Alex leaned over and kissed my forehead. “That’s not true. I’m sorry for all that you’ve been through. Especially for what he did.”
I pressed my lips together as Alex sat back and took my hand, giving it a quick squeeze. “His gambling is what started it all. It’s what turned my whole life upside down. I don’t think I could ever forgive him for that.”
“You don’t have to. Not yet. Not ever if you don’t want to. Cory, he took away your secure, loving home. That’s hard to get through. Whatever it is that you need to help you, I’ll get it for you.” Alex cupped my cheek and I exhaled. “You’re safe now, Cory. We’re together again. Like it should be.”
I glanced at the clock and realized I needed to start getting ready for work soon. We’d had a lazy morning and most of it had seemed to pass by before I knew it.
My shoulders sank. “I didn’t realize it was that late.” I turned to hop off the bar stool. “I gotta get to work.”
“Oh, about that,” Alex started. “I um. Well, you’re not going in.”
My jaw dropped, and all I could think about were the tips I needed to replace the money I’d given Lisa. I was starting over again and had planned to work the night shift too. “Why? What did you do?” Anger swelled in me. What if he’d told them I’d quit or something?
“I just asked for the weekend off for you. That’s all.” He shrugged as if it was no big deal, but it was to me. To me, that was the only control I had over my life and he’d just taken away any power I had left. Without asking me.
Seventeen
Alex
Cory’s angry expression and the frustration in her voice made me regret asking for her to have the weekend off. I took her hand and gave it a small squeeze. “Hey, I’m sorry. I thought you could use a break since you’ve been working so much. I told you, if you need any—”
“I don’t rely on anyone but myself,” she interrupted me. She inhaled deeply, as if trying to rein in her anger, and then shook her head. “You have to understand that I need to be self-reliant. I can’t depend on anyone but myself. I need—”
Placing my hands on her cheeks, I tried to make her understand my point of view. “You need to understand that I’m here for you now. You don’t have to go through anything alone anymore. I want to be there for you. Whatever you need, whatever you want—let me be there for you.”
She still didn’t look convinced but nodded her head as I continued. “Besides, Granny is still in town and we’re having a dinner together tomorrow night.” That definitely brightened her spirits. Her coffee-colored eyes shimmered, and it seemed as if even her freckles were dancing with excitement. “Really?” I noticed her smile falter.
I chuckled because she was switching expressions so much. “What’s wrong now?”
“Well, she knows me as Cory and…” Her voice trailed off and she swallowed.
I knew she still wasn’t going to tell me the reason behind that, but until she felt comfortable enough I was going to give her some time. I was sure she’d tell me when she was ready. “It’s not a big deal.” I shrugged. “I’ll just tell her ahead of time.”
Cory nodded, but her thoughts seemed to be drifting somewhere else.
I picked up both our plates and began to take them into the kitchen. As she placed the glasses in the sink, I nudged her with my elbow. “Hey, what do you say we go do something else that’s normal?”
Cory smirked and raised her brows repeatedly. “What’d you have in mind?”
Laughing, I realized how that must have sounded. “Hell, we could do that too, but I was thinking of something else.”
“Okay…” she said cautiously.
We finished up the dishes and got dressed quickly. I tugged on her hand, leading her out the door. In the elevator she asked, “So, are you going to tell me what we’re doing?”
I gave her a mischievous smile and shook my head. Leaning down, I paused a moment before I whispered in her ear, “No.”
Her shoulders drooped and she shook her head. “You’re impossible. Here I thought you’d at least give me a hint.”
Grabbing coffee and window shopping was the perfect way to spend the afternoon. Cory loved hanging out, walking around, and we picked up some Chinese food to bring back home for dinner. I made mental notes along the way of Cory’s likes and dislikes so I could make sure she had a closet full of new clothes.
Shoving the coffee table away from the couch with all our food spread out on top, we sat cross-legged as we ate and watched a chick flick. Again, I had a theme I was going for and I could tell Cory loved the entire day. I’d have to figure out what else we could do the next day.
