Chapter 32
The café on Main Street hadn’t changed a bit. The same mismatched chairs, chalkboard menus, and faint smell of cinnamon in the air made it feel like a time capsule from Andrea’s high school days.
Andrea sat at a corner table, sipping her hot chocolate as she waited. She hadn’t seen Mia and Harper in months, and a nervous knot twisted in her stomach. Would they still have the same connection after everything that had changed?
“Look who it is!” Mia’s voice rang out as she walked in, her auburn curls bouncing around her face. Harper followed close behind, offering Andrea a warm smile.
Andrea stood, grinning as they enveloped her in a group hug. “It’s so good to see you guys,” she said.
“You too!” Harper said, pulling back. “You look great. Blackthorn must be treating you well.”
Mia smirked, sliding into a chair. “Yeah, our girl’s gone all elite on us. What’s it like rubbing elbows with the rich and famous?”
Andrea laughed nervously, sitting down. “It’s… different.”
“Different how?” Mia pressed, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Come on, we want details. Is it like one of those TV dramas? Fancy parties, designer clothes, secret scandals?”
Andrea hesitated, thinking of the parties, the Sinclair brothers, and the constant undercurrent of danger at Blackthorn. “Something like that,” she said carefully.
Harper raised an eyebrow. “And here I thought you were just studying and keeping your head down.”
“I try to,” Andrea said with a shrug. “But it’s not exactly easy.”
Mia leaned forward, her voice dropping. “So… any cute guys? Don’t think I haven’t noticed your glow-up.”
Andrea flushed, fidgeting with her mug. “There’s someone,” she admitted.
Mia squealed, clapping her hands. “I knew it! What’s his name? Is he rich? Spill!”
Andrea bit her lip. “His name’s Nathaniel. And… yeah, he’s part of the elite crowd.”
Mia’s eyes widened. “A Sinclair? Andrea, you’re dating one of the Sinclairs? Those guys are basically royalty!”
Harper frowned slightly. “Aren’t they the ones with all the power at Blackthorn? That sounds… complicated.”
Andrea nodded. “It is. But he’s different from what people think. He’s protective. Kind, even if he doesn’t show it to everyone.”
Mia leaned back, her expression unreadable. “Wow. I mean, good for you, I guess. Just don’t forget about us little people when you’re off ruling the world.”
Andrea forced a laugh, but Mia’s words stung.
After lunch, the three of them walked through the quiet streets of their hometown, bundled against the cold.
“So,” Mia said casually, “I noticed your dad hasn’t been at any of the usual community events. Everything okay there?”
Andrea’s steps faltered, her stomach twisting.
Harper shot Mia a look. “Mia, that’s—”
“What?” Mia said with a shrug. “I was just asking.”
Andrea forced a neutral expression. “He’s been… busy.”
“Busy with what?” Mia pressed. “It’s not like he’s got a ton going on these days, right?”
Harper elbowed her. “Mia, drop it.”
But the damage was done. Andrea’s mind reeled, memories she tried to bury flooding back.
Later that evening, Andrea found herself sitting with Harper on the small swing set behind her house. The cold air bit at her cheeks, but she barely noticed.
“You okay?” Harper asked gently, her breath visible in the chilly air.
Andrea sighed, her hands gripping the swing’s chains. “It’s just… Mia doesn’t know when to stop, you know?”
“She doesn’t mean to hurt anyone,” Harper said. “But yeah, she can be a little too blunt.”
Andrea nodded, staring at the ground. “It’s not just that. She’s right about my dad. He hasn’t been around much. Not since…”
Harper waited patiently, her silence encouraging Andrea to continue.
“Not since he ruined everything,” Andrea said finally, her voice trembling.
Harper frowned. “Ruined how?”
Andrea hesitated, then exhaled shakily. “He had a gambling problem. A big one. He hid it from us for years, but eventually, it caught up to him. He lost so much money, Harper. We almost lost the house. Mom worked herself to the bone trying to keep us afloat, and I had to grow up fast.”
Harper’s face softened with sympathy. “Andrea, I had no idea.”
“I didn’t want anyone to know,” Andrea admitted. “It’s not exactly something you tell people. But it shaped everything. How I see the world, how I act. It’s why I’m so determined to make things better. For my mom. For myself.”
Harper reached out, placing a comforting hand on Andrea’s shoulder. “You’ve done so much already. Blackthorn, Nathaniel, everything—you’ve built a life for yourself, Andrea. Your dad’s mistakes don’t define you.”
Andrea smiled faintly, though her chest still ached. “Sometimes it feels like they do. Like I’m always trying to fix what he broke.”
“You’re not,” Harper said firmly. “You’re building something new. And you’re doing it for the right reasons.”
Andrea looked at her friend, gratitude welling up inside her. “Thanks, Harper. I needed that.”
“Anytime,” Harper said with a small smile.
