Hope you enjoy chapter 16! :)

Feelings of Uncertainty

The next morning Amy, Ricky, and John checked out of the hotel. Adrian was also standing by them at the front desk.

"So, you beat Ben up last night?" Adrian asked Ricky.

"It was a misunderstanding. We're cool now." Ricky replied.

"Are you sure about that? You're usually not violent, Ricky." Adrian said honestly.

"It's complicated. We just need to move forward now, okay?" Ricky replied, avoiding eye contact.

"Yeah we need to go. I'm sorry, Adrian." Amy said kindly as she put her purse over her shoulder.

"You're sorry, Amy? This entire weekend has been your fault. You ruined Ben's and my wedding!" Adrian said frustrated.

"Adrian, let's not do this here, okay?" Ricky said, his voice tight with tension.

John looked worried, his eyes darting between Adrian and his parents. "My parents are getting married so you can have Uncle Ben back."

Adrian's expression softened, and she knelt down to look him in the eye. "John, it's not that simple. Sometimes, people need time to figure things out."

"Leave our son out of this! Come on, John and Ricky." Amy said angrily as she started to walk towards the front doors with her luggage.

John looked back at Adrian with a sad expression before following his mom.

"I am so sorry, Adrian. I hope you can forgive us one day." Ricky said kindly as he looked at Adrian.

"Before you go Ricky, what do you see in her really? Besides the fact she's the mother of your son? I want to know." Adrian said seriously as she looked deeply in Ricky's eyes.

Ricky took a deep breath, his hand on the door handle. "I see the woman I've loved since high school. The woman who made me believe in love and family. We've had our ups and downs, but when it comes down to it, she's always been the one for me," Ricky replied, his gaze never leaving Adrian's.

Adrian's eyes searched his, looking for any hint of doubt or insincerity, but all she found was the unshakeable truth in his words. She nodded slowly, her voice soft. "I hope you guys find happiness together," she said, her voice thick with emotion.

"I hope the same for you and Ben if he's the one you want." Ricky responded honestly.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Adrian asked suspiciously.

"I mean exactly what I said. If you two love each other then you'll make it work." Ricky said truthfully and he walked outside.

Adrian felt a twinge of doubt as she watched Ricky and Amy leave with John. Her gaze followed them until they were out of sight before she turned and walked back to the front desk, her mind racing with thoughts.

"Ms. Adrian, are you okay?" The concerned voice of the desk clerk brought her back to reality.

"Yeah, I just need to... I'll be okay," she replied, her voice shaking slightly as she picked up her phone to call for a taxi.

As the taxi pulled away from the hotel, Adrian couldn't shake the feeling that she had lost more than just Ben in that hotel. The years of friendship and shared history between her and Ricky seemed to vanish in an instant. She stared out the window, the blur of passing buildings mirroring the chaos in her thoughts.

When she walked into her condo she felt more alone than ever before.

Adrian's heart felt like it was in a vice grip as she stepped into the quiet of her and Ben's condo. The silence was deafening, a stark contrast to the tumult of emotions that had consumed her at the hotel. She set her bag down, her eyes scanning the familiar surroundings that now felt so alien. The walls that had once been a sanctuary now closed in on her, a cold reminder of the reality she faced.

Wandering into the living room, she spotted the framed picture of her and Ben, their smiles frozen in a moment of happiness that now felt like a distant memory. She picked it up, her thumb tracing over his image, feeling the ache in her chest grow with each passing second.

Suddenly there was a knock at her front door. She opened it and saw Grace with Jack.

"Grace, Jack. What are you guys doing here?" Adrian asked, surprised to see them.

Grace's eyes searched Adrian's tear-stained face, her own heart heavy with concern. "I came to check on you," she said as she walked inside with Jack.

"Yeah I saw Ben leave the hotel last night after I picked up dinner." Jack said seriously as they sat on the couch.

"Oh, that's because we need some time apart." Adrian said sadly.

"But weren't you two supposed to get married?" Jack asked confused.

"Jack! Ben still loves Amy! Or is she with Ricky again? I'm so confused. We saw them in the hotel yesterday." Grace said seriously and a little confused.

