Coca Confronts Anthony: Why Did You Go Back to Amber?

Why Did You Go Back to Amber?

Anthony sat at the dimly lit bar, nursing his drink and staring blankly at the half-melted ice cubes swirling in his glass. The room was loud—music thumping and people laughing—but in his mind, it was dead silent. His thoughts were stuck on Amber and the whirlwind of emotions that had dragged him back to her, despite everything that had happened.

Suddenly, a heavy hand clapped down on his shoulder, jolting him out of his thoughts. He turned to see Coca standing there, his usual confident swagger mixed with a hint of frustration.

“Man, what the hell are you doing here drinking alone?” Coca asked, sliding into the barstool next to him. “And why am I just now hearing that you went crawling back to Amber? Thought you was done with all that.”

Anthony let out a long, tired sigh and shook his head. “You don’t understand, Coca... it’s complicated.”

Coca scoffed. “Complicated? Man, ain’t nothing complicated about knowing your worth and not running back to the same mess that broke you the first time. You gonna sit here and tell me you forgot everything she put you through?”

Anthony looked down, avoiding Coca’s piercing stare. “It’s not that simple. Amber... she’s been going through a lot. She’s different now. I just couldn’t leave her like that.”

Coca narrowed his eyes. “Different? How many times you gonna let her play you like that? You keep saying she’s changed every time you go back, but she always ends up hurting you again. You a grown man, Anthony. Stop acting like a fool.”

---

Memories Resurface

Anthony took a long sip of his drink, his mind flashing back to that moment just days ago when he saw Amber again. She looked so vulnerable, like all the fire in her had burned out. She had been crying—eyes puffy and voice shaky. Anthony’s first instinct was to comfort her, to protect her from whatever was haunting her.

She had looked him dead in the eyes and whispered, “I can’t do this without you, Anthony. You were always my strength. I didn’t realize it until I lost you.”

That confession hit him harder than he wanted to admit. After everything they’d been through—Shayla, the betrayal, the chaos—some part of him still wanted to be her hero. It was that stupid, stubborn love that wouldn’t die.

---

Back at the Bar

Coca watched him silently, his expression softening just a bit. “You know I’m just looking out for you, man. I’ve seen you go through hell and back over that woman. You deserve better than that mess.”

Anthony gave a half-hearted smile. “Yeah, but... I don’t know. There’s something about her that I can’t shake off. I tried moving on. Hell, I was doing good—had Shayla by my side, business booming. But Amber just... she’s got a hold on me that I can’t break.”

Coca leaned back, rubbing his hands together. “Listen, I get it. Love’s messy. It makes you do crazy things. But you gotta ask yourself—is it worth it? Are you just trying to fix her because you still feel guilty for leaving, or do you really think there’s still love left between y’all?”

Anthony frowned, his chest tightening at the question. “I don’t know,” he whispered. “Maybe both. Maybe I’m just too damn stubborn to give up on her.”

Coca shook his head, a smirk playing on his lips. “You a damn fool, Anthony. But that’s your problem—you always gotta save people. You never just let folks handle their own mess. Amber ain’t your responsibility no more.”

---

A Painful Truth

Anthony knew Coca was right, but his heart wasn’t listening. He couldn’t help but wonder if letting Amber go was a mistake. Had he given up on her too soon? Or was he just being pulled back into a toxic cycle that would destroy him again?

Coca nudged his shoulder. “Man, stop thinkin’ so hard. You gonna end up back at square one if you don’t start putting yourself first. You got a good life now, a business to run, people counting on you. Don’t let Amber drag you down again.”

Anthony swallowed the lump in his throat, nodding slowly. “Yeah... I hear you.”

But as Coca went on talking about plans for the business and upcoming events, Anthony’s mind drifted back to Amber. He couldn’t get that broken look on her face out of his mind, or the way she whispered that she needed him.

In the end, Anthony knew he was caught between two worlds—the life he had built for himself and the past that refused to let him go. No matter how much he tried to move forward, Amber kept pulling him back, like a shadow he couldn’t escape.

He just wasn’t sure if he was strong enough to finally let her go for good.

To Be Continued... 🍷💔