Page 68 of Imogen

“Zach, let me go. You are delusional. We are over. And any chance you had for a friendship was diminished the minute you stole from the company. Now let go and go home,” I order.

“No. Not until we make this right between us. We can make this right, Imogen. We can. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Please, forgive me. We can start again.”

“Zach, stop.” I break, tears gathering in my eyes.

“I can make it right if you just let me.”

“Stop,” I yell. “There’s nothing you can do that can make any of this right.”

His hand shoots out so fast, I don’t see it coming. My cheek prickles from the sting, his slap knocking me back a step. I inhale sharply, holding my hand to my stinging cheek.

When he reaches for me, I react, swinging my fist back to land a punch to his nose. He hisses as a trickle of blood leaks from his nostril. “Imogen.”

“Do not come near me,” I warn.

He doesn’t listen, grabbing me by the shoulders. “Please, I didn’t mean to do that. I didn’t. I just can’t bear for us to be apart anymore.”

“Let me go,” I cry.

“Yeah, let her go,” my dad warns, and seconds later, Zach is ripped away from me. My dad throws him to the ground. He turns to check on me, his gaze zeroing in on my cheek. “Did he fucking hit you?”

I rush forward, grabbing him by the arm when he goes for Zach. “Dad, don’t. It will make this worse if you hit him. I’m okay. And he hit me first, so I can say the punch was self-defence.”

Zach gets to his feet, spitting on the grass at his feet. “I came to say I’m sorry.”

“You’ve got a funny way of showing it,” Dad snaps.

Mum gasps, running to my side to examine my cheek. “Darling, are you okay?”

I grab her hand, forcing a smile. “I’m good. Zach was just leaving.”

“Please. I made mistakes. I don’t want to lose you.”

“Well, you have,” I admit. “Please leave, Zach. We’re over. Our friendship is over and I never want to see you again.”

He lowers his head. “You don’t mean that.”

“Yes, I do. Now leave.”

“I love you,” he rasps. “I made a stupid mistake but it can be fixed. We can be fixed.”

“If you don’t leave in the next minute, I’m phoning the police,” Dad threatens.

Zach meets my gaze. “My life means nothing without you. I have nothing. I’ve lost my space at university because of you. My parents are selling my home. I will have a record. But you can help me get it back. We can do anything if we are back together.”

It’s as honest as he’ll ever get. “I’m sorry your life has turned upside down, Zach. But this isn’t what I wanted. These are the consequences of your actions and now you need to live with them.”

A cold mask slips over his face. The tears in his eyes dry up, and the veins in his temples pulse. “Then I’ll take you down with me.”

“Are you threatening my daughter?” Dad spits out, stepping closer.

Mum and I both move together, grabbing his arms. “Dad, don’t do this. Ignore him.”

“And it will cost you everything,” Zach threatens before shaking his head. “This isn’t over.”

I don’t let go of my dad even as Zach gets into his car. It’s not until he’s pulling away that I let out a breath and let go of my grip.

Dad pulls me against his chest, running his hand down my hair. “I’m sorry I didn’t come out sooner. The television was on loud.”

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