Page 20 of Christmas With A Billionaire

“It’s always ‘not like that’ with you two.” LaMont stood, stretching his back. “Twenty years of ‘not like that.’”

“She went on a date with Marcus Richardson.”

“The lawyer?” LaMont’s eyebrows shot up. “From Caldwell & Ross?”

“Yeah.”

“Damn.” He studied my face. “How are you handling that?”

“I’m not handling anything. She’s free to date whoever she wants.”

“Right. That’s why you’re crushing that water bottle.”

I looked down at the crumpled plastic in my hand. “We should get back to work.”

“Nah.” LaMont blocked my path. “We’re doing this. You’ve been off since that night at the building. What happened?”

“Nothing happened.” But I couldn’t meet his eyes.

“T.”

I sighed, dropping onto a box. “I stayed over last week.”

“For real?”

“Not like that. We were working late, and she fell asleep. I took her home.” I sucked my teeth. “Ended up staying the night.”

“And?”

“And nothing. We slept. Like we used to in college.”

LaMont’s laugh was short and sharp. “Because that worked out so well back then. How many nights did you lie there wanting to kiss her but convinced yourself it wasn’t worth the risk?”

“It wasn’t.”

“Maybe then. But now?” He gestured around the apartment. “Look at everything you’ve built. The empire you’ve created. What are you really afraid of?”

I stood, needing to move. “You don’t get it. She’s not just some woman I’m attracted to. She’s...” I struggled to find the words. “She’s Autumn.”

“Exactly. She’s Autumn. The woman who’s been by your side through everything. Who believed in you when you were just a kid with big dreams and an old camera.”

“That’s why I can’t lose her.” The words came out rougher than intended. “If we tried and it didn’t work...”

“Are you kidding me? What reason would it not work? It’s already worked. You guys are in a relationship without sex. Your best friends, full of emotional love and care, and possess everything that makes a great couple. Spare me the bullshit, please.”

I thought about waking up with her in my arms last week, how right it had felt. How watching her walk away with Marcus felt like someone punching me in the gut.

“Here.” LaMont tossed me another water. “Hydrate and talk. When did it start?”

“What?”

“When did you first realize you were in love with her?”

I didn’t bother denying it. LaMont had known me too long.

I twisted the cap off the bottle. “We were at that dive bar near campus. Some guy was hitting on her and wouldn’t take no for an answer. She handled it herself—told him off so smoothly that he actually apologized before leaving.”

“And?”

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