Wake Up And Return Home To Find Everyone Is Having Relationship Problems
Day 154 of The Andie Chronicles
It was nearly midnight and I wasn't about to insist Taylor open more expensive wine on my account. The sobering reality I should go home engulfed me.
But at the same time, the way James ejected me from my home meant I didn't easily think I could return.
I messaged James. His response was rapid fire.
"Still talking. Come home in the morning. Ta."
A few seconds later.
"Can GG stay in your bed?"
How strange of a house swap this was, especially as only one-half knew anything about it. Would GG approve of me staying in her bed?
I doubted it.
As I drove home in the morning, having stayed in Taylor’s guest room, I couldn't help feeling guilty. Being such close friends, me and Taylor, continued to be our guarded secret. It was a secret I was beginning to treasure too, and if I was a betting woman, I would put money on Taylor feeling the same way.
Yet, like being close to Douglas, it was equally complicated being close to this Gallo brother, too.
Coming through the front door, I could hear GG and James talking in the back courtyard. The front grass covering the front nature strip was covered in frost. Yet, this didn't seem to perturb them from their fervent conversation.
Clutching coffee mugs from my collection, they continued to talk as I swung open the heavy back door.
“Morning all, how did you sleep?”
James nodded. “Yeah fine. We didn’t go to bed until quite late. You? Where did you end up?”
I hadn’t thought of an excuse, but the lie slipped from my mouth too easily. “I crashed at the office. Not ideal.” I looked at GG and she was wearing my dressing gown. Going through my room, going through my wardrobe, I had to hold my tongue and tell her how uncool it was.
Now even my bedroom wasn't safe.
And did she find my secret study? Gees, I hoped not.
They were both silent. “Sorry, I clearly interrupted.”
“No, no, it’s fine,” said GG, “We were just talking about me and Taylor." She paused, went to speak, caught herself and then continued. "He’s kind of dragging his feet.”
“With the business?” Best to play dumb, I mused.
“Business is fine. It’s me and him. Or not me and him?”
“I don’t quite follow.”
“Taylor and I are a defacto couple. We live together. But I’ve started talking about selling my place and moving permanently with him but he doesn’t want me to do that. And he completely denies being an official couple like that.”
GG paused and focus her intent on me. “You’ve dated a Gallo brother. What do you think I should do?”
The two Gallo brothers, despite looking the same, and growing up the same way on paper, were nothing alike. Douglas moved with cold ruthlessness, and Taylor let his heart play with his mind.
To even use my experience with Douglas and apply it to Taylor would be a disservice to Taylor.
“I'm not sure my breakup with Douglas makes me an expert. I clearly couldn't survive. But I get the sense, though, Taylor doesn’t want to offend you. Unlike my ex. He’s not a heartbreaker.”
“What are you saying?”
“I would be a dead duck if he told you he was unhappy. You probably need to drag it out of him.”
You’re reading The Andie Chronicles, the 2023 romance-fiction series from the 1 Lovelock Drive (1LD) universe.
By the way, this all started when Andie turned thirty-five, and her then-boyfriend didn’t call her.
Or the day after that.
Or the day after that, too.
Everything started to unravel when her BFFs got into bed with her ex, too… ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
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