Andrew's text had set Sophia's emotions twirling. She walked around her room with her phone still tightly gripped in her hand. She hadn't expected him to visit, but she also hadn't shared much about her time at the resort — or about Ethan.
"Hey, Emma," Sophia called out as she entered her friend's room. Emma lay on the bed, turning the pages of a travel magazine.
"What's up?" Emma asked, looking up.
Sophia paused, then said, "Andrew's coming to visit."
Emma's eyes widened. "What? Andrew? Like, Andrew-Andrew?"
Sophia nodded and dropped into the armchair beside the window. "Yeah, he texted me yesterday, and I was like, 'I don't know, man,'" he said. Said that he was thinking of stopping over, and I said yes without really thinking it through."
Emma frowned thoughtfully. "Well, that's great timing. How do you feel about it?"
Sophia blew out a breath and rubbed a hand through her hair. "I don't know. I mean, I've always given a shit about Andrew, but he's a different person. Meeting Ethan… well, it's complicated. And Andrew doesn't know about him yet."
Emma raised an eyebrow. "It's not something that you'll have to explain later. Better sooner than later, right?"
Sophia nodded, but her chest tightened at the idea. "You're right. I'll tell him when he arrives." It's better to be honest."
The next day Andrew showed up to the resort looking just as polished and confident as we had remembered. His easy smile and charming persona were as familiar to Sophia as the back of her hand. But when she hugged him in the lobby, he felt a twinge of guilt.
"Oh wow," Andrew said, stepping back to soak in the resort's magnificence. "This place is incredible. I understand why you've been raving about it."
"It is," agreed Sophia, attempting levity in her tone. "I've been great, busy with the project, but it's been awesome."
Andrew kept stealing glances at her as they meandered across the resort in the direction of the restaurant. It was an expression she was painfully familiar with — it reminded her of everything they'd been through together. But this was different, and Sophia couldn't pretend her feelings hadn't changed further.
They sat at a secluded table by the pool, the surf a soothing soundtrack. Sophia inhaled deeply and decided that it was time to talk about the silence that had spread between them.
"Andrew," she said, her voice firm but quiet, "I need to tell you something."
He leaned back in his chair, looking curious. "What is it?"
Sophia paused, and then forged ahead. "There's this guy I've met here. His name is Ethan. We've been, like, working together on the project, and … there's something between us."
Andrew's smile faded, and for an instant, his air of confidence slipped. "I understand," he said softly, looking into her eyes. "So, this Ethan guy … he means something to you?"
Sophia nodded, guilt knotting in her chest. "I didn't mean for it to happen, Andrew. It just... did. I'm sorry if this hurts you."
Andrew nodded, without much light in his eyes. "You didn't hurt me, Sophia. I only wish I had seen earlier how much of a amount you are to me. Perhaps things would've turned out differently."
Sophia sighed in bittersweet relief at his words. Andrew had always been kind, and his understanding now only made her respect him more.
"I appreciate it," she replied earnestly. "For being honest with me."
Andrew shrugged, his smile turning dry. "Well, I didn't travel all this way to sulk. Let's enjoy the day, yeah?"
Sophia smiled back, appreciative of his persistence. "I'd like that. "Well, as the sun began to set, the pair headed back to the main building of the resort. Sophia and Andrew conversed for the next several hours. However, Sophia had a hunch that she was being watched the entire time. They entered the courtyard and Sophia saw Ethan standing at the fountain. His arms were crossed, and he was bent over the stone ledge. Andrew looked in his direction and inquired, 'That's Ethan, I suspect?' "Yep," he added simply. Sophia responded, "yep." And then Andrew added, "Well, I think it's time for me to retire to my apartment. It was fun hanging out with you, Sophia." "It was lovely seeing you, too," replied Sophia. As Andrew strolled away, Sophia turned toward Ethan. She could see Ethan peering down at her. Ethan's face showed no emotion, yet his eyes remained on her. She walked over, and he said softly, "hey there." "So, that's Andrew, I assume?" he teased. "Yeah," Sophia said, a bit flushed. "He's an old friend...and someone I had to talk to.a Ethan's face softened, and he inched closer. "And do I need to be concerned?" Sophia replies, "no. I just needed to talk to him. a He seemed taken aback. Sophia continued, "I told him about you." He turned his head slightly to the left, still unique in expression. "You told him about me?" "yeah. I thought it would be safer "
Ethan regarded her for a beat and nodded. "Good. I appreciate that."
The tension in the air dissipated as Sophia stood there, feeling a rush of relief. But as they made their way back to the main building, together, she couldn't shake the feeling that Andrew's visit wasn't the end of her past, at all just the beginning of an even murkier future.