Page 21 of Upgraded Friendship

I give her my full attention. “Yeah, what’s on your mind?” I ask, bracing myself for whatever comes next.

Tanya leans in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Josh, you have to be ready to pretend to be Andrea’s boyfriend for the wedding,” she says, her eyes boring into mine.

I blink in surprise, caught off guard by her sudden seriousness. “Wait, what?” I sputter, trying to wrap my head around her request.

Tanya nods emphatically, her expression dead serious. “Yes, Josh. Think about it. If Jeremy is already referring to you as Andrea’s boyfriend, then it’s only a matter of time before he asks Andrea to bring you along to the wedding,” she explains, her voice urgent.

I furrow my brow, feeling a sense of unease settle over me at the thought of pretending to be Andrea’s boyfriend for an entire wedding. “But won’t that just make things even more complicated?” I protest, feeling a knot form in my stomach.

Tanya shakes her head adamantly, her eyes blazing with determination. “No, Josh. Trust me, this is the best course of action,” she insists, her voice unwavering.

I sigh, knowing that Tanya has a point. As much as I hate the idea of continuing Andrea’s anxiety through the wedding, I can’t deny that it might be our best chance at avoiding further drama.

“Alright, Tanya. I’ll talk to Andrea about it,” I concede, resigning myself to the inevitable.

Tanya’s face lights up with a triumphant smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Great! Just remember, you can’t mess this up, Josh.” she says, her voice filled with urgency.

I nod solemnly, feeling the weight of her words settle over me like a heavy cloak. “I won’t let you down, Tanya. I promise,” I reply, determined to uphold my end of the bargain.

We finish our breakfast and part ways. I can’t help but feel a sense of apprehension gnawing at the pit of my stomach. I don’t know how Andrea will react to us continuing this act.

But amidst the uncertainty and doubt, a new and unexpected opportunity presents itself, threatening to derail my carefully laid plans.

As I am walking down the sidewalk, I hear a familiar voice from behind me. I turn around to see Tanya rushing to catch up.

“Josh! I’ve been trying to get a hold of Andrea, but she’s not answering her phone. Have you tried to reach her this morning?” she asks, her voice tinged with concern.

I shake my head, feeling a pang of guilt at the mention of Andrea’s name. “No, sorry, Tanya. I haven’t talked to her since last night,” I reply, my voice tinged with regret.

Tanya’s brow furrows in confusion, her gaze flickering between me and the bustling street around us.

“That’s strange. She said she wanted to talk to me about something important,” she murmurs, her voice filled with concern.

“Well, I’m sure she’ll turn up soon. She’s probably just caught up with something,” I offer, trying to reassure her.

I pull out my phone, suggesting that I try to call Andrea’s phone. But as I bring the phone to my ear, all I hear is the sound of static and silence on the other end. Frustration wells up inside as I try calling her back, but each attempt goes straight to voicemail.

Tanya watches me with a concerned expression, her eyes filled with worry. “Is everything okay, Josh?” she asks, her voice tinged with concern.

I sigh, raking my fingers through my hair. “I’m not sure. I tried to call Andrea, but it sounded like there was something wrong with the connection,” I explain, my voice tinged with worry.

Tanya’s expression softens, her eyes filled with sympathy. “I hope everything’s alright. Andrea’s text seemed urgent,” she murmurs, her voice filled with concern.

I nod, feeling a sense of unease settle over me at Tanya’s words. “Yeah, me too. I’ll try calling her again to see if I can get through,” I reply, my voice tinged with uncertainty.

As Tanya bids me farewell and disappears back into the crowd, I can’t shake the feeling of dread that lingers in the air. Something tells me that whatever Andrea wanted to talk to Tanya about, it’s not going to be good.

***

Later in the day, as I’m pacing around my apartment, my phone rings, and I see Tanya’s name flashing on the screen. I answer quickly, hoping for some news about Andrea.

“Hey, Tanya. Any word from Andrea?” I ask, my voice tinged with worry.

Tanya’s voice comes through the line, filled with frustration. “No, Josh. I’ve tried calling her multiple times, but she’s not picking up. I’m starting to get really worried,” she replies, her tone urgent.

I sigh, feeling a sense of helplessness wash over me. “Me too. I think we should go to her apartment and check on her,” I suggest, knowing that we can’t just sit around and wait for Andrea to call.

Tanya agrees, and I quickly grab my keys, ready to head out the door. Within minutes, I’m pulling up outside Andrea’s apartment building, my heart racing with anticipation. Tanya is walking up as I step out of my car.

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