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Andrea couldn't shake the feeling that meeting with Nate was a mistake, but she reluctantly agreed nonetheless. It wasn't on Emerald Isle, just whenever he happened to be in New York. She had even given him her number, not thinking he would actually use it. Miranda warned her that he would, but Andrea brushed it off. Yet, amidst the chaos of Matt's hockey practice, Jacob's drum lessons, and their scout meeting, she unexpectedly ran into Nate again. "If I had a nickel for every time we've crossed paths since we broke up, I'd have two nickels. It's weird that it's happened twice," Andrea half-jokingly remarked, feeling a hint of discomfort at the encounter.
Nate mentioned texting her, but Andrea confessed that she hadn't even looked at the messages. Feeling pressured to diffuse the situation, she reluctantly agreed to meet up with him once more, without realizing that he would actually hold her to it. On the day of the meeting, Andrea was at work when she received his call. She agreed, but only on the condition that they meet in a neutral place—a small café not far from her workplace. She informed Miranda and her security team, in that exact order. JT, the head of security for her and Miranda, would run a background check on Nate, although Andrea was convinced it wasn't necessary. Gustavo and Ash, two other members of the team, vowed to monitor the exchange, prepared for any potential complications.
Miranda insisted on waiting for Andrea in their BMW, with Roy ready to accelerate at a moment's notice. It wasn't that Miranda didn't trust Nate; rather, she didn't trust his intentions or what he might have in mind. Both Miranda and Andrea presumed that he would attempt to convince her to rekindle their romance or propose something equally foolish.
Nate appeared in his best button-down shirt and a pair of khakis, while Andrea arrived dressed in a sleek ensemble. Her tailored black blazer exuded confidence, complemented by a white blouse and slim-fitting black trousers. To add a touch of color, she adorned herself with a simple Hermes scarf, borrowed from Miranda. Unlike Nate's casual choice of sneakers, Andrea wore stylish black ankle boots that added a hint of sophistication to her look.
As Andrea entered the café, she surveyed her surroundings. The familiar establishment held memories of past visits, ones she hadn't shared with Nate. He waited for her at a corner table toward the back, unknowingly positioned near two old acquaintances, Lily and Doug. Once considered friends, they had aligned themselves with a different side, one that didn't support Andrea.
As Nate seemed poised to rise and greet her, Andrea gestured for him to remain seated.
"It's good to see you," Nate began, his words tinged with nervousness, "you look really great."
Andrea offered him a brief smile, her lips pressed together. "Thanks, I just got off work," she replied, her voice tinged with a sense of urgency. "I won't be able to stay long. I have to pick up my son Liam from daycare." She paused, taking a moment to collect herself. "So, you mentioned you wanted to see me?"
Nate's expression shifted, realizing that the meeting would be brief. As Andrea studied him, she detected a glimmer of disappointment in his eyes. It was a look she recognized all too well. "Yeah, I understand," he said with a forced smile, attempting to mask his disappointment. "You work for CNN, right?"
"Yep," Andrea replied, her tone curt, and she straightened in her chair. "Look, I don't know what this is supposed to be." She gestured with her hand, making a circular motion over the table. "But I just want-"
"I wanted to see you again," Nate interjected, cutting her off. Leaning forward, his arms resting on the table, he continued, "When I saw you on Emerald Isle, it made me think about how things ended between us."
Nate stumbled over his words, attempting to explain himself. "I... I thought to myself, there she is, you know, the one who got away."
Andrea's gaze dropped to the table, and she shifted her eyes away from him. She made a decision to let him have his say, but soon refocused her attention on him, ready to listen.
"And, I know it's been years, but I just... I think I should have been better at expressing myself."
She pressed her left index finger against her brow and furrowed her brow in agreement. Silently, she held her peace, waiting for an opportunity to speak. Nate continued, sharing the difficulty he experienced feeling distant from her during that time. Andrea pursed her lips and let out a scoff, causing him to yield the floor to her.
"Hard for me?" Andrea repeated, her voice dripping with disbelief. "So, it was hard for you, is that what I'm hearing?"
Nate looked away and let out a sigh, before meeting Andrea's gaze again. "But then, there you were... It was like nothing had happened, as if no time had passed at all."
Andrea closed her eyes, struggling to comprehend what she was hearing. She could almost hear Miranda's voice in her head, saying, 'I told you so.' With a resigned exhale, Andrea spoke, "So, my near breakdown was hard for you, even though you were completely unavailable."
