Page 112 of Love so Hot

The clink of ice against glass punctuates the silence as Roman pours out whiskey for each of us. The familiar scent of aged whiskey mixes with the coastal air from the open windows. We all settle into the leather couches, the room bathed in the light of the setting sun.

“Cheers,” I say, raising my glass. They echo the sentiment, and we drink in silence for a moment before their expectant looks prompt me to speak.

“Remember when you guys warned me about Willow? How getting involved under false pretenses was a recipe for disaster?” I say, tracing the rim of my glass. “Well, you were right.”

Roman leans forward. "I never really thought you needed a recipe for disaster, Lawrence. You always seemed to just eyeball it."

Roman's got a look on his face that betrays just how proud of himself he is for that joke, and the other guys are trying to hold back their laughter, probably for my sake.

"Thanks for that, Roman," I say, rolling my eyes.

"Alright, being serious now," he says. "Tell us what happened."

“It started as a lie, but it became something real for me,” I admit, my voice cracking. “Willow ended things. She saw our futures diverging while I only saw them together.”

“Man, that’s rough,” Roman says, shaking his head.

“I fell for her, against all logic,” I say, feeling the weight of my words. “And now, here I am, trying to figure out how to move on.”

The room is silent, each of us understanding the pain I’m feeling.

I down the rest of my drink and make my way to the bar to get another. Ice clinks against glass as I refill my drink, spilling a little over the edge. The silence is heavy, broken only by the occasional sigh.

“Look,” Victor says, “I know you’re hurting, but sometimes the best thing to do is just move on.” His gaze is direct, challenging me to consider it.

Roman shakes his head. “No, if you really love her, fight for her.” He crosses his arms, his tone passionate.

Sebastian looks at me thoughtfully. “It’s not just about what you want,” he says quietly. “Think about the consequences and the impact on both your lives.”

Their advice swirls in my mind, each piece heavy with its own weight. I stare into my drink, feeling pulled in different directions.

“Guys, I want her back,” I confess, my voice barely above a whisper. “But how do we bridge such a gap? Our worlds and wants are so different.” My honesty hangs in the air, leaving a heavy silence.

They exchange looks, faces full of empathy, but no one has an immediate answer. We sit quietly, four men facing a complicated issue with no simple solution.

The silence stretches before I break it, my voice steady. “There’s something else. Billy Hargraves—the one I’ve been trying to get on board with the pipeline investment? That’s her father. I didn’t realize until I was sitting across from him in a conference room.”

Roman blinks, surprised. Victor’s eyebrows rise, and Sebastian nods slowly, taking in the new information.

“Man, that’s a tough spot,” Roman mutters.

Victor runs a hand through his hair. “That’s... quite the coincidence.”

“Or fate,” I say, not sure if I believe it but feeling its weight. "Billy says he'll invest if I can get Willow to speak to him again. She's been estranged from the family for years."

Sebastian is quiet for a moment, then asks the question that hits home. “What’s more important to you, the pipeline or Willow?”

His words hang in the air, challenging me. My chest tightens as I think about my motivations and desires.

I look away from their expectant faces, staring at my reflection in the window. The Norfolk landscape is dark against the twilight sky, a calm scene compared to my inner turmoil.

“Seb, I...” I trail off, grappling with the enormity of the situation. The pipeline represents years of work and a chance to make a real impact. Willow is the unexpected force that has changed everything.

“Damn it, I don’t know,” I finally admit, feeling vulnerable. In that moment, I realize that some questions don’t have immediate answers, and this is one of them.

Roman breaks the heavy silence with a clap of his hands. “Alright, enough of this. Let’s play some poker. What do you guys say?”

I blink, caught off guard by the suggestion but grateful for the distraction. “Sure, why not?”

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