Caught In Between (B5 Story)

Truth is

--

The moon hung high in the sky as I lay in Patrick's arms, the weight of our actions heavy in the air. "What have we done?" I whispered, fear creeping into my voice.

Patrick brushed a strand of hair from my face, his thumb caressing my cheek. "We found each other when we needed it the most," he said softly. "But this is complicated."

I thought of Dustin, my heart tightening. "He deserves the truth. He's my husband, and I've promised to love him. But he cheated on me, and everything feels shattered."

Patrick's expression darkened, guilt flickering in his eyes. "I care about you, Andria, but I can't ignore what this means for Akira. She deserves better."

My heart ached at the thought of Akira, Patrick's wife and one of my best friends. She had always been there for me, yet I was caught in this mess. Akira was sick, battling her own demons, and I couldn't bring myself to reveal that to Patrick. "I can't betray her trust. I promised her I wouldn't tell you about her situation."

"She wants you to be happy, but this is tearing us apart," Patrick replied, frustration mingling with his concern. "I don't want to hurt her, but I can't deny what I feel for you."

We were tangled in a web of infidelity—Dustin's betrayal, Patrick's conflict, and Akira's innocence. The reality of our situation weighed heavily on us.

"Maybe we should keep this between us until after Bryan and Aja's wedding," I suggested. "It would be too complicated otherwise."

Patrick nodded, the conflict clear in his eyes. "You're right. We need to be careful. I don't want to add to Akira's burdens, especially with everything she's going through."

I felt a pang of guilt as I remembered Akira's struggle. I wanted to protect her, but keeping this secret from Patrick felt like another betrayal.

As we sat in silence, the enormity of our choices loomed. We were all wrong in this situation—Dustin for his betrayal, Patrick for his infidelity, and me for even considering crossing this line. Yet the connection between Patrick and me felt undeniable, a spark igniting a fire in the midst of the chaos.

"Okay," I whispered, my resolve strengthening. "For now, we keep this a secret."

And as the stars twinkled above us, I knew that whatever path we chose, we would face it together—two souls intertwined in a complicated mess, haunted by the choices we had made and the people we loved.

---

After a tense moment of silence, we drove back to Mama Adrian's house, the familiar surroundings doing little to ease the turmoil in my heart. The warmth of the home was inviting, but it felt like a facade, hiding the chaos that had just unfolded between Patrick and me.

As we parked, I stole a glance at Patrick. His expression was a mix of excitement and apprehension. "We should act normal," he said, his voice steady but low. "No one can know what just happened."

I nodded, my stomach twisting as we climbed out of the car. The evening air was still, but it felt electric with secrets. We snuck through the back door, careful not to draw attention to ourselves. The sounds of laughter and playful shouts from the kids filled the air, a comforting reminder of family.

Patrick headed straight to where his brothers were gathered—Dustin, Bryan, Kelly, and Carnell—engaged in a heated discussion about the upcoming wedding. I watched him for a moment, feeling a pang of longing mixed with guilt. He blended seamlessly into the banter, the easy camaraderie masking the turmoil beneath the surface.

I needed a moment alone, a place to gather my thoughts and process everything. Quietly, I slipped away toward Mayyah's room, my assistant and confidante. The hallway was dimly lit, and I could hear the muffled sounds of laughter from the living room and the playful chaos of all the kids running around.