Page 28 of Rekindled Heat

“I’ve known you ten years. There’s a new plan.” Sam says.

“If the plan is living my life while I wait for him to get over his anger and figure out he loves me, then that’s what I’ll be doing.”

“That’s a sucky plan.”

“I’m all schemed out, my friend.”

“God help us when you wake up from this funk.”

Erik

It’s the middle of the workday, and I’m swamped – well, I’ve made myself extremely busy – and Max has the audacity to summon me to his office. I’m not his goddamn minion! I need to calm down before I go to his office because if I don’t, he’ll know I’m not doing well. How could I? It’s been 14 days, 7 hours, and… 47 minutes since I held Brandy in my arms. Not that I’ve been counting.

I take a few deep breaths and think of my happy place. Except my happy place is when I’m deep inside Brandy, making her moan. I can’t keep doing this. I have to stay strong. There can’t be a relationship if there is no trust. The thing is, it’s a small thing, isn’t it? Why am I so angry at her? She did what I should have done years ago. Give our relationship a second chance.

Once I’m ready to tackle whatever Max has in store for me, I go to his office. I knock, and Max calmly calls me in. When I step in, I almost do a one-eighty and leave the room. Standing beside Max are his fiancé, Anne, and our other business partner and friend, Theo. What am I walking into?

“You rang?”

“You’re dating yourself with that question,” Anne says.

“This looks like an intervention.”

“That’s because it is,” Theo says.

“I’m surprised that you’re here, Theo. You’re always so focused on the numbers. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you out of your office outside of working hours.”

“Hey, there’s mushy stuff inside me too.” He says in a deep voice.

“Right. Okay, out with it. Say what you want to say.”

“Erik, we all love you…” Anne starts.

“And we also know what an idiot you can be sometimes.” Max continues.

I look at them, and they are all serious. I think this is a joke.

“Any more aspersions on my person you want to cast?” I look at Theo.

“Dude, you’ve got to snap out of it and go get your girl.”

I sit on one of the chairs in front of Max’s desk and ponder what to say to that.

“I want to go get her. It’s just…”

“What?”

“If I go to Woodland Falls and bring her back here to be with me, it’s like I’m promising her forever. And we were just starting out our relationship. I don’t know if I’m ready for everything else.”

“I’ve never seen you be with a woman the way you are with Brandy,” Max says. “Couldn’t she be…”

“Don’t say it!”

“…your soulmate?”

“Erik, I’m surprised at you. I didn’t peg you for a coward.” Anne says, crossing her arms.

I freeze at her words, and a chill goes through me. I am being a coward. I’m making excuses when all I want is to bring Brandy home.

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