keep my composure as I make the drive to Zach’s house, but when I reach the winding road and I see the white house in the near distance my heart pounds dangerously inside my chest.

I pull up behind his truck, noticing a gold Honda parked to the side. I came at a bad time; he already has someone inside with him.

I should go—but Dad.

I put the Jeep in park and debate on whether to get out and knock on the door or not, my hands tapping restlessly on the steering wheel as I try to search through the curtains in the windows. The only thing I can make out are two shadows inside.

I’m about to put the Jeep in reverse to back out of there when a flash of Dad runs through my head. Visions of the possible outcomes from the information Zach has begin to flood my mind.

No. I have to do this.

After shaking myself free from the horrible images, I quickly get out and walk to the front door. As I get closer to the door, I hear muffled voices coming from inside the house.

“No, I already told you that I don’t want anything more.” The voice sounds far away, but I’d know it anywhere. The deep rasp and coldness send a shock through me. Zach is berating someone.

“You’re a Bastard, Zach!” Shouts a female voice that I know I’ve heard but just can’t quite put a face to.

“I told you all this when you came knocking at my door just last month.” He continues, and I can hear the starkness in his tone. He doesn’t appear to care about the feelings of the female who sounds distraught.

“So, I’m okay to screw but nothing else?!” Shouts the female. Her voice is now high with a scream that echoes into the air. “Go to hell!”

There is a short pause, and then I hear a sound that rips through the night.

A slap?

“Don’t come to me with your tears.” Zach retorts, seemingly unfazed about being slapped. In fact, he almost sounds bored. “You knew what this was when you decided to get involved with me again, Anna.”

Anna?! But, she’s supposed to be with Travis? Has she been cheating on him with Zach their entire relationship? Is this the reason she has been acting so strange and rude around me? Sally was right, Anna does have feelings for Zach.

I shouldn’t be listening to this.

This is too private and absolutely none of my business.

I’ll just come back when he’s not so busy.

I turn around to walk back to my vehicle, but when I take the first step, the front door opens wide, and out storms a teary-eyed Anna wearing a long tan skirt and a long white cardigan, and the moment her eyes meet mine, I feel the heat of her jealousy. Her top lip curls up, and she shoves past me as she makes her way to her car.

Zach stands on the porch with folded arms and watches with interest.

“Is this the reason?” Anna shoots daggers my way. “You’ve found a new toy to play with?” Her voice is vile, almost spitting out her words.

I’m too embarrassed to be standing here, so I innocently look away from the accusations in her furious face.

Zach doesn’t respond as I stand there unsure what to say or do next. I feel out of place, and the swift breeze in the night makes me shiver.