The starless night was cloaked in a thick blanket of darkness as Andy drove back to her house, the road illuminated only by the city lights.
The housewarming party at Jade's had finally come to an end, and the quiet solitude of the drive was a sharp difference from the lively chatter and laughter that had filled the evening.
Candace had joined the party virtually and it had been so much fun.
Andy's phone rang, breaking into her thoughts and she glanced at the screen and smiled when she saw Harry's name flash across it. She answered with a swipe, her voice steady.
"I'm no longer with your girl," Andy announced before Harry could speak.
"Great!" Harry's voice came through, slightly muffled. "How did it go? Has everyone else left?"
"Yeah, everyone's gone," Andy replied, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. "Jade's alone now."
Harry sighed in relief. "Thanks for letting me know. I appreciate it."
"No problem," Andy said, her voice softening. "Take care, Harry."
"You too, Andy. Drive safe," he added before the call ended.
As she continued driving, her thoughts began to drift. Cassidy. His name echoed in her mind like a haunting refrain.
Once again she was going home, and she desperately wished and hoped that he'd visit her.
Since she arrived in Ludus, she had done so much to get his attention, but he remained in hiding and it was beginning to make her wonder if he had completely forgotten about her after letting her go.
It was frustrating, maddening even, to return to the house every day and night without the surprise of his presence, or at least a text from him when she so desperately wanted to hear from him.
The city lights blurred past her as she wondered how much longer it would take. What more could she do? What else did she need to do to make him come see her? The questions churned in her mind, creating a storm of uncertainty and longing.
When she finally pulled up to her apartment building, the darkness seemed to press in closer. She turned off the engine, the sudden silence almost deafening.
The night air was cool against her skin as she stepped out of the car, the keys jangling softly in her hand.
Just as Andy entered her house, flicking on the hallway light. The glow spread weakly, barely pushing back the shadows.
She paused just inside the door, a strange feeling prickling at the back of her mind. Perhaps it was because of the times she had spent hiding and working as a stripper, her sixth sense was very developed and she could tell that something was off.
The air seemed heavier, the silence more profound. She stood there, her senses on high alert, trying to pinpoint what was wrong.
Before she could process her thoughts, a voice emerged from inside the living room, startling her. "Are you going to stand there all night, Andy? Or do you plan to come in?"
Her heart leaped into her throat, and she hurried towards the sound, her pulse quickening. "Alex?" she breathed, barely believing her ears.
She reached for the light switch, but before she could turn it on, he grabbed her hand, pulling her back into the shadows, his breath hot on her neck.
"Why have you been trying to get my attention, Andy?" Cassidy's grip was firm, his presence overwhelming in the dark.
"What do you want?" he asked, his voice low and intense. "Why do you want to see me again?"
She took a shaky breath, her heart pounding in her chest. "I want you," she confessed, her voice trembling with the weight of her emotions.
He sighed, the sound heavy with frustration. "You shouldn't. We both know it won't work," he said, his tone rough. "You know you can't have me."
"Why not?" she demanded, her voice rising with desperation.
Cassidy's frustration seemed to grow, his grip on her tightening. "I promised I would let you go, Andy. You're making it hard for me. Do you have any idea how hard I've tried to not reach out to you this whole time? I'm trying to keep my promise to you," he said through gritted teeth.
"What if I don't want you to? What if I no longer mind about the past."
Andy felt a shuddering release as they reached the peak together, their cries of pleasure mingling in the air. For a moment, everything else ceased to matter, their past, their pain, all of it swallowed up in the pure, unadulterated connection they shared.
Breathless and trembling, they collapsed together and Cassidy's arms wrapped around her, pulling her close, his breath warm against her skin.
Andy nestled into him, her head resting on his chest, listening to the rapid beat of his heart.
For a long time, they lay there in silence, their bodies still intertwined, the room filled with the afterglow of their lovemaking. Andy felt a sense of peace as if she had finally found a part of herself that had been missing.
But reality soon began to intrude, and Cassidy knew they couldn't stay like this forever.
As if sensing his thoughts Andy sighed, "What happens now?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Cassidy sighed, his expression conflicted. "I don't know, Andy," he admitted.
Andy nodded, understanding the truth in his words. "I want you, Cas," she whispered.
"Why? You shouldn't want me, Andy. You have everything going for you right now. You should focus on building your life. Meeting someone more deserving. I don't deserve you, Andy. I could never be good enough for you," he said, and Andy drew a deep breath.
While Cassidy struggled with his response, she reached for the bedside switch on turned on the light so she could see his face.
"Wanting you has never been the problem, Andy," he said, trying to adjust his eyes to the sudden brightness of the room.
"Good," Andy said as she lay down beside him again, resting her head on his shoulder.
"But that doesn't mean this is going to work," he said, in case she had misinterpreted his statement.
"We have to try," she said firmly. "We owe it to ourselves to see if we can make this work."
Cassidy's eyes softened, and he leaned in to press a gentle kiss to her shoulder. "It's not that easy. You have your life here, and I have mine there. What do you think would happen to you and your career if anyone finds out who your partner is? Do you think that is something you'd be able to hide?"
"You're right," she said quietly. "But we will try. Let's take it one day at a time and see where it leads us. And you know there's always the option of you getting a surgery and changing your face, right?" She asked, and he chuckled.
"That's not an option."
"Why not?" She asked with a frown.
"Apart from the fact that I like my face a lot, and don't want to change it, Mari likes it too. I can't give her a new daddy," he said, and Andy sat up when she realized she had yet to inquire about her.
"You're right. I didn't think of that. I like your face too. How's she doing?" Andy asked curiously.
"She misses you a lot. She said you promised to take her to an amusement park. Why did you do that?" Cassidy asked and she frowned.
"I never promised her that. I only said there were lots of fun places in Sogal and if she EVER visits me, I will take her to an amusement park," Andy said and Cassidy chuckled.
"I like seeing and hearing you laugh, but unfortunately you don't do that often," Andy said with a soft smile as she looked at him.
"There isn't much to laugh about in my life," he said, and her heart broke for him.
"Let's make this work, Cassidy. One day at a time, that's all I ask for. We don't have to make public appearances. You can sneak in this way and surprise me whenever you can in the middle of the night. And you can arrange for me to visit you whenever I can. Can't we do that? And maybe you can bring Mari over too, so she sees what the rest of the world is like over here," Andy suggested.
Cassidy took a deep breath, "I will think about it."
Andy smiled, a sense of hope blossoming in her chest. "I'd really like that," she said, snuggling closer to him.
As they lay there, wrapped in each other's arms, Andy felt a newfound determination take root within her. She had tried hard to get Cassidy's attention, and now that she had it, she wasn't going to let go easily.
Rolling on top of him, she smiled, "I don't know how much time we've got, but I don't intend to waste it," she said with a wink, making him laugh as she lowered her lips to his.
She knew they had a long road ahead of them, but as long as they faced it together, she believed they could overcome any obstacle.