Chapter Thirteen
759 Words
****Maria’s POV****
Andrew’s lips pressed against mine with a deliberate softness that made the world outside the car dissolve.
The kiss was slow, nothing rushed about it—like he wanted to memorize every inch of me, even if this was supposed to be just a game.
My hands slid up to his chest, feeling the steady thump of his heartbeat beneath the crisp fabric of his shirt. The warmth there grounded me, even though inside, everything felt like it was spinning.
I wasn’t ready for this. Not really. I wanted to pull back, remind myself and him that this was all pretend—a contract, a performance. But I didn’t. I let myself get lost in it, just for a moment.
Maybe part of me never wanted to stop.
Then, the sharp ring of my phone shattered the fragile bubble around us. The moment broke, leaving a sudden, awkward silence.
I pulled back, heart racing, cheeks flushed, fumbling for my phone as it vibrated insistently against the leather seat.
The screen lit up: Susan.
My breath hitched, and for a second, I hesitated. Andrew’s eyes stayed on me—curious but careful. I slid the phone open and answered before he could say anything.
“Hey,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, casual.
“Maria!” Susan’s voice came through bright and cheerful, too bright for someone who’d been away for weeks. “Guess who’s back in town?”
“You,” I said with a weak smile, even though she couldn’t see it.
“Guilty!” She laughed, a sound I remembered from countless phone calls and coffee dates—friendly, familiar, like nothing ever changed. “I wanted to call instead of just texting. Thought it’d be more personal. It’s been forever. I’m dying to catch up. So, what have you been up to? Missed anything wild while I was gone?”
I forced another smile, even though I felt anything but carefree. “Not really. You know, just work, the usual.”
“Oh, I get that,” she sighed. “Work is draining, but I swear, we deserve some fun. Now that I’m back, we have to make up for lost time—coffee, gossip, a proper catch-up. You and me, like old times.”
Her enthusiasm was infectious, but it also made my chest tighten. There were things I wasn’t ready to share—things Susan couldn’t know yet.
“I’d like that,” I said carefully, keeping my voice light. “Maybe tomorrow? We could do brunch or lunch.”
“Perfect! I’m free all day, so whatever works for you. And I want to hear everything. I mean everything.”
Her words wrapped around me, almost too warm. Part of me wanted to say no, to keep my distance. But I couldn’t bring myself to do that—not yet.
“Okay. I’ll text you details.”
Susan hesitated for a moment, then her voice softened. “Are you okay, Maria? You sound a little off.”
I glanced at Andrew, who was watching me with an unreadable expression. His eyes were calm, steady—like he was weighing something.
“Just tired,” I said, the lie slipping out without a second thought.
“Well, promise me you’ll rest,” she said, her tone almost pleading. “You deserve it. And remember, I’m here if you ever need anything.”
She hung up before I could respond. The sudden quiet in the car was almost overwhelming.
Andrew’s eyes flicked to me again.
“She’s an old friend.”
He gave a slow, almost imperceptible nod.
***Later that night***
I sat by the window, the city lights sparkling below like distant stars. My phone lay face up on the table, silent now. Susan’s words kept replaying in my mind—the warmth, the insistence, the easy familiarity.
I wondered how much had changed while she was gone. What stories would she tell? And what stories was I keeping buried, even from her?
The truth was complicated.
More complicated than I cared to admit.
Because no matter how hard I tried to convince myself this was just a contract, just a game, my heart wasn’t listening. And Andrew… he wasn’t either.
But there was still the question of trust. Of truth. Of how far I was willing to let myself go.
For now, all I could do was wait. Wait for tomorrow. Wait for Susan. Wait for whatever came next.
And hope that when it did, I was ready.
- Writer
