Chapter 30.
Andrianne tossed and turned in her bed, her mind filled with thoughts of her father’s threats and Steve’s involvement in dangerous activities. She couldn’t bear the thought of talking to Lucas and hearing his justification for not taking her safety seriously.
As she tried to calm herself down, she heard a persistent knocking on her door. She groaned and buried her face in her pillow, hoping whoever it was would give up and leave her alone. But the knocking continued, growing louder and more insistent.
Andrianne gritted her teeth and reached for her pillow, pressing it over her ears in an attempt to drown out the sound. She couldn’t deal with Lucas right now, not when she was so upset and confused.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the knocking stopped. Andrianne breathed a sigh of relief and listened as Lucas’s footsteps retreated down the hallway. She knew he wouldn’t give up easily, but she just couldn’t face him right now.
Feeling drained and overwhelmed, Andrianne picked up her phone and dialed Steve’s number. But as it rang, she hesitated. Did she really want to involve him in all of this? She knew he was already in a precarious situation, and she didn’t want to make things any worse for him.
“Hello?” Steve answered.
“Hey, Steve. It’s Andrianne,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
“Hey, Andrianne. What’s up?” Steve asked.
“I’m sorry to do this, but I need to raincheck on our plans for tonight. Something’s come up,” Andrianne said.
Andrianne hesitated for a moment before answering. “No, it’s fine. I just need to take care of something. We can reschedule for another time.”
“Okay, no problem. Just let me know when you’re free,” Steve replied.
Andrianne felt a pang of guilt. She hated lying to Steve, but she didn’t want to involve him in the drama with her father.
“I will. Thanks for understanding, Steve,” she said.
“Of course. Take care, Andrianne,” Steve said before hanging up.
Andrianne dialed Carmen’s number and waited anxiously for her to answer. Finally, after a few rings, Carmen picked up.
“Hey, Andrianne! What’s up?” Carmen asked cheerfully.
“Hey, Carmen. I was wondering if you’re free tomorrow afternoon? I need to talk to you about something important,” Andrianne replied.
“Of course, I’m free tomorrow. What’s going on? Is everything okay?” Carmen asked, concern lacing her voice.
Andrianne hesitated for a moment before deciding to confide in her friend. “It’s about my dad. He’s been threatening me, Carmen. I’m scared,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Carmen gasped audibly. “Oh my god, Andrianne. Are you okay? Have you gone to the police?”
Andrianne shook her head, even though Carmen couldn’t see her. “No, I don’t think that would do any good. I just need to talk to someone I trust, someone who can help me figure out what to do next.”
“Absolutely, Andrianne. I’m here for you. Let’s meet up tomorrow and talk it out. How about the restaurant near the park? It’s quiet and private,” Carmen suggested.
Andrianne nodded, feeling grateful for her friend’s support. “That sounds perfect. Thank you, Carmen.”
“Of course, Andrianne. We’ll figure this out together. See you tomorrow,” Carmen said before they both hung up.
Andrianne opened the door to find Lucas standing there, looking stern and determined. She hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say or how to react.
“Good morning, Lucas,” she said softly, hoping to diffuse any tension between them.
“Good morning, Andrianne,” he replied curtly, stepping into the room. “Can we talk?”
Andrianne sighed inwardly, feeling a familiar wave of frustration wash over her. “I’m really not in the mood for a conversation right now, Lucas.”
Lucas raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong? Did I do something to upset you?”
Andrianne bit her lip, struggling to keep her emotions in check. “It’s not you, it’s just… everything. I’m feeling really overwhelmed right now.”
Lucas studied her for a moment, his expression softening. “I’m sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can do to help?”
Andrianne shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. I just need some time to myself.”
Lucas nodded, seeming to understand. “Okay. I’ll let you be, then. But please know that I’m here for you if you need anything.”
Andrianne managed a small smile. “Thanks, Lucas. I appreciate it.”
Lucas turned to leave, and Andrianne watched as he walked out the door and got into his car. She felt a pang of guilt as she realized how much she had been pushing him away lately, but she couldn’t bring herself to deal with the complicated feelings that had been building up inside her.
Andrianne sat at the dining table, surrounded by all sorts of mouth-watering dishes. Her stomach rumbled in anticipation as she took in the sight of freshly baked bread, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and a bowl of fresh fruit. The aroma wafted to her nostrils, and she couldn’t help but smile with delight. She poured herself a glass of orange juice and took a sip, relishing the tangy sweetness of the drink.
As she ate, her mind wandered to her meeting with Carmen later that day. It wasn’t about her, but about Carmen. She wondered what Carmen was going to say and what was so important that she had to meet up with her friend. Andrianne finished her breakfast and cleared the dishes from the table. She went upstairs to get dressed, trying to shake off the nagging feeling that something was wrong.
Andrianne went upstairs to her room, feeling satisfied after her breakfast. She decided to take a quick nap before heading out to meet Carmen. As she lay on her bed, she found herself lost in thought, contemplating the events that had taken place in the past few days.
She thought about Steve and their complicated relationship, and she couldn’t help but wonder what he was doing at that moment. Was he thinking about her too? And then there was Lucas, her contract husband whose relationship with her was about to hit rock bottom. She couldn’t quite put her finger on what was bothering him, but she knew it was something serious.