Chapter 25
Leo
“What the fuck am I doing?”
I stare down at my phone, typing then deleting, then typing again, only to delete every single word I just wrote.
Ever since Nash and I got the message that we were being blackmailed, I’ve been in a living nightmare. Nash is panicking, and I wish that I could ease his fears, but I can’t. I know how bad this could go for both of us.
I wrote a post on my social media page, coming out as gay, but I can’t seem to find the courage to post it.
For me, it might release some of the tension I feel, but what about Nash? He doesn’t want the world to know he’s gay.
He doesn’t want the world to know about us.
I wish that we could be together and open to the world.
However, it’s just not our reality.
If I made this post, Nash might never forgive me.
I can’t risk losing him.
Chapter 26
Nash
I sit on the edge of my bed, heart pounding against my ribcage like a trapped bird, fingers trembling over the screen as I prepare to send the money. The digital landscape stretches before me like an abyss —a haunting reminder of the decision we've made: the choice to sacrifice a part of ourselves to protect what we hold dear.
The remnants of last night's conversation swirl in my mind, the heavy weight of our agreement pressing down on me. I had withdrawn the cash earlier, the cool bills resting in my wallet feeling heavier than lead, but sending it into the void feels like letting go of a part of my soul. As I pull up the Venmo app, my hands shake, the thought of our secret slipping away tightening the coil in my stomach.
Leo's footsteps echo in the hall, and I steal a glance at the clock—it’s time. I’ve barely managed to breathe since I first received that email. The click of the door opening brings a rush of warmth with him, his brow furrowed with concern that reflects my own inner turmoil.
"Are you ready?" he asks, stepping into the room, eyes glancing from me to the phone in my hands. I nod, though the sensation feels more like resignation than certainty.
"You’re sure this is what we need to do?" I ask, trying to gauge the shift in the air between us. The lingering tension of our earlier confrontation hovers over us like a storm cloud, the possibility of loss shaping every word.
He sighs, stepping closer as his gaze drops to the screen. "It's the only option we have right now. We can't risk everything we've built together just because we hope they’ll stop if we pay. This is a temporary solution, but it gives us time to figure things out."
His voice carries a weight, the tension mingling with the urgency of our reality, but deep down, the thought gnaws at me that paying won’t resolve this threat. “But we’re giving in, Leo. Doesn’t that worry you?”
"Of course it worries me," he replies, tension coiling around his words. "But right now, the best move is to keep our heads down and stay under the radar."
I take a deep breath, feeling the familiar electric current between us, intertwining desperation with an underlying hope that flickers in my heart. "Alright, let’s do it."
I open the transfer page, my hands hovering nervously over the screen, and Leo leans in, his shoulder brushing mine, creating a comfort that emboldens me despite the gravity of our situation. “Together,” he says softly, and I nod, feeling a momentary sense of unity in our shared decision.
With every digit I enter, the anxiety amplifies—the numbers flashing on the screen feel like a countdown to something monumental. It’s more than just money; it’s a lifeline we’re handing over, and the ramifications weigh heavily on my heart.
“Nash,” Leo whispers, his voice a low murmur that carries the weight of our shared vulnerability. “Once we hit send, there’s no turning back.”
“I know,” I reply, meeting his gaze. I can see the raw emotion in his eyes, a silent pact forged between us that this decision will shape our futures in ways we can’t yet comprehend.
With trembling fingers, I press the send button. A rush of relief washes over me as the screen flashes with confirmation, but it's quickly replaced by a suffocating sense of uncertainty, as if the walls are closing in.
“That’s it,” I murmur, my heart racing with a mix of emotions. The realization sinks in—we’ve sent the money, surrendered to our fears, yet the question of what comes next looms large.
Leo turns to face me, concern clouding his features. “Are you okay?”
