Falling Too Deep

Chapter 22

I called up Andrea and invited her to breakfast like I had promised. She agreed to go and when we met up at the closest iHop she was giving me the heat.

I was sat on a bench outside the restaurant waiting for her arrival. After a few minutes of waiting I saw Andrea getting out her car, zipping up her brown leather coat. The weather was getting colder and then I remembered the holidays were coming up...and my twenty fifth birthday as well.

Andrea spotted me on the bench and approached me. I stood up and grabbed her arms. "Hey beautiful."

I leaned in for a kiss but she retreated and headed towards the restaurant doors. I looked after her and she was already inside at the front desk talking to a waitress. I sighed and followed her, to find out she had gotten us seats and we were seated right away.

Andrea slipped in the booth and pulled off her jacket then grabbed one of the menus. I slipped on the opposite side picking up my menu as well. The silence was killing me and I watched as she nonchalantly flipped the menu pages.

I cleared my throat and played with the salt and pepper shakers. "So, what are you going to get?"

Andrea shrugged. "I don't know."

She said it with an icy, hard tone and didn't make eye contact with me. I frowned feeling even worse and reached across the table trying to grab her hand. Reluctantly, she pulled her hand away and scanned the menu even more.

"Andrea...please."

She looked up at me for about one second and turned her gaze back to the menu. "What?"

I sighed. "Baby, stop giving me the cold shoulder."

"I'm just trying to figure out what I want to order before our waiter comes."

"Andrea I'm sorry okay? I know I should've called but I was so busy. I lost track of time and I was so focused on work. I'm sorry."

She scoffed. "Yeah because in a total of seventy two hours you can't find time to pick up the phone or at least send a quick text."

I didn't respond. She was right, she had every reason to be mad. Our waiter came over and got our drink orders before leaving again. Andrea played with her fingers and stared down at the table.

"Nick if you're cheating on me I would rather want to know now then later."

My eyes widened and I couldn't believe my ears. She thought I was cheating on her?

"Andrea I would never cheat on you! Baby, I love you. Where would you get that idea?!"

She shrugged. "I don't know. Lately, you've been secretive and distant. Plus, you hang out with that Tori girl."

I shook my head so firmly I thought it would fall off. "Baby I am not cheating on you! I would never hurt you like that. Tori is just a work friend. I told you that!"

She sighed and finally looked at me. "Well what am I supposed to think? You've been completely blowing me off!"

"I'm so sorry, Andrea. Work has been killing me and it's been very stressful. I need you on my side."

She rolled her eyes. "I am on your side. I was just mad because you were ignoring me."

I grabbed her hands and this time she didn't pull away. I stroked them gently and placed a peck on her left hand.

"And I'm sorry for that. Can we just move on and I promise it won't happen again?"

She gave me a small, modest nod and a gentle smile. I smiled back and our waiter came back with our drinks and then took our orders.