Page 98 of Beyond Friendship

Cole’s gaze locks on mine as he sits opposite me in my office. “So how are you doing?”

I lift my shoulders in a helpless shrug. “I don’t know... I can’t stop missing her.”

His expression remains unreadable. I know he still talks to Amanda and Nick. They are still his friends.

“How is she doing?” I ask.

“Better,” Cole answers, his tone even.

My body tightens as frustration rises within me. His simple response fuels the fire of my anguish.

“What do you want to do, Brian? What do you really want?” he presses further.

My throat constricts as I force out the words that have been swirling around my mind for a while. “I want to go back in time, undo what I did wrong, and get her back.” I take a shaky breath. “Do you think there’s a chance I can fix it?”

“Are you saying you want a second chance at being with Amanda?”

“If she’ll have me,” I whisper.

The silence stretches long between us as Cole takes in my words.

“But what about having children? She still wants them,” he prods.

A spark of determination lights up inside me and I nod before voicing out loud what has been forming in my head since the run-in with Akito and her family. “I’ve been thinking. Maybe I do want a child,” I say. “Do you think she’s still open to that with me?”

“Only one way to find out,” he responds.

“I want to call her, but it doesn’t feel right. I need to see her.”

He shrugs his shoulders. “What’s stopping you?”

“You really think she wants to talk to me after all I’ve said and done?”

Cole shrugs, his eyes holding mine. “If it were me, and my heart was set on winning the woman I love back, I’d move mountains to get her.”

Cole stands and I follow him as he moves to the door. “Pay her a visit, my friend. Even if Amanda doesn’t want you back, she deserves an in person apology. Because you saying that she wasn’t enough for you hurt her the most.”

I nod and we walk out. When we’re near the bar, I spot Darius speaking with a woman. As soon as he notices me, she turns toward me.

“Well, you’re in for a treat,” Cole whispers, seeing who it is. “I’m out. Good luck,” he says as the woman comes our way.

Sweat covers my palms, and my heart pumps hard in my chest.

“Good morning, Brian,” Martha greets me.

“Hello, Martha. What brings you here?” I manage to ask.

The intensity of her gaze is unmistakable. “Can we go somewhere private to talk?”

I give a nod in agreement. “Sure. We can go to my office.” I look up at Darius and then back at Martha. “Please make sure we’re not disturbed.”

He nods before turning his attention back to doing inventory.

I stuff my clammy hands into the pockets of my pants as Martha follows me through the hallway. My heart races as I try to think of what she might say. The moment we enter and I slam the door shut, she takes a seat and lets her gaze drift around my office. Tentatively, I sit in my chair and entwine my fingers together in my lap.

“How are you, Brian?” she questions in an unwavering tone.

“I’m doing better day by day.”

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