Sending a second message was a little easier, but it still wasn't something Simon could do without remorse. But then he sent a third and a fourth, and every time he saw Max pacing nervously around the room when he got home, he felt it had been worth it. 

Maybe it was stupid of him, maybe it was insensitive, but in the end Simon decided to have even more fun. 

The first time he decided to take a risk was when he and Max were lying on their couch watching a film. Or rather, they were both playing on their phones, relaxing after a long day at school, with the TV playing in the background. 

Simon was on one side, Max on the other, and they were both turned over so they couldn't see each other's screens. It was the perfect opportunity, and Simon decided to take it. 

He was nervous, but more than anything he wanted to see Max's reaction first-hand, so he selected a phone number he had purely for the purpose of tormenting his boyfriend. 

It had been two days since he had last blackmailed him, and he thought that was enough to give him the false hope that it would be the last time. Spoiler: it wasn't. 

To Max: Long time no see. 

To Max: I hope you're having a good day. 

To Max: It will end now. 

After the first message Max frowned, after the second he gripped the phone tightly in his hand and after the third Simon saw him clench his teeth to calm himself down and not react. 

Before a satisfied smile could appear on his face, and before Max could realise that he had Simon's attention, he quickly turned his gaze back to his phone. 

From Max: Go to hell

From Max: I'm not playing your games anymore

Funny how he thought he had a choice.

Simon decided to send his own phone number as his next message. 

To Max: Should I send my gift to Simon instead? 

Unable to lie still any longer, Max pulled himself up into a sitting position, his eyes glued to the phone, now gripped tightly in both hands. 

"Everything okay, babe?" Simon asked him, his tone somewhere between confusion and concern. 

Max jerked, as if he'd forgotten that Simon was only inches away, and gave him a tight smile that was obviously fake. 

"Don't worry, everything's fine. Emmett texted me asking about homework and I didn't even know we had any." His excuse was made up on the spur of the moment, but if Simon hadn't known the truth, he would probably have believed it. 

"Shit. Are you going to be able to do it? Want me to help you?" Simon also pulled himself up into a sitting position and moved closer to Max, who quickly turned the phone around so that Simon couldn't see any of it. 

"No need," Max assured him immediately, giving him another all-too-sweet smile. "I don't need it for tomorrow. I'll meet Emmett in the library tomorrow and we'll do it together." 

"So you're ditching me for Emmett," Simon replied amused. "Should I be jealous?" 

His finger was on the send button as he'd managed to write the message in advance and then clicked on it without Max noticing. It would be suspicious if the blackmailer stopped typing the moment Max was looking at him. 

However, Max decided not to be as subtle as he was and glanced at the screen as his phone vibrated in his hand. 

"Now I'm getting jealous," Simon declared when Max not only didn't answer him, but turned his attention back to the phone. 

Max winced and looked at him. "Sorry, babe. I have to sort this out. Give me a second." He got up and left the room without waiting for Simon's reply. 

The blonde took advantage of the fact that he was sitting with his back to the door and let a satisfied smile show on his face. 

To Max: The longer I wait, the more expensive it will be.

That was his last message, which unnerved Max. Simon, on the other hand, was more than satisfied. That night, he managed to get a solid $200 from him. 

However, this was not the only experiment he carried out. Two days later he sent him another photo. This time with a normal amount and no similar threats. Max didn't protest in any way, so it wasn't even that funny. The next day, however, he decided to text him again when he least expected it.

Max was just in the shower and surprisingly left his phone lying in the kitchen. It was odd, since Max rarely left his phone out of reach, especially when Simon was around, so he decided to take advantage of it. 

First he sent one message, checking to see if he had the sound or vibrate on. To his delight, there was a ding. And so he sent a second and a third and then picked up Max's phone and headed for the bathroom door. 

"Babe!" he shouted rather loudly, hoping to be heard over the water in the shower. "Babe!" 

He knocked on the door and then sent another message, causing Max's mobile to ding. 

"Babe, someone keeps texting you. I think it's urgent. Should I check it out?" He yelled and knocked on the door again. 

He barely had time to finish his sentence before he heard the water in the bathroom turn off. Immediately after that came the noise and Max walked quickly to the door. 

"No need," he said as soon as the door began to open. He leaned out from behind it, hiding his nakedness as he obviously hadn't even brought a towel in his haste, and held the door tightly in one hand while holding the other out to Simon. 

Although Max tried to look calm, the way the water was dripping off him and his hand was tensely reaching for his phone, he wasn't so calm at all. 

Simon decided not to make things easy for him. He deliberately ignored his hand and the fact that he had rushed out of the shower, and continued to ask innocent questions. "Is everything all right? I'm sure it can wait while you shower and dry off." 

"Simon." The tone in which Max said his name was neither kind nor gentle. Simon knew he'd backed him into a corner and decided to push the issue even harder. He made a hurt face and pressed Max's phone against his wet chest. "I was just worried," he said in a defeated tone. 

That was enough to make Max realise his mistake. 

His expression changed comically, his eyes widened and he opened and closed his mouth as if he didn't know what to say. His hand covered Simon's, but he didn't take the phone. 

"I'm so sorry." He finally found the words. "I'm just stressed. I didn't mean to raise my voice at you, Simon. I'm really sorry." 

"Then tell me what's wrong," Simon argued immediately, taking his chance. "I want to be there for you, Max. I hate to see you stressed." Simon covered their hands with his other hand. "Talk to me." 

The situation was turning into a competition to see who could give the best performance as an actor, and Simon was determined to win it. 

"I'll... I'll explain everything to you, I'll just finish my shower, okay?" Max surprised him. Fortunately, Simon controlled his expression and just nodded silently. He couldn't believe he had finally gotten Max to fess up. 

"Of course," he assured him. But before he could be convinced that Max was finally going to tell him that he was the cheating bastard, he had to make sure that they were both thinking the same thing.  "Is it something bad?"

"No, of course not. You have nothing to worry about," Max assured him immediately. The last shred of honesty Simon thought Max had had suddenly vanished. Of course he wasn't going to confess. He probably just wanted to delay this conversation so he could come up with a plausible lie. 

"Okay." Simon nodded again and stepped away from him, leaving him his phone. "I'll be in the living room." To add to his impression of caring for Max, he stroked his cheek before turning to leave, and Max leaned into his touch. 

"I love you," he told him, looking into his eyes, and Simon felt his stomach heave. 

"I love you too." Simon gave him what he thought was a genuine smile and then, without another word, he turned and walked into the living room. He heard Max close the door behind him and a second later the sound of water, but Max didn't get back into the shower.

Simon knew this because his phone vibrated in his hands.

From Max: This has to stop 

From Max: What do you want from me?

Simon smiled to himself. 

To Max: What if I want Simon for myself? 

To Max: I think I have plenty to offer him.

From Max: Simon is mine

From Max: Blackmail me all you want, but stay away from Simon

To Max: How romantic

To Max: Pity he's not your one and only

From Max: He's the love of my life

From Max: You don't know anything about me

To Max: I know the important thing

To Max: Like who you had lunch with 

Simon attached a photo of Max with a brunette guy from a restaurant to his last message.  

From Max: How much?

It turned out that Max had got used to this and already knew the drill. 

To Max: 150 

To Max: You kept me waiting

At this rate, Simon would earn more from these photos than from his job. 

Max didn't text back, but Simon had no doubt that although he hadn't received a reply, he could expect to see the requested amount in his account. Apparently Max was determined to keep Simon in the dark at all costs, and it would almost have been nice if it didn't mean he was hiding his affair.