Chapter 4 The Heartache 💔

Heartache destroys a good portion of trust and feelings. Erick would take advantage of this heartache to try to have Lorelai in his arms or, worse, in his bed. Lorelai felt devastated and needed to get away from the Contreras' house as soon as possible.

- I need to go, Erick, please excuse me.

- Don't go, Lorelai. You're too agitated. If you go home like this, your grandmother will bombard you with questions. Come with me to my room, I'll ask Matilde to serve us some tea.

Lorelai agreed. She was not in a condition to listen to Margareth's criticisms at that moment. But perhaps, willingly, she was heading into the wolf's den.

As soon as they entered the room, Erick began his seduction tactic. The first step would be to boost Lorelai's ego and make her feel desired.

- Are you still crying? Take this handkerchief. You don't need to cry over Jonathan. So many men would give anything to be by your side. You're still too young to give up on love, my dear. Give me a chance to prove to you that love is more than just words.

Erick spoke, and there was a mysterious gleam in his eyes. It was unclear whether he really loved her or just wanted to satisfy a male whim. To Lorelai, Erick seemed sincere in his feelings, or at least that's what she wanted to believe at the moment. But Jonathan would never reciprocate her feelings, so she decided to accept Erick's love. Lorelai nodded, and he kissed her passionately. It was a long and intense kiss that made Lorelai feel completely unknown sensations. It was a new emotion that Lorelai labeled as desire.

Heartache had led her to believe that she had fallen in love with Erick. And who could blame Lorelai for falling for the older and more experienced Contreras?

Erick was undoubtedly spectacular, at the height of his twenty-eight years, living up to his nickname of Don Juan de Beluvia. He was one of the most sought-after men, a confirmed bachelor.

And now he had kissed Lorelai, the sweet and innocent Lorelai... But for how long?

The next day, all Lorelai could remember was having her heart broken by Jonathan and that Erick had offered to be by her side. At least, that's what he promised before having her in his arms. Before the Contreras woke up, Lorelai dressed herself, descended the stairs with careful steps, but was surprised by Molly, who had also caused trouble the night before.

- Where do you think you're going, missy?

Molly had a confused look on her face, as if she wasn't entirely sober.

- Are you drunk, Moll?

Molly shook her head, trying to regain her composure.

- Don't try to change the subject, missy. Your outfit looks rumpled.

- How can you be so sure? - Lorelai countered.

- Friend, you know I'm an expert in mischief and a professional in early morning escapes. Come on! Spill it! What did you do last night? - Molly asked with excitement.

Lorelai smiled, realizing that she couldn't keep the truth from her friend.

- You can't even imagine what happened to me. My mind is all over the place.

- I have some things to tell you too, but before you tell me what happened... did you really spend the night here? - Lorelai blushed instantly and pulled her friend to a corner of the room to whisper in her ear.

- I was with your brother.

Molly was immediately surprised, after all, Jonathan was with Lindsay and Erick, not a good bet.

- Wait, Lori, how were you with my brother? He's engaged, didn't you know?

Lorelai's thoughts returned to Jonathan, and she felt her body tremble, but with Erick, she had felt something different. And now, how would she know her true feelings?

Lorelai might have wondered for hours if it weren't for Molly's impatience. Molly had been her best friend for as long as she could remember, always by her side, even when she suffered upon discovering she was adopted, Lori had given her all the support a five-year-old could give.

- Lori, snap out of it! - she quickly returned to reality.

- Now tell me, which of my brothers was occupying your thoughts this time? - Molly inquired.

Lori smiled.

- Neither of them. Enough about me. Now, tell me, what did you get up to yesterday?

Molly smiled mysteriously and let out one of her loud laughs, as if she were trying to convey everything she had experienced through that smile.

- Let's just say I had fun last night, but it wasn't with my brother! - she exclaimed sarcastically. - Besides, he looked nothing like Erick, if you catch my drift.

- And who was it this time?

Lorelai watched her friend closely as Molly bragged about another one of her adventures, claiming to have met the man of her dreams for the umpteenth time. Molly was never known for her virtues; everyone knew her as Trouble-Maker Molly, and Lorelai was the only one who understood her during her moments of crisis or jumped into them with her.

Molly chuckled mischievously, reveling in the attention and intrigue she was causing.

- Let's just say it was a mystery man, Lori. Someone I've never met before. He swept me off my feet with his charm and sense of adventure. You know me, always up for something thrilling.

Lorelai raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued.

- A mystery man, huh? Sounds exciting. But you'll have to spill all the juicy details later. Right now, I need to figure out what's going on with my own complicated love life.

Molly gave Lorelai an understanding look.

- Lori, love can be messy and confusing. Just follow your heart and do what feels right for you. And if you ever need advice, you know I'm here for you.

Lorelai smiled appreciatively. She and Molly had been through thick and thin together, and their friendship was a rock-solid bond.

- Thanks, Moll. You're the best friend a girl could ask for.

Molly grinned.

- That's what I'm here for, to keep life interesting for you.

As they continued their conversation, the two friends shared stories and secrets, finding comfort in each other's company. Despite the twists and turns in their love lives, they knew that their friendship would always remain a constant source of support and laughter.

Little did they know that the days ahead would bring even more surprises and challenges, testing their friendship in ways they could never have imagined. But for now, in this moment, they cherished the simple joy of being together, united by their shared history and the unbreakable bond of friendship.