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.

we're here. I

hovering over the

go there. Not tonight.

too," I said cautiously, turning back to

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

said one thing, but the way he was

he was searching my face for permission, for some kind

at least, I

temples. "It's

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

say anything," he said quietly. "I just...I need you to know that I'm still here. I know I messed up. And I know you've got every reason not to trust me. But I've changed, Sarah. I

time in what felt like forever. He

stop myself,

gaze softened. "Yeah.

that, the space between us seemed to shrink. My heart was racing again, but

else. Something I hadn't let myself feel

push it all down, but it was too late. We were too close now, and the way he was looking

Richard started, but before he could finish, something shifted in

it was the way his voice softened, or the look in his eyes, or the fact that I was just so

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

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

I could stop it, his lips were on

was tentative-so light, so careful, like he was afraid

that cold, indifferent peck

mine, it

was different. He stayed, as if he was

told him that this wasn't going to happen, that we weren't that kind of couple anymore, that we

were both testing the waters, unsure of where this moment was going

to stop, to pull away and remind him of all the reasons we

heart was telling

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

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