Love Triangle

Back then…

Sarah

"So, he just swoops in and fights those men off?" Rebecca asks, wide-eyed.

I giggle at her eagerness. "No, Becca! He didn't exactly fight them off. He didn't have to. They gave up and left. But I guess he was my hero for stepping in so bravely," I say dreamily.

I met up with Rebecca the next day after Matthew saved me from those thugs and took me back to my apartment. I still couldn't believe I was able to spend some alone time with Matthew, however brief it was.

Rebecca smirks, nudging my arm. "You've got it bad, Sarah. I don't think I've ever seen you this smitten before."

I groan, covering my face with my hands. "I know! It's ridiculous, isn't it?"

"Ridiculously adorable," she teases, sipping on her iced coffee. "So, what happened after he took you home?"

I peek at her through my fingers, then drop my hands with a dramatic sigh. "Nothing! He just made sure I was okay, gave me this intense look—like he was trying to say something without actually saying it—and then he left."

Rebecca wiggles her eyebrows. "An intense look? Oh, Sarah, that's practically a confession of love."

I laugh, shaking my head. "Stop! He has a girlfriend, but…"

Rebecca tilts her head. "But?"

I bite my lip, hesitating. "But… I don't think he loves her."

Rebecca's eyes widen in excitement. "Oh? Now that is interesting. Spill!"

I twirl my straw in my drink, trying to put my feelings into words. "It's just… whenever he talks about her, it feels like he's just stating facts. Like, 'Yeah, I have a girlfriend,' but there's no real warmth, no excitement. And when he looks at me…" I trail off, my heart pounding at the memory of his gaze—intense, unreadable, like he wanted to say something but couldn't.

Rebecca leans in, practically vibrating with curiosity. "When he looks at you, what?"

I exhale, shaking my head. "It's different. It feels like he sees me—like he really sees me. And last night, when he grabbed my arm to check if I was okay, he held on just a second too long."

Rebecca gasps dramatically. "Sarah, this is textbook forbidden romance! The brooding man with a girlfriend, the stolen glances, the lingering touches—this is some prime love triangle material!"

I groan. "It's not a love triangle! I mean, I don't want it to be."

Rebecca turns serious. "Yeah, you are right. You shouldn't get in the middle of him and his girlfriend. It's not right."

I nod. "I know. I can't help it. There's something about him. It's like…I don't know. He has this intensity, and I'm just…drawn to it."

Rebecca narrows her eyes at her. "Sarah…don't do anything to wreck his relationship with his girlfriend. You will regret it."

I sigh, slumping back in my seat. "I know, I know. It's just… hard, you know? Being around him, feeling this connection, but knowing it can't go anywhere."

Rebecca reaches across the table, squeezing my hand. "I get it. Believe me, I've been there. But you're better than this. You deserve someone who's fully available, who can give you their whole heart."

I nod, blinking back the sudden sting of tears. "You're right. I need to focus on myself and move forward."

Rebecca smiles. "That's my girl. Now, let's talk about something more fun. Did you see what Lisa wore to the club the other day?"

As Rebecca launches into a detailed critique of her sister's questionable fashion choices, I try to push all thoughts of him out of my mind. But even as I laugh and gossip, I can't quite shake the memory of his eyes, the warmth of his touch.

~-~

The next day at the office, I couldn't focus on anything my dad was saying because I couldn't stop thinking about Matthew.

"Sarah? Are you listening?"

I snap back into attention. "Yeah, sorry, Dad. You were saying?"

"You seem distracted. Why don't you take a break? Go get some lunch, and we will regroup afterward," he says.

"Thanks, Daddy, I think I will," I say.

I stand up from my desk, eager for a moment to clear my mind.

I grab my bag and head out of the office, deciding to take a walk to the cafe down the street. I need fresh air, a moment to breathe and think things through.

As I approach the cafe, I spot someone sitting outside at a table, his back to me. I freeze, my heart skipping a beat. It's Matthew.

I hesitate for a moment, wondering if I should just keep walking, but something in me can't resist. Before I even realize what I'm doing, I'm walking toward his table.

"Matthew?" I say softly, unsure if he'll hear me over the noise of the street.

He turns his head, his expression softening when he sees me. "Sarah," he says, his voice warm and a little surprised. "Hey."

"Hey," I say, a little breathless.

He stands up. "How are you feeling? Those men gave you quite the scare, huh?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just…still processing it, I guess," I say.

He studies me for a moment, his gaze thoughtful. "That's understandable. I mean, I could tell you were shaken up."

I smile. "Yeah. But I am okay now. Hey! Are you on your lunch break? Let's eat together."

Matthew shakes his head. "I am actually waiting for Amanda to meet me."

I try not to let the disappointment show on my face, but it's hard to hide. "Oh, of course," I say, forcing a smile. "I didn't mean to interrupt."

Matthew looks a little flustered. "It's no big deal."

I keep the smile on my face, but inside, I can feel anger simmering. Why does Amanda get to be with him and I don't?

"Well, I won't keep you then," I manage to say, keeping my voice light despite the internal storm brewing. "See you." I walk away.

When I get back to the office, my dad's still at his desk, going over papers, oblivious to the turmoil I'm feeling. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my mind. I need a plan.

"Dad," I say. "Remember how you talked about that conference in Texas?"

My dad looks up, his eyebrows raised in curiosity. "Yeah, I mentioned it a few times. Why?"

I take a moment to steady myself before continuing. "I was thinking… maybe I could go. I could help with the business side of things, you know, make some connections, learn more about what we do."

He studies me for a moment, clearly weighing my suggestion. "You're not just trying to escape all this, are you?"

I shake my head quickly. "No, no. It just…feels like the right time. Plus, I think it would be a good opportunity."

He nods slowly, seemingly convinced. "Alright, I suppose it could be beneficial for you. I'll talk to your mom about it, but I think it's a good idea. You're old enough now to take these kinds of steps."

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. "Thanks, Dad."

"Of course," he says, giving me a warm smile.

I take a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. This is my chance to spend more time with Matthew, to explore this connection between us without the constant presence of his girlfriend. But I need to be smart about this, to make it seem like a logical business decision rather than a desperate ploy to be near him.

"You know, Dad," I begin, choosing my words carefully, "I was thinking about who else could go to the conference. Someone who could really help me with the business side of things."

My dad nods, leaning back in his chair. "That makes sense. Did you have someone in mind?"

I pause for a moment as if the idea is just now occurring to me. "What about Matthew? He's been doing a great job, right?"

My dad considers this, tapping his pen against the desk. "Matthew, huh? Yeah, he's a sharp kid. Knows his stuff. But he is in finance. I don't know if he will be the right fit for a business-focused conference." My dad trails off, clearly uncertain."

I nod, pretending to think it over. "True, but maybe it's a good opportunity for him to network, gain some new contacts outside of finance, and get a broader perspective on how things work here."

My dad leans forward, his brow furrowing. "I can see where you're coming from. Alright, I'll talk to him about it. I just don't want to put too much on his plate if he's got other priorities."

I let out a quiet sigh of relief, trying to mask the hope I feel growing inside. "Thanks, Dad. I think he'd really benefit from it."

"Yeah, well, I'll make sure to run it by him. You're right—he's been doing well lately," he says with a nod, the matter seemingly settled for the moment.

I give him a smile and return to my desk, the rush of anticipation making my fingers tremble. If Matthew agrees to come along, this could be the perfect opportunity to get closer to him, away from Amanda, away from everything.