Nate attempted to defuse the situation. "Let's not-"
"No, let's," Andrea interrupted, her smile forced but determined. "Because when I needed you, you weren't there. Sure, I was working a lot, but then you had the audacity to say to me... What was it?" She snapped her fingers, recalling his words almost exactly. "The person whose calls you always take, that's the relationship you're in."
Nate's lips tightened as he remained silent, his guilt evident.
"Those were your words," Andrea continued, relenting slightly. "And then you walked out the door, and I ended up going to Paris, quitting my job, coming back home, and finding out I was pregnant. Don't worry, the kid's not yours, because we hadn't done anything." Her words spilled out rapidly, fueled by a mix of disbelief and anger. She couldn't believe that he had the audacity to throw it all in her face and still assume he could sweet-talk her.
Andrea squeezed her eyes shut, feeling the weight of the past crashing down on her. Running her hands through her hair, she let out a heavy exhale. When she opened her eyes, Nate was still there, his guilt etched across his face. She swallowed hard, glancing at her watch, thankful that their meeting was coming to an end.
"I don't know what you thought was going to happen, or what little fantasy you had in your head, Nate," Andrea began, her voice steady and controlled, determined not to let her emotions overwhelm her. She took a deep breath and continued, "But you were right. I was in love with Miranda, even though I didn't realize it at the time. It took time for both of us to acknowledge that we loved each other."
Nate tried to interject, but Andrea silenced him with a dismissive gesture.
"No, you don't get to talk," she asserted, her tone firm. "You've got a lot of nerve, I'll give you that." Andrea paused, gathering her thoughts, before expressing what was on her mind. "And she loves me, Nate. She loves all of me, for who I am. She doesn't try to change me or mold me into someone else. Miranda fell in love with me when I was pregnant with someone else's child, at my lowest point, and she never gave up on me."
"And I love her," Andrea declared passionately. "I love Miranda Priestly with every fiber of my being. We communicate we talk openly and honestly with each other." She chewed on her lip, a mix of determination and sadness in her eyes. "I hope the years treat you well, Nate, and that you have a chance to grow. But today, this ends. I have to go now. I have kids to raise and a wife to love."
Andrea stood up, turning to leave, but then she paused. She looked back at Nate, her gaze piercing, and delivered a final message. "Oh, and do me a favor, Nate," she uttered his name with venomous precision. "Lose my number." With those words hanging in the air, she walked towards the exit. As she passed Lily and Doug, she nodded casually. "Nice to see you too, Lily, Doug."
When Andrea emerged from the café, a familiar BMW pulled up to collect her. Miranda stepped out of the car, holding the door open as she watched her wife slide inside. In that brief moment, Miranda's gaze fell upon Nate as he hurried towards the front of the café. With an icy glare, she made it clear that he was to never speak to Andrea again. Miranda entered the car, shutting the door behind her, and without hesitation, Roy accelerated, swiftly guiding the BMW away from the café.
"You were right," Andrea admitted, a sense of relief evident in her voice. "Remind me to block his number."
Miranda glanced at her wife, her expression calm and composed. "Or I can do it for you."
Andrea gladly handed her phone over to Miranda. "Please do."
Roy provided an estimated time of arrival to Liam's daycare and updated Miranda and Andrea on Matthew and Jacob's schedules. Upon their request, he raised the privacy screen, understanding the need for discretion. As the screen was lifted, Roy's preferred classic rock music played a bit louder than usual. Andrea turned to Miranda, a smile spreading across her face. "No 'I told you so's?"
"Oh, I have no need to gloat, darling Andrea," Miranda remarked, a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. "Your relief was all I needed." She leaned in closer, their lips almost touching. "Now then, we have approximately fiv-" Before Miranda could finish her sentence, Andrea closed the distance between them and delicately kissed her wife on the lips, and then again. Miranda chuckled softly, reciprocating the affection. At that moment, Andrea felt an unwavering confidence in her love for Miranda. Their kisses gradually slowed, and their lips parted.
"I love you, Miranda," Andrea whispered, a smile gracing her face.
"I love you, Andrea," Miranda replied, her voice filled with warmth and sincerity. The BMW continued its journey through the bustling streets of Manhattan, carrying the two women who had found solace and strength in each other's embrace.