Sucking a noodle into her mouth, she chewed before asking me, “So what else do you do for fun?”
“Well, when I’m not at work or sleeping, I’m usually down at the MMA gym down the street.”
Her eyebrows perked up. “MMA? You mean like UFC, beating each other up type of stuff?”
I shrugged. “Yeah, well, I don’t plan to get in the octagon, but I do enjoy the sport. It’s actually a great workout and self-defense.”
Thinking about it more, all the stuff that she’d been through, she probably could’ve used some of the techniques when she was living on the streets. My stomach sickened as I thought about what she’d been through.
“So you box? Or roll around on the ground?” She chuckled and I decided maybe I’d show her some moves.
“Come on over here and I’ll show you.” I crawled around the table, but Cory got up. She stood over me as I waved her down to get between my legs.
“This is called getting into my guard.” I wrapped my legs around her waist and then told her, “Now try to get out of it.”
She pushed down on my legs while I started to hold her arms, and then I flipped her onto her back, startling her.
“It’s okay, keep trying,” I encouraged her, but when I looked down, my heart sank and I released her immediately as she sat back on her knees. The fear in her eyes couldn’t be mistaken, and I cursed myself for being so stupid as to force her into a position she couldn’t get out of—something I was sure her stepdad and whoever else had put her in.
Sitting the same way she was, I pulled her to me, holding tight while cursing my stupidity. “Cory, I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
She shook her head and pulled back. “No, it’s okay. It just caught me off guard.” She rolled her eyes. “Literally.” I watched her swallow and wasn’t sure what else to say, or if I should ask anything at all. “Maybe that move would have come in handy if I’d known about it.” Her eyes welled up again and she shook her head, looking up at the ceiling. “So stupid. If I had just done things different, I could have—”
“No! Don’t do that to yourself, Cory. He was menacing, I met him. He scared the shit out of me half the time, I can’t imagine what—” I stopped, not even knowing what I’d say next, but I knew that it wouldn’t make her feel any better.
She sniffled. “This wasn’t on the ‘stuff normal people do’ list was it?” She swept the pad of her thumb at the corner of her eye.
Giving her a small smile, I shook my head. “No, not at all.” I nodded toward the TV. “How about snuggling on the couch and watching the rest of the movie? That’ll fit into our agenda.”
She nodded and allowed me to pull her up by her hand. Settling into the corner of the couch, she rested her head on my chest and curled into me. Both of us relaxed as we watched the movie. A night in cuddling—it was the simple little things that I’d never take for granted again. Cory opened my eyes to that.
Eighteen
Cory
Like an actual couple would, we were going to a family dinner. Well, a makeshift family dinner. According to Alex, every time Granny came to town, she insisted that Alex, Cal, and Jay came together for at least one dinner. Jay’s girlfriend, Carissa, and Cal’s fiancée, Andi, were now added into the mix—both of whom I was nervous about meeting. I’d seen them all at the bar at one point or another,
but never really spoken with them other than to serve them their food and drinks.
I was actually excited to see Cal and Jay again. Granny and Pappy had insisted that they visit for a week every summer. Their mothers had obliged; with Jay’s mom I was sure it was because she wanted a week break from him. From my memories, Cal was fun—a sweet boy who reminded me a lot of Alex, only with a little more confidence. Jay was the wild boy. The one that always would get the other two, and sometimes me, in trouble. Yet even though he was boisterous, he could be very charming. I remember how he had every girl in our neighborhood serving him lemonade and bringing him treats to eat, swooning and pining for him wherever we would go.
“Do you go to the same restaurant every time?” I asked. I ran my fingers ran over the leather of the seat still amazed how soft it was. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to riding around in something like that. I was sure I shouldn’t have been getting so used to the lifestyle. It might slip away at any moment.
“No. One of us always finds a new place that we wanted to try out, but regardless we always clear out our schedule for a dinner with Granny. It’s really the only time we get together as an actual family instead of coworkers.”
