Page 49 of Upgraded Friendship

I just wanted to say good luck on your opening tomorrow. I know you may not see this on time but, I want you to know that I really appreciate the sacrifices you have made for me and for us despite the fact that it was fake. It means more to me than you’ll ever know. I wish you had stayed around so I could tell you what you mean to me. I was shocked at what Jeremy said, yes, but I also told him to stay away from me. He was in my past. He will never be a part of my future. I miss you, and I hope that you will come and talk to me. You mean so much to me, I cannot lose you.

As I hit send, a sense of peace settles over me, knowing that my message will reach Josh and convey the depth of my feelings for him. I hope that despite the ups and downs of yesterday, he may feel the same as I do—that we are worth fighting for. I just have to get him to talk to me.

But even as I try to push aside my worries and fears, sleep eludes me, my mind racing with a million thoughts and emotions. It’s only when exhaustion finally overtakes me that I drift into a fitful slumber, the promise of tomorrow’s confrontation looming large in my dreams.

Chapter twenty

Josh

The morning of the restaurant opening arrives with a sense of both excitement and trepidation. As I wake up to the sound of my phone buzzing on the nightstand, I groggily reach for it, squinting at the bright screen. It’s Tanya.

“Hey, Josh, are you awake?” Tanya’s voice crackles through the line.

“Yeah, I am now. What’s up?” I reply, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

“I’m waiting for you to pick us up for the opening. It’s time to get this show on the road!” Tanya’s enthusiasm is palpable even through the phone.

“Us? Who’s ‘us?’” I ask, confusion creeping into my voice.

“Me and Andrea, of course! We’re not going to let you open your restaurant without us there to support you,” she says, her tone laced with determination.

My heart skips a beat at the mention of Andrea’s name. I hadn’t expected her to be part of the plan. The memories of the wedding’s tumultuous events come flooding back, threatening to dampen my spirits.

But I can’t let that happen. Today is about celebrating a new beginning, both for the restaurant and for myself. I take a deep breath, pushing aside my doubts and fears.

“Alright, I’ll be there soon to pick you both up,” I say, trying to sound more confident than I feel.

As I hang up the phone, I can’t shake the nagging feeling of unease that settles in the pit of my stomach. How will Andrea react to seeing me after yesterday? Will she even come?

I shake my head, banishing the doubts from my mind. Today is about moving forward, and I refuse to let anything stand in the way of that.

I pull up in front of Tanya’s apartment, my heart pounding with anticipation. As she steps out, a bright smile lights up her face.

“Hey there, brother. Ready to kick off the grand opening?” she says, her excitement infectious.

I force a smile, trying to match her enthusiasm. “You bet. Let’s make this the best opening this town has ever seen.”

As Tanya climbs into the car, I can’t help but notice the absence of another passenger. “Where’s Andrea?” I ask, unable to mask the disappointment in my voice.

Tanya’s smile falters slightly, and I can see the hesitation in her eyes. “I haven’t been able to reach her,” she says quietly.

“Really??” Panic begins to rise within me, threatening to overwhelm my senses.

Tanya sighs, her expression sympathetic. “I think maybe you should try calling her,” she says, clearly concerned.

I nod, feeling a knot form in the pit of my stomach. Whatever the reason, I can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment at Andrea’s absence. I had hoped today would be a fresh start for us, a chance to put the past behind us and move forward together.

As we settle into the car, she turns to me with a curious expression.

“What’s wrong, Josh?” she asks, her voice laced with concern.

I hesitate for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal. But Tanya has been by my side through thick and thin, and I know I can trust her with the truth.

“It’s Andrea,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “Things have been...complicated between us.”

Tanya’s brow furrows in confusion. “Complicated how?”

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation ahead. “Well, somewhere along the way in this whole charade, it stopped being an act. I fell in love with her.”

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