Page 45 of Beyond Friendship

Darius taps his fingers along the counter, showing off his skills as he mixes up a drink for a customer.

“She needs to celebrate—the event sold out,” I say.

Darius’s eyes widen. “Oh wow. Congrats. That definitely calls for a celebratory drink.”

Within minutes, Darius slides a long glass toward Amanda. “One Deluxe Special,” he says with a wink. The cocktail is a work of art; vibrant swirls of pink, yellow, and blue create a mesmerizing pattern that resembles a dusk or dawn sky with ribbons of color cascading around each other in ever-changing shapes. This is one of the reasons he’s the head bartender.

Amanda thanks Darius before grabbing the straw and taking a long sip. My breath hitches as I watch her luscious lips curl around the straw, and my mind ponders how it would feel to brush over them with mine.

Her humming in contentment seems to light up the room, and Darius says, “Enjoy,” before wandering off.

My pants tighten as she takes another sip and I have to clench my fists to keep my composure.

“So how did the others respond to this amazing news?”

She nibbles her lip, her cheeks blushing a light pink. “You’re the first to know.”

Hearing she’s chosen to share this huge moment with me touches me and a lump forms in my throat. “Thanks, Brownie.”

Her eyes lift and when they meet mine, she asks, “You’ve been calling me that for years. Why?”

Without thinking, words come floating out.

“Simple. You resemble my favorite dark chocolate delight in so many ways. Your hair and eyes resemble the color of a brownie, and your innate personality is just as sweet and warm.”

Fuck, did I just say that out loud?The rosy hue flooding her cheeks tells me I did indeed. And when her gaze meets mine, a lightning bolt strikes between us and an intense yearning blazes to life. Sparks crackle in her immense dark irises, radiating a potent emotion I can’t put my finger on but one that mirrors what’s stirring inside me.

My will to resist her is weakening with every second. All I want is to pull her close, yet like always, Aunt Georgia’s words rise from the depths of my subconscious and echo in my head like a haunting tune. I can still sense her hand on my shoulder as she huddled next to me after my dad’s funeral.

“Brian, sweetheart,” she whispered, “let me give you some life advice. Don’t ever fall in love.”

A lump formed in my throat as I glanced over at my mom, tears streaming down her face as grief and pain had taken over. Swallowing hard, I turned back to Aunt Georgia. “Why not?”

She cupped my cheek tenderly and gave me a sad smile. “Because love never lasts, not even true love,” she said, pointing at my mom. “So be clever and protect your heart from the inevitable pain it’ll bring when it comes crashing down.”

“Brian?”

I startle out of my trance, unaware that I was staring at the floor.

“Where did you drift off to?” Amanda asks.

“Uh, nowhere,” I mumble.

She reaches out, but I back away, the reminiscence leaving me feeling exposed and disturbed each time.

The distress in her eyes reveals her reluctant surrender as I construct an invisible barrier between us.

“So, any plans tonight?” I ask without emotions.

She casts a glance over her shoulder at the boisterous crowd of people and replies, “Well, since this is the place to meet interesting men, and the ladies of the LWC advised me to keep dating. I’ll stick around and see if I can find someone new tonight.”

Rage flares inside me and my jaw stiffens. “Maybe you should stop dating,” I suggest, trying to appear unfazed.

She lets out a derisive snort and wheels around to face me. The warmth of her anger radiates off her as she crosses her arms. “How about you put an end to your one-night stands,” she retaliates.

My fists clench involuntarily as I fight to remain composed. “I have,” I murmur before thinking better of it.

“Yeah, right,” she scoffs, her voice ringing with incredulity. Under her breath, I can hear her muttering Janelle’s name. She still believes I hooked up with Janelle that weekend.

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