Nobody But You

Asterisk

Happy Sunday Friends! Hope all is well in your world. Having fun with this story, hope you are too! Enjoy the update and let me know what you think. I miss them. Where's the crying face emoji when you need it. XO, Ash

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PREVIOUSLY...

"I'm happy you're getting your shot. I just..." Andy hesitated looking over. She knew he'd be able to read her expression no matter how she was trying to hide it. "You're leaving," She shrugged her shoulders dejectedly.

Andy knew he deserved this opportunity, in fact he'd more than earned it. He'd fought tooth and nail to rebuild his career, rebuild his reputation and make amends.

He had more than twice the amount of experience than anyone in the firehouse. It was time. She just didn't like the idea that he would be moving, getting that shot on the other side of the state, not in her world on a regular basis.

Even though they weren't together, even though she knew she didn't technically need him for anything or have a claim to him... he was part of the fabric of her life. It was hard to imagine that changing.

"Says the woman who divorced me," Robert replied with a self-deprecating laugh.

His shoulders moved up and down and his belly contracted. He hadn't expected such a full laugh, but when it came, he didn't squash it down.

There was just something so damn hilarious about the fact that he'd waited ten months for the woman sitting next to him to come to her senses, they divorce, he moved on, she dated and now... just as he was on his way out of town, they were getting their spark back.

Andy winced at his words and when Robert realized she hadn't laughed too, he looked over and saw the pained expression on her face. "It's been long enough. We can laugh about it now."

Andy sighed.

She was glad that Robert was in a good place about it all. Lord knows, she'd put him through hell. She also knew... she had a window here. An opportunity. A doorway they could potentially walk through.

A chance to tell a truth she hadn't shared. A truth that wouldn't just be flirting or lightly suggestive glances... something that would expose the state of her heart with no guarantee how it would be received or how it might change things between them.

She was scared.

Draining the remaining amber colored liquid in a couple large gulps, Andy prayed for courage. Placing the glass back down, heart beating loudly in her chest, she spoke...

CHAPTER 4...

"I shouldn't have," Andy blurted out.

Robert's eyes darted over to Andy. She saw the wash of emotion flood him and confusion rested in his brows. Voice shaky, but forging ahead, she held his gaze and spoke the words that had only existed in the recesses of her mind until now.

"Filing for divorce was a mistake. I can't take it back. Can't change it, but I wish..." her voice cracked. "I wish I'd fought."

When the words slipped free from the cage they'd been locked in, Andy felt freer. Lighter. Whether or not it was the right call or how exactly it would shift the tectonic plates underneath them was up in the air, but it was time to be honest.

This couldn't be swept under the rug of "just friends" anymore. She was basically admitting, without saying the exact words, that she still loved him and at the very least was thinking about what it might be like if they were still together.