Two Sides of Us

Chapter 15: Emily

The phone rang just as I was about to get into the taxi. I glanced at the screen and saw Andrew's name. My heart did a little flip, and I wasn't sure if it was from excitement, anxiety, or a mix of both. I hadn't spoken to him since our awkward encounter at the office a few days ago, and I was hoping to keep it that way for as long as possible.

I already had too much on my plate with the looming divorce my husband didn't even have the decency to show up to. His lawyer had managed to talk the judge into postponing it for another week, and I was frustrated that I couldn't just get this whole thing over with.

"Are you going to answer that?" Jake asked, his eyebrow arched in curiosity.

"Yeah, just... give me a second." I stepped a few feet away from Jake and swiped to answer. "Hello?"

"Emily, it's Andrew," he said, his voice slightly strained. "I need to meet with you. Can you come to my house?"

The request took me by surprise, and I wasn't sure how to respond. "Your house? What's this about, Andrew?"

"It's important. Please, just come over. I promise it won't take long."

I hesitated, glancing back at Jake, who was watching me closely. The last thing I wanted was to get dragged into more drama, especially at Andrew's house, where Rachel would undoubtedly be lurking. But something in Andrew's voice made me think this wasn't just about us. There was an urgency there, a kind of desperation I hadn't heard before.

"Fine," I finally agreed, though every part of me screamed that this was a bad idea. "I'll be there after I drop Jake off at the airport."

"Thank you, Emily," he said, and I could hear the relief in his voice. "I'll see you soon."

I hung up and pocketed my phone, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling that was settling over me like a heavy blanket. I didn't want to involve Jake in this mess, so I put on my best smile and walked back over to him.

"Everything okay?" Jake asked, concern evident in his eyes.

"Yeah, just... work stuff," I lied, though I knew he could see right through me. "I have to meet someone after I drop you off, so we should get going."

Jake didn't push for more details, but he gave me a long, searching look before nodding. "Alright, let's get moving then."

The drive to the airport was filled with small talk, but my mind kept drifting to what Andrew might want to discuss. Jake's presence was a comfort, but I couldn't shake the feeling of dread gnawing at the pit of my stomach. When we finally reached the airport, the taxi parked, and I helped Jake with his bags.

"You sure you're okay?" Jake asked as we hugged goodbye. "You've been a little off since that phone call."

"I'm fine," I assured him, though I wasn't sure if I was trying to convince him or myself. "Just a little tired, I guess. You know how work can be."

Jake looked like he wanted to say more, but instead, he just hugged me a little tighter. "Take care of yourself, Em. The divorce will go fine. And call me if you need anything."

"I will," I promised, watching as he disappeared into the terminal. Once he was out of sight, I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. There was no turning back now. I had to face whatever was waiting for me at Andrew's house.

The drive to Andrew's place was uneventful, but the knots in my stomach tightened with each passing minute. By the time I pulled up outside his building, my hands were trembling. I didn't know what to expect, and that terrified me.

I took a few deep breaths before getting out of the car, trying to steady myself. It didn't work, but I forced my legs to move anyway, taking the elevator to the top floor. I was just about to ring the doorbell when it swung open, and I found myself face-to-face with a young girl about 17.