CHAPTER FIFTY - FOUR - WE NEED TO TALK.

Mateo steered his car to a halt on the gravel driveway, his gaze fixed on the large porch in front of him. The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow over the landscape, but he felt no warmth inside. Only a gnawing sense of unease as he recalled their last conversation, the words they had exchanged. He hesitated, his fingers gripping the steering wheel tightly as he debated whether to go through with it. He knew he needed to talk to her, not just about that night, but also to explain himself, but his pride was holding him back. The silence of the evening was broken only by the crickets chirping, their song mingling with the soft patter of his heartbeat. He took a deep breath, reminding himself that he owed it to her and to himself, and to their friendship all these years to try to make things right. He finally reached for the car door handle, the metal cold against his palm, and stepped out into the still evening. His feet carried him toward the porch, but with each s