Free Source One by Allyson Simonian

frowned. “Let me know if you change your mind.”
    He walked her to her door at the end of the evening. “Are you free again tomorrow? Bizarre coincidence or not, I’d like to see you again.”
    He was gazing down at her. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been to Stinson Beach. I know a great restaurant near there.”
    Stay home crying or go to the beach. It shouldn’t even be a choice.
    Amber forced a smile. “That sounds great.”
    She lay in bed later that night and thought of everything Max had said.
    I was going to ask you to marry me…….
    Amber covered her face with her hands as Brian’s words rushed at her. She began to sob.
    ***
    Amber and Max stood at Amber’s door the next Thursday night. They’d gone out for dinner and Max was asking if she was free the following Tuesday.
    Amber exhaled a breath. “Max, you’re a really great guy……”
    “But?” Max prompted.
    Amber blinked and looked down at the ground before meeting his eyes.
    Max’s gaze hardened. “But you’re not over Nichols.”
    “No. I guess I’m not.”
    Max shook his head. He backed away, still looking at her. Then he turned and walked toward his truck.
    Amber lay in her bed a little while later. She probably shouldn’t have done that. Ended things so quickly with Max.
    But it didn’t make sense to see him when Brian was always on her mind.
    And he always was. Even without the coincidence of Max and Brian’s wife.
    Would she ever stop thinking about Brian?
    Amber sighed. It hadn’t even been two months. She needed to give herself a break. Needed to give it time.
    But she suspected no one would ever live up to Brian. No matter how much time passed.
    The heart wants what the heart wants.
    It was something her mother had said.
    Often.
    Amber could almost hear her saying it now.
    Amber turned onto her side. As she had hundreds of times over the last weeks, she thought of the bank accounts.
    It couldn’t have been a mistake. Someone had purposely made it look like she had stolen from Brian. But who in the world would do that?
    Amber thought of Mrs. Quinn. She’d been warm, affectionate, kind. Like a second mother.
    No. No way it could have been her.
    Amber chewed on her lip. She’d never met Brian’s security consultant, Matt. But surely he had no reason to have lied, either.
    ***
    The man parked in his usual spot and studied Amber as she walked into work.  He could still feel his insides burn when he thought of Amber and Nichols together.  That part had been unexpected. But it was taken care of now. He’d like to take the credit, but it hadn’t been his own idea.  Two minds working together were always better than one.

CHAPTER 21
     
    Nicole was standing at Amber’s desk. “Want to go to lunch?”
    Amber shook her head. “I can’t. I need to go sign the lease for my new place.”
    “Want some company?” Nicole asked.
    Less than half an hour later, they stood in the dining room of the apartment. The leasing manager had brought up the papers that Amber needed to sign.
    Amber looked around. The space was as nice as she remembered.
    It was large, with an open floor plan. Stainless steel gleamed from the modern kitchen, which was laid out against the far wall. The floors were a dark hardwood.
    “Great choice,” Nicole said after the manager had given Amber the keys and left.
    Amber nodded. “I’m lucky there was an opening here. I just found it last weekend……..I was supposed to live somewhere else.”
    “You were supposed to live with him, weren’t you?”
    Amber swallowed against the lump in her throat and nodded. “That was the plan. Anyway, I just need to find a moving company and I’m all set.”
    “Don’t worry about a moving company. My boyfriend’s got a truck. We can help you this weekend.”
    Amber blinked at her. “Really?”
    Nicole smiled. “Yes.”
    On Saturday, Nicole and her boyfriend, Rick, arrived at Amber’s mother’s place. The Salvation Army had taken most of the boxes she’d