He Loves Me... She Loves Me Not

Chapter Fourteen

I made eye contact with my adoptive father, and we shared a heavy sigh because I knew that things between us were still not resolved. He had certain expectations for our family dynamics that I couldn't fulfill because I also had my own aspirations and desires. It was a constant struggle between meeting his expectations and staying true to myself. I thank him for helping me and my family, but to be burdened with expectations is just too much to handle.

I often noticed Alec's disapproval of these expectations, but he had learned to tolerate our father's demands. They were both driven by political ambition, and I didn't want to interfere with their plans. As the saying goes, "That's their life, so let's not worry about it."

"Danni, Scott? Thanks for coming. It's a surprise to see you again, Danni."

"I've realized that moving on is the right thing to do. I just want to see Alec and you as well."

"Have you forgiven me?" he asked with a mix of emotions.

"I wasn't really mad. I was just upset," I admitted.

"Thank you, my dear. And Scott, thank you for bringing Danni back here."

As the night fell, Alec arrived home from work to a warm dinner. However, as he entered the dining area, our laughter came to a sudden pause when Dad's expression turned to shock upon seeing Andrew with Alec. I knew that Andrew was still working with my brother, but seeing him again while I was there with Scott was a situation that I found difficult to comprehend about our relationship.

I glanced over at Scott and Dad, and I could tell that things were feeling a little bit awkward between them. I wouldn't be surprised if Dad had some unexpected thoughts about what was going on.

"Sorry we're running a bit late, guys. It looks like everyone's having a blast, though. Mind if we crash the party, Danni?" Alec said, with a touch of sarcasm in his voice.

"Of course not, Alec. We were just reminiscing about what went down at Roy's wedding, the one you conveniently missed," I replied, adding a playful tone.

"Aww, come on. Isn't he and his wife getting hitched here as well? I'm swamped, you know that. So, about the story you're cooking up for Scott? Need a hand with anything else? Just let me know."

"Nah, we've got it covered. Scott and I can handle it. Thanks for being on board with us," I answered.

"Sure thing, just try not to make it too obvious," Alec said with a wink before grabbing some food and joining in with us.

As we sat at the dinner table, I deliberately avoided making eye contact with Andrew, keeping my gaze focused on the food in front of me. I didn't want to open the floodgates of memories and emotions that Dad mentioning Andrew's name could trigger. I could feel Scott watching us, quietly observing the tension between everyone else.

Later that night, as we got ready for bed in the guest room Elaine had prepared for us, Scott finally broached the topic. “So, that's Andrew, right?” Scott asked as he emerged from the bathroom and sat on the edge of the bed, meeting my eyes with a questioning look.

“Yeah, that's him. Did you sense the awkwardness, too, earlier?” I replied, glancing up at him as I was engrossed on my laptop, writing my script.

“Yeah, it was hard to miss. I was half expecting the night to turn into a rollercoaster ride of surprises,” Scott remarked with a wry smile.

“Believe me, it wasn't as thrilling as tonight with you, babe,” I reassured him, trying to dispel the lingering discomfort from the dinner table.

“That's what I'm talking about,” Scott said as he leaned in to give me a tender kiss.

He drew closer and gently pressed his lips to mine, and in that moment, time seemed to stand still. It was a kiss unlike any I had ever known, filled with a depth of emotion and longing that stirred something deep within me. As our lips met, I felt a rush of warmth and tenderness, and it was as if our souls were speaking to each other through that tender connection.

The softness of his touch sent shivers down my spine, and I found myself lost in the sensation of his lips moving against mine. Our breaths mingled, and the world around us faded away as we surrendered to the intoxicating dance of our kiss. It was a beautiful exploration, a silent conversation between two hearts longing to be intertwined.

With each gentle stroke of his tongue, I felt a new wave of desire wash over me, and I reciprocated, allowing myself to be fully immersed in the intimacy of the moment. His hand traveled from my neck to the small of my back, drawing me closer as I traced the contours of his chest with a sense of familiarity and adoration. In that shared embrace, I felt the weight of our love, a love that had grown and blossomed into something truly extraordinary.

As the first light of dawn filtered through the curtains, illuminating the tousled sheets and casting a soft glow over our entwined forms, I couldn't help but revel in the lingering magic of the night before. There was a sense of sacredness in the hushed morning air, as if the universe itself were whispering its blessings upon our union.