Adrian nodded, her eyes filling with tears as she sank into the couch. "It's complicated. Ben still has feelings for Amy, but I think she's with Ricky now. They've always had a complicated history," she explained, her voice thick with emotion.

Grace and Jack exchanged concerned glances. "Well, we're here for you, Adrian. You know that, right?" Grace said, her voice filled with warmth.

Adrian nodded, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "Thank you. I just don't know what to do. I thought I had found my person, but..." her voice trailed off as she stared at the floor.

"But what? Tell us Adrian." Grace pleaded nicely.

"Omar showed up last night. I couldn't believe it." Adrian said honestly as she looked at her friends.

"Omar? What did he say?" Jack asked surprised.

Adrian took a deep breath, her eyes still on the floor. "He was just...so understanding. It was nice to see him, but it's not the same. He said I shouldn't have to deal with Ben's baggage, that I deserve better," she said, her voice filled with a hint of doubt.

Grace's eyes softened. "Maybe he's right, Adrian. You're a wonderful person. You don't have to settle for someone who can't fully commit to you," she said gently.

Adrian looked up, her gaze meeting Grace's. "But I love Ben. And what if he's just confused?" she asked, her voice hopeful despite the doubt.

"Screw Ben! He's an idiot if he can't see how amazing you are, Adrian." Jack said sternly and then kindly.

"Ah hmm! I'm right here!" Grace said stubbornly as she looked at Jack.

"Oh, calm down, Grace! We just got back together. I'm just trying to help." Jack replied.

"Right, I'm sorry. Jack does have a point, Adrian." Grace said sincerely as she looked at Jack and then Adrian.

Adrian took a deep breath, the words echoing in her mind. Was she just holding onto a lost cause? Could she really let go of the man she had built a life with? But as much as she loved Ben, the pain of his indecision was too much to bear. "Maybe you're right," she murmured. "Maybe it's time for me to move on, find someone who can give me what I need without all this drama."

"Thank God you said that! Now we can get out of here. The game's almost on." Jack said relieved as he stood up.

Grace gave Jack a playful slap on the arm. "Jack, have some empathy! Adrian's going through a tough time here!" Grace exclaimed.

Jack looked at Adrian apologetically. "You're right, I'm sorry. What happened with Ben is terrible, but you know we're here for you, right?"

Adrian managed a small smile. "Thanks, guys. I know you are. So why did you two get back together anyway?"

Grace and Jack exchanged a look that spoke volumes. It was a question they hadn't expected, but it was clear that Adrian needed a distraction.

"Well, after we broke up for like the 100th time, I realized that I couldn't live without him. And when he called me, all it took was one conversation for me to know that we had to give it another chance." Grace said, her voice filled with warmth.

Jack nodded in agreement, placing his hand on top of Grace's. "It wasn't easy, but we both knew we had to make changes. We had to communicate better, and I had to learn to be more supportive of her career."

"I see and does Claire know about this?" Adrian asked curiously after wiping her face again.

"Um, not exactly but she will soon." Grace said awkwardly.

Jack squeezed her hand reassuringly. "We've decided to tell her together when the time is right."

"Congrats I guess…I need to go back to bed. Call me later, Grace. And Jack I'll kick your butt if you hurt my best friend again." Adrian said tiredly and then sarcastically as she walked them to the door.

"I'll be good, I promise." Jack said with a wink to Adrian.

Grace chuckled and leaned in to give Adrian a hug. "Thank you for being here for me, chica. You're a great friend." Adrian said nicely.

"Anytime, we've got your back." Grace said sweetly as she let go of Adrian.

Jack gave Adrian a side hug. "Take care of yourself, okay?" he said kindly.

Adrian nodded, her eyes misting over. "Thanks, you guys. I really appreciate it," she said, her voice thick with emotion.

Once they had left, she walked back to her bedroom, her thoughts racing. The encounter with Omar and the revelation about Ben had shaken her to her core. As she lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, she couldn't help but think about what her future might hold. She had always believed in fighting for love, but now she wasn't so sure.

Thank you again for reading! The next chapter will be coming soon! Also for clarification Claire is not Jack's daughter. There will be more background on her in the next one! :)