From A to Z - Angel Reyes

Chapter 20

It was on a Monday, ten days after her parents arrived, that Zara finally got to take them back to the airport and say goodbye. The visit was long overdue but they had begun to overstay their welcome. Angel was supposed to be there to see them off as well but he was seemingly missing in action.

"I love you," Holly said, holding back tears. "I don't want to leave."

"Mom," Zara chuckled. "I'll see you soon. Maybe Angel and I will come out over summer break."

Holly's eyes lit up. "I can show him off to some of my girlfriends."

"Alright, Holly," Bob said, annoyed but still monotone. "It was good to see you, sweetheart. I'm sorry I dampened some of the visit."

"It's okay," she sighed. "Please don't pull a JFK junior up there, okay? I'd like you to walk me down the aisle before these retirement shenanigans kill you guys."

"Walk you down the aisle?" Holly asked excitedly. "Did Angel propose? Is he going to? Are you two planning to?"

"No," Zara rolled her eyes. "I mean I think it's in our future but we haven't discussed it."

"I am so happy for you, baby," Holly said, hugging Zara again. "He's a great guy."

"He is," Zara beamed. "He probably got caught up at work, I'm sorry he's not here."

"It's okay," they both said in unison.

Hugs and kisses were shared once again before Bob and Holly finally left for home. Zara waited until they were out of sight to leave and call Angel. The call went to voicemail and her stomach sank.

"Hey, it's me, I know we hate voicemails but I'm worried about you. My parents just left. I'm going home, I go back tomorrow but come by or call me. Please."

—

Zara had been home for a few hours before she heard a motorcycle coming down her block. She rushed out to the porch half excited to see Angel and half terrified it was EZ with bad news. In a way, both were correct.

Angel parked and charged up to the porch with a purpose. He didn't smile or greet her as he normally did.

"What's wrong?"

"I trusted you, I-I told you shit, Zara. This whole goddamn time you've been sneaking around behind my fucking back?"

"What?" Zara was more confused than defensive. "What are you talking about?"

"Campbell," he snapped. "Was it all a lie so I wouldn't suspect it or are you just a masochist?"

"Campbell?" She gasped. "What about him?"

Reaching into his kutte, Angel pulled her panties out and tossed them at her. "I have pictures too."

She flinched at first, unsure of what he was throwing, then reached out to catch the underwear. "No, he made me give him these," now she was defensive. "The day after you and my dad kicked his ass. He said I owed him." She was pleading with Angel now. "Wait, what pictures?"

"Convenient you didn't tell me he did that shit until now."

Angel unlocked his phone and handed it to her, the text conversation with an unsaved number was on the screen. There were seven photos of Zara, all in varying states of undress, one still from a home movie she didn't know Campbell had made of them when they were together and a video.

Zara dry heaved, trying not to vomit, and shook her head. "That's old. Those are old, Angel."

"Don't lie to me," he snapped. "That trip to San Diego? You plan that around his gig?"