Blackmail

Zoe’s POV

“Happy birthday, dear,” Mum said as she placed the box in front of me on the dining table. “Sorry, it coming late but with this that will never happen again.”
I eyed the box instead of looking at her.

“Come on, open it up.” She pressed.

I sighed, still keeping eyes on the box and not at Andrew who was still right in front of me. Mum did not need to force him to be here if did not want to. It made the situation even more awkward.

I placed a tentative hand on the pink ribbon that tied the lid closed before tugging on it. It fell away and it lifted the lip and peeked inside. It was a white box with the image of a flip phone.

My eyebrow almost disappeared into my hairline. “A phone?”

Mum jumped a bit, obviously happy with my reaction. “Come on, check it out, everything has already been set.”

I discarded the white box and pulled out the phone. I could have giggled, it was so darn shiny. “Oh my gosh.” I could not explain my excitement.

“Now you can call your new friend,” Mum