on for years and years; when Corey was eight he left us for good and my mother was devastated. Corey took on the man-of-the-house role without a second thought.
“He did everything he could think of to make my mom feel better about what happened; while still taking care of us. So you see we never really grew up missing a father because we had Corey. But Corey was forced to grow up in the time when a boy needs his dad the most. It’s made him the protective guy he is now and that is why he has also refused to become seriously involved with any woman. Unless of course—it is the one he wants—he would never want to hurt them the way my dad hurt our mom. That is why I can promise you—it’s not the chase. It’s you.”
Abby finished her story and I felt my heart melt at the words. Corey was the light in these three women’s lives; all the things he’s done for me have been special and meant more than I ever believed possible. What’s worse is I’ve been treating it as though they were normal, everyday things. Corey was so used to being the tough guy, protector, guardian of his family. With me, he was all those things but was also giving me a side he didn’t give anyone before. He was giving me his heart and I wasn’t protecting it the way I should have been.
“Don’t let this scare you away, Dani!” Karly reached out and grabbed my hand. “Abby just told you all that so you know for a fact, that if you’re hesitating because you’ve been hurt too—my brother wouldn’t hurt you. It isn’t in his genetic makeup to hurt a woman. I swear!”
“I don’t want to hurt him.” Was the only response that came to mind. “I hope not. Corey has spent all his time taking care of us and setting up a nice little future for himself financially with his businesses.” Abby added.
“Businesses?” I asked, thinking solely of the bar and his distribution of liquor to the Inn.
“Oh yeah, the bar he lives above is his—100%, but he also invested money in about a dozen other bars over the state. He’s co-owner on all of them and goes around to check in every now and then to make sure they are running efficiently. People that couldn’t get loans but had plans similar to his came to Corey, and he helped out.” Abby’s face beamed with how proud of her brother she was. He made a life for himself, even through all the barriers that stood in his way.
“I didn’t know about all of that. I just knew Corey had the bar and worked with the Inn to supply liquor and servers for weddings or other events.”
“That he started more because he was close with your Grandma and respected her. She needed someone and Corey was there.” Karly pitched in with the brotherly praise.
“Does that man have any flaws?” I asked with a laugh. My mind played back to all the things he’s done for me and been by my side for. There was the simplicity of changing my tire, and comforting me after my disastrous date. Then of course, when I needed him the most, for a visit with mommy dearest. Each time he did something, it was telling me even more that I was someone worthy of good things, in his mind.
Abby smiled. “He doesn’t open up about himself. His life has been spent taking care of everyone else. So it’s almost like he doesn’t know how to lay his own problems out on someone else.”
“Just do us all a favor.” Karly waited for me to respond, I nodded.
“Anything.”
“Don’t hurt him. If he cares about you as much as I think he does—it would break him.”
“I promise.” There wasn’t an ounce of hesitation in my voice. Even if I couldn’t be Corey’s girlfriend, I would still be the best friend he ever had. For some reason, he chose me as a person in his life that he didn’t want to lose, and I wasn’t going to take that for granted any longer.
“Good.” Karly said with a smile.
“Now, onto your wedding—the reason we’re all here today!”
“Oh yes!” Karly practically squealed with excitement. We spent the next hour and a half covering every little detail of her wedding. What she wanted and didn’t want. She told me about her and Jake, while her sisters added in little requests, as well.