Porter, so I got preferential treatment.
Just as I grabbed the brass handle of the wood-paneled door, I came face-to-face with a ghost from my past. The shock caused the heavy box to wobble in my shaky grip, forcing Corey to reach for it to ensure it remained in my hold. My jerk stopped his hand from making contact, and my eyes watched it lower to his side.
“Hey,” he said, as though we’d just spoken an hour ago. I hadn’t seen him in twelve years, and he looked the same, yet not. His frame may have filled out a bit. His hair may have been a tad shorter than it used to be. And the facial hair he always kept was more beard-like and less scruffy. But the monumental change was the way his right arm was tightly entwined around the tall redheaded dude standing next to him.
When my eyes locked on their obvious physical connection, Corey said, “Ricky, this is Dakota. Dak, this is an old friend, Ricky.”
Friend? Fuck that… no way would I acknowledge that claim.
Ginger-boy said, “Nice to meet you.” Sensing the tension, he removed himself from Corey’s grip. “I’ll go check us in.” He then scurried toward Cedric, leaving us alone. And still I had yet to say a word or to move, until an elderly couple trying to get past prompted us to step outside the doors.
“How are you?”
“Fine.”
“Visiting or back for good?”
“Visiting.” I had no idea if he knew where I was even back from, nor did I delve into how he would know that information.
He nodded through the stiff smile that cracked his face, making the effort seem out of place as the rest of his expression remained tense. “You look good. How long are you here?”
“Why?”
“We should catch up.”
I repeated, “Why?”
I wasn’t making it easy on him, and I didn’t give a flying fuck. But Corey being Corey, he didn’t let up. “Look. I know we had some serious shit go down between us.” I literally had to bite my tongue to keep from verbally unleashing on his ass. “But I was young and stupid.” He gripped the back of his neck. “And I’m sorry.”
“That it?” His second nod came even slower than the first. “Take care,” I said, and turned on my heel to disappear as quickly as my legs made possible without having to fall into a sprint.
Although I ate my weight in steak house food, I unfortunately discovered something that could ruin my favorite meal.
My mom, thinking I was back to the John subject, threw me a few daggers as I sat pensively, while she and Cooper continued to bond. He, on the other hand, made no indication he knew something was off with me. Until she excused herself for the evening with plans to call John.
Leaving us on the back patio with fresh beers and soothing jazz playing over the outdoor speaker, no sooner had the french door behind us clicked shut than he said, “Okay, spill it.”
“Spill what?” I pretended ignorance.
“You’re back to brooding, and it can’t be because of John. You’re over that. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I lied, quickly coming up with an excuse. “I guess seeing her so happy and light… I haven’t seen her that way in years, and I feel guilty. Especially when I’ve been begging her to come to Florida… for selfish reasons.”
Cooper nodded. “I get that. She is proud of you, though. And she misses you, but this is her home. It’ll probably be harder to convince her to move now more than ever with John in the picture.” He took my hand and squeezed. “She loves him.”
“Yeah, I see that,” I griped. When he fell silent, I studied his handsome face.
The guilt I claimed I felt worsened. He didn’t deserve my moodiness.
Cooper was there… Corey was not.
Deflecting, I tugged on his hand until his body was flush against mine on the small love seat. “Alone at last,” I said before nuzzling his neck.
“Mmm.” He leaned into my assault, his breathing altering enough to tell me he liked it. “You must be exhausted. Maybe we should get some sleep.”
Knowing he was busting my balls, I stared into his eyes and shook my head. “I have a better idea.” Impulsively, I stood and yanked on his arm until he followed. “It’s time to show you my room.”
Cooper had gotten the complete tour from my mother earlier, except for my wing. Mom had had it constructed my senior year as a graduation present. It extended