Page 13 of Beyond Friendship

He is bad. I want to scream, but I swallow my words down and instead lower my head, speaking in a low whisper in her ear.

“Listen to me. That man can never be good enough for you. He’ll never understand your worth, Amanda. He’ll never realize that you’re an independent and powerful woman who doesn’t need anyone to tell her what to do. You deserve someone who treats you with respect and admiration and never fails to show their love for you.”

She swallows, her gaze meeting mine.

“Well, if you know a man who fits that description, give him my number, will you? But if not, please stay out of my love life.”

I clench my fists. Her defiance only pushes me closer to the edge. “Come on, Amanda,” I growl. “I’m just being a good friend who doesn’t want to see you get hurt.”

Her gaze sears into mine. “Thank you, but I can make my own decisions when it comes to who I want to date. Just like you can decide yourself who your next plaything of the night will be.”

“So you’re just gonna date him, knowing full well he isn’t the one for you?”

My words hit her like a truck, her body tensing as she takes a step back and glares at me with a mask of determination.

“Don’t you dare judge me, Brian,” she snaps. “What do you actually know about relationships and being in one?”

I try to reply, but my mouth runs dry and my cheeks burn with embarrassment. She stares me down, and I can’t bear to look away. She’s right. I know nothing about being in a real relationship.

Amanda’s tone softens then, her anger fading away as quick as it had flared up. “Finding love isn’t easy,” she whispers. “But I still believe there’s someone out there who can love me for who I am. I don’t need Prince Charming; I just want someone who can love me unreservedly and with all their heart. And if it means I’ll have to get hurt a few times along the way to find him, so be it.”

She turns away then and walks off the dance floor, leaving me standing alone in the middle of the room, my mind more confused than ever.

4

AMANDA

The air around me feels stifling, like a sea of dread I can’t outswim. My fingertips dance along the cold, jagged stone wall behind the club, trying and failing to douse the fire of emotions burning inside me. Tipping my face up to the night sky, I pray for these feelings to vanish. How much simpler it would all be if the spark between us was snuffed out. But no, it’s always there, and since he chooses to ignore it, I won’t beg him to initiate something more, so we remain in the friends with chemistry zone. Even though I desperately want to blank out my craving for him, a tiny glimmer of hope still lingers that one day he’ll look into my eyes and say he wants to give us a try.But what am I wishing for?He is the king of casual flings, while I yearn for a serious relationship—fidelity and commitment.

“Amanda?

I lift my gaze and watch Bella march toward me with intent. The delicate fabric of her soft pink dress clings to her pale skin while her vibrant red hair is secured in an elegant bun.

She takes another step closer. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing much. Just Brian and his big mouth again.”

Bella listens as I explain what happened. She knows, like the rest of the girls, that I’ve got feelings for the man who is our mutual friend. When I’m done, her gaze never leaves mine as she gives her opinion.

“Don’t let our one-night Romeo friend confuse you.”

I chuckle at her new nickname for him. My gaze draws back to the twinkling stars above us. “Yeah, you’re right. I need to focus my attention on making things work with Steven.”

She gives my arm a gentle squeeze.

“How are things going between the two of you?”

I shrug. “Kind of good. We’ve been on four dates so far and he’s a nice and attractive guy who loves to talk about his job and his successes.”

I trail off, glancing away from Bella when addressing another truth. “But sometimes I feel like he’s competing with me, like he insists on proving his success while belittling my dreams and efforts. And he never really compliments them either.”

“Then I say move on,” Bella says in a clear tone. God, I love her down-to-earth attitude toward life and the levelheadedness she exudes. She always gives you her honest opinion but never in a cruel way. It’s just what I need to calm my emotions.

The thought of finding someone new to date tires me. I look at my friend. “Or maybe I give it another chance? He is a good kisser... that counts for something.”

Bella pauses, wiping a strand of red hair from her cheek. “But is that something enough?”

I shrug. “Time will tell.”

---