The Prank​​

When my boyfriend ordered me food delivery, he decided to play a stupid prank in the notes: “This is for my e-girlfriend. Could you do me a solid and check if she’s as hot as her pictures? Heard she looks like a total goddess.”

Sighing, I decided to play along with his little game.

When I opened the door, the delivery guy’s eyes raked over me. “Wow,” he said. “You’re really beautiful.”

I gave him a polite "thank you," but a strange knot of anxiety tightened in my stomach. I tried to shut the door quickly, but his foot shot out, blocking it.

He stared at me, his eyes boring into mine.

“Thank you?” he repeated, his voice low.

“So… how are you going to thank me?”

1

I swallowed hard, a cold dread washing over me. My instincts screamed that this was dangerous. The way he looked at me was predatory, like he wanted to devour me whole. It was almost eleven at night; if he forced his way in, I wouldn’t stand a chance.

Trying to keep the tremor out of my voice, I forced a calm tone. “You’re right. It’s late and you worked hard to get here. I’ll have my boyfriend add a generous tip for you.”

I turned my head and called into the empty apartment, “Liam! Hey, that delivery you ordered? The driver is super nice, make sure you give him a good tip!”

My boyfriend, Liam, wasn't here, of course. I was just trying to scare the guy off, make him think I wasn't alone. My heart was a jackhammer against my ribs, but I managed to squeeze out a smile. “Okay, my food’s getting cold, and you probably have more deliveries. Have a good night.”

I pushed against the door again.

His foot didn’t budge. His face, pitted with coarse pores, leaned closer.

“You think I’m an idiot?” he sneered. “If your boyfriend was home, why would the order have your phone number on it?”

2

I flinched back, cursing Liam in my head. He always used his own number when he ordered for me, then texted me when it arrived. Why, of all nights, did he have to use my number and pull this stupid prank with this specific creep?

Gritting my teeth, I improvised. “Oh, that? He wanted it to be a surprise, so he wanted me to be the one to get it. It’s just a little game we play. If he used his number, he’d have to get the door, and that would ruin the fun. You know?”

The driver grunted, pretending to agree, but then his other hand braced against the doorframe. I could feel him starting to push, his strength slowly building against mine.

Panic seized me. My hands, slick with sweat, were straining to hold the door. If he got it open, I was done for.

My eyes widened in feigned annoyance, and I yelled back into the apartment, “Liam, say something! Did you fall asleep?!”

A second later, my boyfriend’s familiar voice drifted from the bedroom.

“Hey, babe, I'm here. Must have dozed off for a sec. What’s taking so long with the food? Are you still out there?”

Hearing his voice, the driver finally relented. He stopped pushing and pulled his foot back. His entire demeanor shifted.

“Ha, my bad,” he said with a sheepish grin. “I...