I tugged on his hand as I watched him frown. I knew his relationship with Jay was what was bothering him most. They used to be so close, from what I had remembered. He may have been jealous of the relationship Jay’d had with their dad, but Alex still put Jay up on a pedestal.
Alex pulled my hand up to his lips and kissed each of my knuckles. I sighed. Definitely something an everyday couple would do, and I savored every moment.
As Alex pulled the car into a parking spot, my heart raced. Cal and Jay, I was anxious to see; however, I wasn’t sure I’d be accepted by Andi and Carissa. Would they welcome me or would they turn their noses up at me? I knew I didn’t fit in—hell, the dress Alex had bought me assured me of that. When I had looked at the price tag, my eyes had almost popped out. It was more than I’d spent on all my clothes put together since I’d been on the run.
Nervously, I straightened out the fabric of my dress as I reached for the door handle. It popped out of my hand before I could grasp it. I stepped out as Alex offered his hand to me. “I’ll never get used to that.”
He pulled me to him and kissed my cheek. “Get used to it, baby. I’m going to spoil you the rest of your life.” I swallowed. It might be a short life if the cops or Remy’s gang found me.
“Hey, don’t be nervous. It’s just the family.” He laughed as he handed his keys to the valet guy.
I fidgeted as Alex led me into the restaurant. The foyer was huge, with a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. I couldn’t take my eyes off it as I heard, “Co—Sarah! Oh Sarah!” Granny’s voice was unmistakable, just like when I’d seen her at the bar. She barely aged: her gray hair was perfectly styled, as if she had stepped out of the beauty parlor—something I remembered she used to do often. I smiled as I remembered her saying “Even if the rest of you doesn’t feel too good, the perfect hairstyle will always make you feel beautiful.”
Granny embraced me like a long-lost daughter, and it made my heart soar. I hadn’t felt so loved…since, well, before Stan came along and Mom was actually acting like a mom. Granny pulled back. “Wow, look at you Co—” She stopped herself and rolled her eyes. “You’re beautiful. All grown up. I just can’t believe I’m seeing you again.” Her hand fluttered over her heart and she smiled with tears in her eyes.
Granny wasn’t the only one that felt that way. Never in a million years had I ever thought I’d be standing again in front of that woman I had always loved so much.
She leaned in and whispered, “And I love the blond hair. It really brings out your gorgeous eyes.”
My cheeks flushed as she patted my hands. Hooking her arm inside mine, she pulled me toward another couple waiting in the foyer.
“Cal, you remember…my neighbor…” She trailed off.
I reached over, seeing Cal all grown up, and squeezed his hand. He pulled me in for a bear hug and laughed. “Seriously, after all the summers we spent hopping fences and getting into trouble?” He pulled back and studied me. “You look good. Alex really missed you.” He turned to the pregnant woman with light brown, curly hair next to him. She seemed like at any moment she would give birth. She held out her hand and took a step toward me, glancing at Alex. “I’m Andi. You must be…” She perked up her eyebrow, glancing quickly to Granny and Alex before saying, “Sarah?”
Nervously, I nodded. I wasn’t sure if Alex had made up anything about my name change, but I was thankful that they were going along with it. I wasn’t sure if they were going to question me about it, and if my answer would conflict with whatever Alex had told them. Maybe we should have cleared that up on the car ride over.
“We’ve heard so much about you. Well, I’ve seen you down at The Freckled Maiden. You know, when Alex was acting all weird and staring.”
Smiling, I nodded, glancing over to Alex briefly. “It’s nice to meet you too.” My eyes wandered to her swollen belly. “When are you due?”
Letting out a huff, she said, “April ninth, but I almost wish it were sooner. They’ve already predicted he’s going to be nine pounds.”
My brows raised as I looked at her frame and was scared for her.
