Winning Back His Ex's Wife's Broken Heart by Hayley

Chapter 48

Sarah's

pov.

I told myself over and over again, "We're just friends." That's what I had to believe.

But the truth was, every time I saw Richard, my heart did this annoying little flip, and I hated it.

We weren't supposed to be here-on the edge of something more. Not again.

It had started small, of course. Casual meetups, business dinners, nothing that screamed romantic.

But every time we sat across from each other, laughing about the most random things, I couldn't ignore that spark.

The way his eyes softened when I spoke. Or how he'd occasionally touch my hand, as if testing the waters.

I brushed it off. After everything we'd been through, there was no way I could trust him again. No way I could let myself feel that way. Right?

"Sarah, you're overthinking again," Emma had told me the other day on Facetime, her usual no-nonsense attitude shining through.

"Just enjoy it for what it is. You don't need to have all the answers right now."

But that was the thing. I did need answers. Because the longer this went on, the blurrier the line between friendship and... whatever this was, became. One night, after yet another business dinner where we somehow ended up talking about everything but work, Richard walked me to my car. It had become a habit at this point, something he did without thinking.

"Thanks for tonight," I said, fumbling with my keys. I was trying so hard to sound casual, like my heart wasn't racing just standing there next to him. "Anytime," he replied with that smile-that smile that used to make me melt. It still did, apparently, because I felt my face heat up.

There was a moment of silence, the kind that's supposed to feel comfortable but just felt loaded instead.

I cleared my throat, trying to break the tension. "Well, I guess I'll see you next week? We've got that meeting with the investors."

"Yeah, definitely," he said, but he didn't move. He was standing there, looking at me like he was waiting for something. And it made me nervous.

I turned to unlock the car door, needing an excuse to look away. But before I could reach the handle, Richard spoke again, his voice softer this time.

here. I mean, that we're... talking like

that. I paused, my hand hovering over the door. There it was-that shift, that emotional shit I had been

go there. Not tonight.

am too," I said cautiously, turning back to him. "But

he cut in, raising his hands in defense, "I know. Just friends. I

one thing, but the way he was looking at

he was searching my face for permission, for some kind of signal

Or, at least, I was trying not

my temples. "It's

voice was calm, but there was something in it-an undercurrent of frustration maybe? Or hope. I couldn't quite tell. "Richard..." I started,

just...I need you to know that I'm still here. I know I messed up. And I know

looked at him, for the first time in what felt like forever. He did seem different. More open, more

I could stop myself, I

gaze softened. "Yeah.

My heart

else. Something I hadn't let myself feel in a

late. We were too close now, and the way he was looking at

I-" Richard started, but before he

the look in his eyes, or the fact that I was

his hand warm against my skin, his eyes searching mine for any sign

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

stop it, his

careful, like he was afraid I might push

indifferent peck on

mine, it was a

was different. He stayed, as if he was

should have told him that this wasn't going to happen, that we weren't

hesitant-like we were both testing the waters, unsure of where this moment was going

and remind him of all the reasons we

telling

to the back of my neck, pulling me closer, and I

everything else faded away-the past, the hurt, the pain. All that existed was this-this kiss that shouldn't have happened but felt too right to stop. When we finally pulled apart, I was breathless. My heart