Who We Have

Chapter 13

The couple attempted their unity with discretion. Their plan wasn’t used very often, so that it wouldn’t come off as suspicious. They had agreed to use the excuse only when it was completely necessary. Within the few weeks they had spent with the newly adopted coping method, they only saw each other a total of four times. It wasn’t as much as they had hoped, but it was all they could do in the current situation given.

Andy stood in front of the familiar door on a Friday afternoon, watching little white puffs of air escape her lungs rather than knocking on the door. She made sure she looked fine, as it was the first time she and Adam would be spending a day with someone else.

Adam watched her lean against her desk gracefully as she spoke to him. The sight of her after a long, heavy day was a welcomed thing. He cherished it greatly. He’d often wish he could just embrace her and appreciate her for being who she was. Her wellbeing had become a great interest of his.

“So,” she folded her arms, “Do you want to do something tonight?”

“I can’t tonight,” he replied regretfully, “a friend of mine’s visiting.”

“Oh, that’s okay,” she responded, waving it off.

There was a pause before he looked at her intently.

“You could come too if you want to,” he suggested.

“Are you sure? Won’t it be… difficult?” she asked, suddenly dreading the idea of explaining their relationship to someone who’d stare back as if they’d seen a ghost.

“Yeah, he’s pretty cool, he won’t mind. Actually,” he chuckled, running a hand through his hair, “I’ve told him some things about you.”

Colin. Andy realized that Adam had no idea that she had already met Colin. If Colin had told him, he wouldn’t be asking her this way, she thought.

“Really?” she asked him nonchalantly.

“Yeah,” he grinned sheepishly.

“Well, only if he’s cool with it,” she added.

“Oh, yeah. Don’t worry about it,” he assured her.

And then Andy thought, what if it isn’t Colin?

After a moment of silence, Andy shifted in her place, cleared her throat and knocked on the door.

Maybe I should have rang the bell? What if he didn’t hear me? Maybe I should go…

Halfway through her thoughts and a step away from bailing, the door opened and Andy found herself looking at Adam. Her nerves struck her mind suddenly, and all she could do in response to Adam’s greeting was a quaint: “Yes.”

“What?” he asked, a bit confused.

“What?” she mumbled.

There was a short silence between them before Adam broke it in a second attempt of a welcome.

“Uh, come on in. Andrea I’d like to introduce you to my friend here,” he motioned towards the man sitting on his couch not far from them.

Andy peeked around Adam as she walked in, finding the very friendly and welcoming sight of Colin looking back. Her nerves calmed immediately and she simply walked over to him as he stood up.

“Hey Colin,” she smiled.

“Andy!” he stood, “Good to see you somewhere less populated.”