Avery felt a flutter of excitement as she grabbed her bag and phone. Today was meant to be fun—a simple shopping trip with Gabriella—but a small pang of worry tightened in her stomach as she checked her purse for the credit card Axel had given her. She tried to shake it off.
"Ready to get lost in the stores?" Avery asked, grinning.
Gabriella smirked and fell in step beside her. Her presence always made Avery laugh and feel comfortable.
They wandered through boutiques, Avery carefully choosing shoes, handbags, and a few little accessories. She tried to keep her purchases moderate, but the thrill of the day made her forget herself. Everything seemed normal until they reached the jewelry store. Gabriella's eyes widened at a sparkling gold bracelet, which she held up and admired with delight.
Avery shook her head, laughing. "Gabby… we've seen plenty of bracelets today."
Gabriella only shrugged playfully. Avery paid for her own items, thinking everything was in order. But as they walked toward the café for a break, Avery patted her bag and froze.
Her card.
Her stomach sank. She rifled through every pocket and compartment. Nothing. The card Axel had personally given her was missing.
"Okay… think," she muttered under her breath, panic nibbling at her chest.
Gabriella noticed the change in Avery's expression. "What's wrong?"
"My… my credit card," Avery admitted, her voice tight. "I can't find it anywhere."
Gabriella immediately stepped closer, concern written all over her face. "Okay, okay. Let's retrace our steps. We'll find it."
Together, they went back through the boutiques and café, asking staff if anyone had turned in a misplaced card. At the jewelry store, Gabriella insisted they check the security footage. Avery felt a flicker of hope as they stood side by side, watching the video rewind.
The manager's eyes scanned the counter, the customers, the displays. Every movement played back on the screen, but nothing suspicious appeared. No one had taken the card—or at least nothing was visible on camera.
Avery exhaled slowly. "See? Nothing."
Gabriella gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't stress, Avery. We'll keep looking. Maybe it's just slipped somewhere we haven't checked yet."
Together, they combed through the café, the boutiques, even the area outside. Gabriella's calm, supportive presence helped Avery manage the panic bubbling inside her, even if the gnawing worry of the unknown lingered.
By the time they returned home, Avery had exhausted every possibility. Her room, her car, even her mental retracing of the day couldn't locate the missing card. She felt a mix of panic, guilt, and dread—Axel had trusted her, and she didn't want to disappoint him. For now, she decided, she would keep the problem to herself until she figured it out.
Later that evening, Avery lay in bed, reflecting on the day. The suspense of the missing card and her worry over Axel's reaction left her mind spinning. For now, the missing card hung over Avery like a quiet shadow—unseen, yet ever-present. Every heartbeat reminded her of the suspense, but Axel's calm, protective presence remained her anchor, keeping her grounded in the midst of uncertainty.