Page 95 of Beyond Friendship

His lips curl upward into a beaming grin. “You’re such a friendly young woman. Too often I’ve come across people with their heads so high up in the clouds that they’re disconnected from reality. Wealth changes people’s perspectives.”

“Wealth doesn’t excuse bad behavior.”

His smile widens. “Agreed, Miss Amanda. That’s why I like to take care of you. You expect nothing, and you’ve been kind-hearted from the moment we met.”

He walks to the fully equipped kitchen lying inside the front door and returns, holding a tray with fresh orange juice. When he places it on the table filled with croissants, bagels, fresh grapes, strawberries, and blueberries, he takes a seat on the other side of the table. “Buon appetito.”

“God, Italian sounds so much better than English,” I say with a sigh and Aris laughs.

We continue talking and enjoying our delicious morning meal while Aris tells me about the island and its history. Suddenly, my phone rings. I grab it from the table and when I see who it is, I stand.

“Excuse me,” I say, striding away as I answer my ringing phone.

“How are you?” Nick asks before I can greet him.

“Oh, this place is heaven on earth, Nick. Please thank Nero for letting me stay here.”

My brother chuckles before letting out a relieved deep breath. I bite my lip, staying silent as I try to avoid asking what I really want to know.

But then the words come spilling out anyway. “How is he doing?”

Nick sighs. “Amanda, you—”

“I need to know how he’s doing,” I interrupt, running my hand through my hair. Then Cole’s familiar voice comes through.

“Amanda. He’s managing.” Pain stabs at my core upon hearing his statement. Unable to restrain myself any longer, I take a seat on one of the lounge chairs standing on the sun terrace and press further. “Is he drinking?”

“No, not a drop,” Cole reassures me. “He’s even going to Six-Pack to work every day,” Cole reassures me.

I huff and close my eyes against the surge of relief that floods through me.

“Promise you’ll call me if anything is wrong,” I say.

Nick huffs again in response, but it’s Cole who answers first this time.

“I will.”

“Are you eating properly?” Nick asks with concern laced in his tone this time.

I arch an eyebrow even though he can’t see it and puff out a breath at his overprotectiveness. “I just finished devouring two croissants and a bagel and washed them down with fresh orange juice. Okay, Nickolas?”

Cole laughs at my words, providing some much-needed lightness to our conversation. “Ah, there’s the Amanda Brown I know.”

I smile at his comment and turn my attention away from Nick’s grumbling. “How is Alisha doing?”

“She’s fine. She ranted about how it’s not fair she can’t fly. But after I gave her a foot massage and promised to give her one every day, she calmed down.”

“You’re a good husband, Cole.”

“And, Nick. Thank you for making this possible. I love you,” I whisper.

“Anything for you, sis.”

I take in a deep breath, letting it fill my lungs before asking, “Have you talked to Brian, Nick?”

The line falls silent and seconds stretch out like an eternity before he finally takes a breath and responds, “No.”

My heart clenches inside my chest as tears form in my eyes—memories of how close they were before my feelings for his best friend tore their friendship apart. “Nick, just because we broke up doesn’t mean that you two can’t be friends again.”

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