Catch part one, part two, and part three first!

“Whoa, hold up,” Amanda declared forcefully. “I’m done with everyone making decisions for me. I have my own brain and my own thoughts. I spent too many years letting someone else decide how I should live. I never said I was going anywhere with either of you.”

She huffed indignantly and spun on her heel. The three gasps behind her were enough to propel her forward. None of them expected her to make a decision on her own. Well, screw them, she thought, getting into her car and slamming the door closed, separating herself from them.

Amanda lowered her head to the steering wheel. Why had she ever thought she cared about any of them? Becca was clearly only out for herself, like she’d always been. Ever since they were kids Becca treated Amanda like a bratty little sister, like it was a chore to spend time with her and to be friends. It was like being twins was more of a challenge than anything else in her life.

And Brian, well, he was a fool if he thought screwing Becca was a way to get to Amanda. Or if he thought Amanda was going to be his sloppy seconds. Amanda and Becca never shared men. Never. Not only did they not find the same men attractive, but Amanda was strictly against kissing, let alone sleeping with, any man who’d been with her sister. Knowing Brian had slept with Amanda, and seeing him kissing her, wiped all her feelings for him, even with the knowledge he was interested in her.

But Adam… She didn’t know what to think about Adam. Once upon a time she’d thought she might spend her life with him, but that was a lifetime ago. She didn’t know him anymore.

It didn’t matter anyway. Adam acted like a jealous jerk and Amanda wasn’t up for that. She wasn’t going to let anyone tell her what she should or shouldn’t do. Instead she was just going to go home and throw herself a pity party.

A quick check of her mirrors and Amanda was ready to back out. She eased slowly from her spot until she was clear of the car next to her. And found Adam leaning against the trunk.

Amanda gasped, surprised and happy to see him still there. She rolled her window down and asked, “What are you still doing here?”

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to tell you what to do. I understand you were upset over that other guy, which tells me you have a thing for him. I just wanted to apologize and give you my number. If things don’t work out with him, I’d love to hear from you. Hell, if things do, maybe I can come to your wedding. Tell everyone about the night you got together and how if I hadn’t hit you with my car you might have missed your chance.” He laughed a small, self-deprecating laugh before he continued. “It was great to see you, Amanda. I honestly wish you the best.”

With a little wave, he turned and started to walk back toward his car.

Amanda watched from her rear view mirror as he climbed into his car, backed out, and headed for the exit of the parking lot.

“Ain’t that some shit,” she mumbled to herself, feeling as though she’d taken a punch to the gut. Watching Brian and Becca make out like virgin teenagers was a blow to her ego, maybe a little to her heart, but seeing Adam walk away felt like a wild animal reached into her chest and clawed her heart out.

She couldn’t let him get away twice.

Amanda threw her car back into gear and tore out of the parking lot after him, barely avoiding hitting a couple stumbling out the door. She caught a glimpse of his car ahead and darted through traffic, hoping to catch up to him. She inched closer with each block she traveled until she could see his dark blue car just ahead of her.

She looked up just in time to see the light they were approaching flip from green to yellow. Adam’s brake lights flashed and Amanda hit her brakes, worried she might crash into his car. Then he tore through the intersection just before the light turned red, leaving Amanda to watch as he took the next right and disappeared.

Amanda slammed her hand into the steering wheel. The light turned green a minute later and she sped through it, turning right, praying that just maybe she’d find Adam.

A car beeped on the opposite side of the street as the driver locked it, drawing Amanda’s attention. And there he was. Adam was walking away from the car, head down, looking as defeated as Amanda felt.

She slammed on her brakes, narrowly avoiding getting rear-ended, and was treated to some colorful language from the driver behind her. Amanda didn’t care though. She knew she was listening to her heart for the first time in years.

“Know any good restaurants around here?” she shouted out the window.

“Nope, sorry,” Adam said, ignoring her.

“How about a place to go dancing?” she asked.

“I just moved here. I don’t know the area.”

“Maybe you should start getting to know it,” Amanda teased.

“You know what?” Adam countered, spinning on his heel to look at the annoying driver.

Amanda smiled broadly when he finally saw her. His eyes lit up and he grinned like he’d won the lottery.

“I told you I’m not letting anyone make decisions for me anymore. That includes you. Brian was a substitute, at best, for the man I’d been thinking of the last ten years. Problem is, I’d rather have the real thing.”

“Oh, yeah? Anyone I know?”

“Maybe. He looks a little like you. Same sexy smile, same voice, and same bedroom eyes that always made me weak.”

“How about you park your car up there and we can go look for him together?”

Amanda laughed and headed for the spot Adam pointed to. By the time she opened her door he was standing beside her car.

“I think I just saw him. He ran into my apartment. Why don’t we go up and look for him?”

“That’s such a cheesy line,” Amanda teased.

“I could have asked if you’re from Tennessee,” Adam joked right back.

“Ha ha. Right now I’m just wondering if you’re ever going to kiss me.”

Before she had a chance to wonder any longer, Adam sealed his lips to her and ignited every last part of her that had been dormant far too long.