Page 27 of Beginnings By the Sea

“Does it feel like that when he touches you?”

Her gaze dropped to the ground; the answer was written all over her expression.

No.

I wanted to pull her in and kiss her until she forgot about anyone else, but instead, I stepped away, lifting a hand to caress her cheek one last time.

“You might want to ask yourself why that is,” I said softly before turning and walking to the door. I stopped and touched the handle, smirking at her over my shoulder. “Oh, and one more thing.”

Nyla pursed her lips and crossed her arms over her chest. “What else is there? I’m already going to have a horrible night telling a certain someone that I kissed my ex-husband tonight.”

My brows shot up. “You’re going to tell him?”

She huffed out an incredulous breath. “How can I not? He trusted me to spend this evening with you and even warned me that something like this would happen. I’m going to tell him the truth.”

I shrugged. “Maybe it’s a good thing you tell him. Maybe he’ll realize it’s not meant to be.”

She bit her lip. “He’s not the type of guy to give up so easily. If anything, it’s going to make things really awkward. He’ll try harder to make me choose him.”

That was not what I wanted to hear. One thing was for sure—this enigmatic “certain someone” didn’t have the same shared history Nyla and I did.

I opened the door and smiled, but my heart was in my throat. “I’m not giving up, Nyla,” I said, putting as much emotion into each word as possible. “I came here for a reason: to get you back. Am I a little too late? Yeah, maybe, but that’s why I’m going to work extra hard. If you decide I’m not the one, I’ll leave and let you move on.”

Nyla stood there with her arms still crossed, but I could see the desperation on her face. Whoever this other guy was, I know she didn’t love him. She was afraid, and that fear was keeping her from me. I just had to make her see that we needed our second chance and what happened in the past shouldn’t scare her anymore.

I walked out to my car and glanced back at the door where Nyla stood, her eyes full of turmoil. I didn’t want to make things difficult for her, but being without her for was not what I wanted.

When I asked for the divorce, I hoped it would make Nyla realize what she was throwing away. It hurt when she didn’t try to work things out. I had no choice but to see the divorce through. If I’d only tried harder to make her see that our marriage could’ve worked, maybe we’d still be together.

Nyla stepped out of the doorway. “How is this going to work, Miles? I’m stuck between a man from my past who I loved more than anything, and another one who I could potentially see a future with. I don’t know what to do.”

A pang of jealousy sparked in my gut. I didn’t like her seeing a future with the other guy, but it was something I was going to have to deal with.

“You’ll figure it out, Nyla. You just have to trust yourself,” was all I could say.

Her lips pulled back in a slow smile. “That’s easier said than done.”

I shrugged. “I have faith in you. I always have.”

Nyla raised her brows inquisitively. “So, what exactly is next on your game plan? You come here to profess your love and now what?”

I met her gaze head on. “Oh, I don’t know,” I said, my lips spreading into a smirk. “Somebody told me about this Date with a Doctor auction at the Spring Fling this Saturday.”

Nyla’s mouth dropped. “Please tell me you’re not going to it.” I hopped in my car and she raced over, blocking me from shutting my door. “Miles, seriously? Are you going to enter?”

I tapped her chin playfully. “I think an ice cream date with you sounds fun.”

She rolled her eyes, but the corners of her lips tugged up slightly, revealing that she was secretly happy about it, too.

“You’re not the only one, you know.”

I winked at her. “Didn’t think I would be. Maybe I’ll be lucky and win.”

Nyla laughed softly and it was exactly what I needed to hear. “Maybe you will.” She stepped back. “Looks like I’ll be seeing you later.”

I shut my door and rolled down my window. “Yes, you will.”

And with those final words, I left.

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