“Where’s Jay and Carissa?” Alex asked as I stood there still staring at the size of Andi’s belly and wondering if her doctor already told her she’d be having a C-section.
“They’re on their way,” Granny said as I heard Cal mumble, “God forbid if we’re late to a meeting.” Alex nodded.
A woman I presumed to be the hostess, because she was carrying menus, came over to our party, asking us to follow her. Walking back to the table, Granny hooked her arm through mine. “I don’t know why you needed to change your name, but I did tell the boys to go along with it and not ask questions.”
Relief spread through me, because I still hadn’t come up with a full story. My immediate answer would have been an abusive boyfriend. It was reasonable enough and mostly true. “Thank you,” I told Granny, and she smiled as her eyes continued to stare at my face as if I were an anomaly.
We all sat down, with Granny sitting next to me and Alex on the other side of me. As the waiter was taking our drink orders, the other couple came strolling in. Seeing Jay again made me smile. If the girls in the neighborhood could see him now. He was even more good-looking than he had been as a skinny teen—blond hair, deep blue eyes, with a tall swimmer’s body. His rugged face only added to the entire package.
He came around, quickly hugging and kissing Granny, and then arrived at me. I stood quickly as I was face to face with Jay.
“Cory. Holy shit.”
Granny swatted at his arm and Jay looked down. “Crap. Sarah—I meant Sarah.” He stepped back and my face heated. “Check you out,” he said, laughing. “You’re even wearing a dress. The blond thing works for you, too.” He smiled, and for a moment I felt just like all the girls in the neighborhood used to when we were little. I wanted to giggle. His eyes turned sincere as he asked, “How’ve you been?”
I swallowed and nodded. “I’m okay. Glad to be here and finally see you guys again.”
Jay smiled. “We are too. Especially this asshole right here.” He leaned over and hit Alex’s back playfully. He walked around the table and took his seat. The woman with him chatted with Andi before she walked over to take her seat. She waved at me from across the table. “Hi. I’m Carissa, since Jay doesn’t have any manners to introduce us,” she stressed. I waved at her and tried not to stare. Flawless makeup and a stunning fuchsia dress caught my eye first. Her blond hair was set in waves, and I could have sworn I’d seen her on the cover of a magazine at the grocery store.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I told her. I cast my eyes down, feeling awkward for staring at her.
“Well, now that we’re all here—” Granny gave a pointed, admonishing stare at Jay and he chuckled. “—let’s order so we
can catch up, shall we?”
The dinner conversation was light, and it seemed like everyone tried their best to stay away from discussing work. Alex held my hand under the table or gave me little squeezes to my knee every once in a while. Carissa chatted incessantly about needing a vacation and wished that Jay could get away for just a few days. Alex and Cal gave each other annoyed glances as if they agreed with her.
“Andi,” I said as I realized I’d never asked because I was still stunned on how big her baby was going to be. “Did you two decide on a name for the baby?”
Andi smiled huge and seemed to be relieved by the change of subject. “No, not yet. It’s a huge discussion.” She laughed and then Granny started in about anything and everything baby.
She then rolled into stories or memories of the boys when they were young. Every summer she would invite Cal and Jay over to spend the week so they could be together—as a family, she used to say. Even though Granny wasn’t related to Cal and Jay, she wanted the three of them to be as close as they could, since they each had a different mother.
The night continued with various conversations and funny stories. Granny would lean over to me once in a while with an added joke about one of the boys, making sure I felt as comfortable as possible. When we were leaving, I had hugs from everyone and whispers from Andi that she was so glad Alex had found me again. I wasn’t sure how much she knew, but I was glad she hadn’t said it out loud.
Jay and Cal both told me they were glad I was back and that Alex needed someone stable in his life.
Jay leaned in. “Hopefully Alex will get back to working now that you’re home.” I swallowed as if that statement added another weight on my shoulders. If I left again, Alex would take it hard. Then again, if I were found, things would really hit the fan then.
Trust Me Forever (Forever Happens Series Book 2) Page 11