Chapter 12 Andrew

At the end of Andrew's shift, he passed the time waiting for Rafael by chatting with a group of high school girls.

"How are you getting home?" Andrew asked Gabriella.

"Walking."

"I'll drive you home since your brother isn't around."

Her beautiful, dark eyes lit up with joy as she eagerly accepted his offer of a ride. He didn't want to look suspicious hanging out waiting for Rafael, who had failed to show up, so he said his goodbyes.

"I just need to hit the girls' room, okay?"

"Sure. I'll be outside."

In the parking lot, Andrew, being the gentleman he was, opened the door for her before swiftly getting in behind the wheel. Before starting the car, he glanced over to confirm she'd secured her seat belt. Gabriella had applied fresh makeup, accentuating her delicate features, and she'd let her waist-length hair cascade down her back.

"You worked hard today. Get some rest and I'll see you in the morning. If Rafael can't drive you to work, call me." They exchanged phone numbers, though he had hers at work.

"Thanks for hiring me. I know your family doesn't like mine, and this was a big deal for you. I appreciate it." She leaned over and hugged him.

As he turned the key, the engine roared to life, filling the air with a powerful rumble. The sound of the car engine roaring to life caught the attention of the people in the diner, who turned their heads to catch a glimpse of him and Gabriella through the windows. Of course, Miss Amelia had the unfortunate timing of walking through the parking lot just then. They exchanged a quick glance, silently agreeing that her presence was unwelcome.

"Can you put the top down? I've never been in a convertible before."

"Sure." He pushed the button, and the top of the car smoothly lowered. Then he pressed the gas pedal, and the car sped up with satisfying thunder.

"Turn on the radio if you want," he told her.

As soon as she turned it on, music filled the car, roaring with energy. As the song played, she couldn't help but sway in her seat. Andrew drove her to Rafael's, his heart pounding with the fear someone might recognize them. In the town's eyes, it was considered more socially acceptable to be seen with Gabriella than with her brother. He figured the police department had called Rafael in earlier and he couldn't make their meeting at the diner. Did he expect his sister to walk home? Andrew was disappointed by Rafael's failure to reach out and call him.

He pulled up to the house, the lawn so perfectly manicured, with colorful flowers. She turned to him. "Thanks for the ride." She leaned in, her lips brushing against his cheek in a tender kiss, and then she promptly leaped out of the car.

That was the last thing he wanted from Gabriella. Had he given her mixed signals, leaving her unsure of his intentions? He hoped with every fiber of his being she wouldn't see him in that way, and he had told her when he hired her, they could only be friends.

As he drove away, a sense of frustration washed over him, making him feel like his ability to communicate had slipped away. And why the hell didn't Rafael send a message he couldn't make their meeting? As annoyed as he was, he wanted to talk and see where they stood. This secrecy was already getting to him.

As soon as he stepped into his house, he hurriedly climbed the stairs, eager to feel the warm water cascading over his body in the shower. Afterwards, he moved downstairs to the living room, sank into the recliner, and turned on the local news. In Foggy Basin, a tense hostage situation was unfolding, with the entire police squad surrounding a house. A man held his wife and children at gunpoint. So that was where Rafael was. The job carried a significant amount of risk, even in a quiet place like this. Hopefully, it would end well, with the wife and children released peacefully, free from harm.

He watched for an hour until they were finally released. Office Duarte had entered the home and used his persuasive skills to convince the man to drop his gun and let his wife and children go.

Andrew's phone buzzed, so he quickly grabbed it, hoping it was Rafael, but it was a message from Gabriella.

Gabriella: Did you see Rafael on TV? He's a hero.

Oh no, Gabriella thinks she can message me any time.

Andrew: He's a hero for sure.

As he waited for Joe to come home, he picked up his book and lost himself in its pages. His silence was interrupted by a message on his phone. He picked it up from the coffee table and read the message.

Rafael: Meet me at the abandoned farmhouse now.

Andrew: OK.

The message from Rafael had been a punch in the gut. He'd acted like Andrew was at his beck and call, ready to sneak around to see him any time he called. Now, under the cloak of a starless night, he trudged across the dew-laden grass towards the familiar rise. Reaching the crest, he surveyed the fields with his flashlight.

The darkness was a thick blanket, broken only by the distant, hazy glow of the town lights. The wind whispered its secrets through the tall grass, sending goose bumps down Andrew's spine despite the summer heat. He could barely discern the dark outline of the abandoned farmhouse.

A rustle in the grass made him tense. Relief washed over him as Rafael emerged from the shadows, his form barely distinguishable.

"Hey," Andrew said.

"Hey," Rafael replied. A tense silence hung in the air as they stood, their unvoiced feelings creating an uncomfortable atmosphere.

Finally, Andrew broke the silence. "Congratulations, Officer Duarte."

Rafael sighed. "Thanks. That's why I couldn't get to you."

"I took your sister home. She can't walk after working on her feet all day."

"Thanks. Something else happened today when I went grocery shopping."

"What could happen while shopping?"

"Some guy I met at the mixer was shopping and saw me. His name is Brody. I gave him the brush off at the party, then right in the damn store he asked me to meet him for a drink. I said no."

"What was he doing in Foggy Basin?" Andrew asked.

"Don't know." Rafael hesitated. "I think…maybe we should lie low for a while."

The words were a slap. Lie low . Like they were a fugitive operation, not two people trying to direct the confusing terrain of their hearts. Andrew's emotions shifted rapidly, from anger to an overwhelming feeling of despair that pressed heavily on him.

He turned away, the wind whipping at his face, mirroring the turmoil within. "Yeah, maybe we should," he said, his voice barely a whisper.

He didn't look back as he walked away, the vast darkness of the fields seeming to echo the emptiness that had settled inside him. The future they'd tentatively sketched seemed to have dissolved into the night, leaving behind only the bitter taste of doubt and a chilling certainty: this might be the end.