Page 28 of Beyond Friendship

“Would you worry about me if the roles were reversed?” I challenge.

He answers without missing a beat, “Of course I would.”

“So what’s the difference?”

His lips press into a stubborn, thin line, and his eyes dart away. “It just is.”

As soon as he says this, another possible answer pops up and whirls through my head.What if his condition is the reason he has been denying our connection all these years?

I want to ask, but I can see the tiredness weighing down his shoulders. So, instead of pushing him further, I turn and walk away. “You need to rest. I’m going home. See you later, Brian.”

In desperate need of caffeine and sugar, Bella and I enter the hospital restaurant, ordering coffee and cake.

“How are you feeling?” she asks as soon as I plop my ass into a chair, while sliding the plate with two slices of marble cake to the middle of the table.

With tears in my eyes, I ask, “How do I help him cope with this, Bells?”

Bella meets my eyes with a knowing look. “Brian’s like a cat—chase him and he’ll run away and get grumpy. But if you sit back and let him adjust, he might come to you and end up purring at your feet.”

“Brian purring? Not likely,” I scoff.

Her gaze intensifies. “Give him time. He’s feeling vulnerable, something he hates. And remember, fear can make you do weird shit.”

I grumble and let this realization roam around my mind. Yes, a heart condition is serious, but it definitely doesn’t change my feelings for him.

My temples throb from the overload of information. “Can you drop me off at home? I need time to process all this.”

“Sure thing,” she replies, standing up.

I yawn,stretching my tired body while warm water trickles down my skin, massaging my muscles and relaxing me. I need more sleep than I’ve gotten in the past few days, but it’ll have to wait until I find a space for the lingerie launch. Time is running out. My heart skyrockets at the intruding sound of Avicii’s, “Hey Brother” ringtone yelping through the air. I flip the handle and step out of the shower.Shit, forgot a towel. With a chill running through my spine, I run to my bedroom, leaving a wet trail of footsteps on the hardwood floor.

“Nick?”

“Good morning, sis.”

“What’s wrong? You never call so early in the morning.” I find my towel, wrapping it around myself.

“Daddy, can I talk to Auntie Amanda?”

My brother chuckles. “Yes, you can, but when I’m back, I need to speak with her. You have to get ready for school.”

“Hello, Amanda,” Charlotte chirps through the phone.

“Hey, sweetie. How are you?”

“I made a drawing for Brian. It has hearts on it, and a rainbow, and colorful drinks.”

My soul warms hearing my niece shower her pure love to everyone she likes.

“That sounds amazing, Charlotte. I bet Brian will love it.”

“Can you give it to him, please?”

“Oh, honey, I’m sorry, but I’m not going to see Brian today.”

“But Daddy said that you—”

“Charlotte, let me talk to Amanda,” Nick says in the background.

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