Page 12 of Beyond Friendship

I stand motionless, trying to ignore the pounding of my heart.

“When you two gaze at each other, it’s like electricity,” Alisha states. “But if you keep this up, you’ll find yourself watching as another man sweeps her off her feet and into a wedding dress—and then it’ll be too late.”

A chill runs down my spine as I imagine Amanda standing before the altar, hands locked with the dipshit doctor.

Alisha crosses her arms, piercing me with her gaze. “Let me tell you something as Amanda’s friend. If you can’t be honest about your feelings for her, stay away from her love life and let her make her own choices.”

“I care about her like a sister,” I protest tightly. “She’s free to do whatever she wants. I’m just looking out for her well-being.”

“Bull,” she fires back. “And you know it.”

Her next words come slower, each one chosen carefully. “Let me drive home my point by using another method.”

A sudden piercing ache races down my right foot and I understand why when I realize her heel is embedded in it. Our dancing pauses.

“Ah, there is my latest dance partner,” Alisha says with an upbeat tone. When I glance to the side, I see we stopped near Steven and Amanda. I glower at the bride, or should I say scheming witch.

“Time for a dance, my old neighbor. We have not waltzed yet. And there is a rule that states you can’t refuse the bride on the day of her wedding,” she says in a sweet voice, yet her eyes gleam with mischief.

Steven laughs and agrees.

Before Amanda has the chance to speak, Alisha grabs Steven’s hand and tugs him away. Then Alisha shoves me forward and I almost walk into Amanda.

Immediately, the sweet scent of her perfume surrounds me—a mix of warm vanilla, almond, spices, and musky wood. Amanda peers at the other couples around us as she bites her lip and adjusts her dress. I know that expression all too well; she’s wishing for a dance.

I shouldn’t touch her. But when the DJ starts playing a slow dance tune and I see another man coming our way, I take a step forward, drape my arm around her waist, and pull her close.Just one dance.By the way her eyes widen, I know she’s surprised by my action, but she doesn’t protest.

Our bodies sway together in perfect harmony, and my palms tingle with a burgeoning possessiveness. I should release her, but instead, my thumb caresses the exposed skin on her lower back. An unspoken desire that I am unable to admit rages within me as I observe her skin flush from her neck to the apples of her cheeks.Exquisite.

“Did you enjoy the wedding?” I ask, trying to restrain my emotions.

She nonverbally responds with a faint hum and a smile gracing her glossy lips. “It was perfect. Witnessing two people vow their eternal love for each other is so romantic.”

“You know love isn’t always roses and chocolates, right? And when it is, someone usually gets hurt,” I say, not entirely sure why I persist in this line of conversation... other than to push her away, to put distance between us so I don’t do something stupid like kiss her.

Her gaze burns into me.

“Why are you so cynical about love and relationships?”

I shrug, my jaw clenched and my chest tightening with each passing second that we remain close together. “Just am.”

“So you don’t believe in true love?” she asks.

I can’t look at her anymore without acting on the burning desire that’s growing inside of me, so I focus on the fact that she’s here with Steven instead of the way her touch sends vibrations through my body.

To break the moment, I pose a question I know will make her angry.

“Do you really think that the no-good scumbag you’re dating is true love?”

I grit my teeth and give her an uncompromising stare. She digs her nails into my shoulder.

“Stop talking about him like that.”

With our bodies synced to the beat of the music, we stay locked in the moment.

“Why do you keep going out with him, Amanda?”

She fixates her eyes on my chest as she replies. “Because... he’s not so bad.”

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