18. CORA
CORA
What the fuck was that? That’s the thought ringing through my body as I make it to my room.
My phone buzzes with unread messages waiting for me. Word seems to travel fast when I make weird decisions.
First, there's a group text from Leo and someone else asking if I made it home. I don't recognize the second number, and I don't have time to figure out who it belongs to because Brinn is next, asking if the date was as disastrous as she thought it'd be.
Before I can even respond, the unknown number sends a separate text.
Unknown number
just when we were about to salvage your night
lee, are you bummed?
Lane.
Me
you wish
Lane
no I think you wish
so whens your next date with that travesty
wouldn’t you like to know?
well, he’s slimy enough that someone should chaperone
you don’t know anything about Ryan
keep telling yourself that
leo was even talking shit
that’s saying something
you sure know how to pick them
I picked you, didn’t I?
technically I picked you
I came back to the bar
remember?
oh yeah, you ran out like a baby
it’s coming back
i had a feeling you were trouble
fucking should’ve listened to my gut
yes, you should’ve
wish I would’ve
My stomach flips. Fuck. Does he mean that? My phone screen is lit up on my comforter, waiting for me to text him back. If I want to. His words scratch at my skin, like a wound that’s trying to heal.
I can’t help myself.
you have bad instincts, got it
noted for next time
you’re the one who pretended to be someone else
seems like you got exactly what you wanted
Keep telling yourself that.
you didn’t have to come back to the bar.
just like you could’ve had someone else bring me home
they’d been drinking
it was obviously going to be me
plus that guy was like 2 minutes away from explaining bitcoin to you
you seem awfully concerned about my date
you probably volunteered to bring me home
I feel like coach wouldn’t be the same if you went missing
i’m looking out for my season
you are a horrible liar
and you’re a lightweight
i think you were jealous
how many drinks did you have
I wasn’t jealous
sounds like something a jealous person would say
Lane: told you, looking out for my hockey season
whatever you say
and then whatever the fuck that was outside the door
I didn’t think he was going to bring it up. But there it is, staring at me, timestamped and everything. Trying to kiss me. I didn’t even consider that as an option when I sat in the car, pissed off that the guys cut my time to try and make Lane jealous short.
what do you mean?
you know exactly what I mean
not even a clue
why don’t you walk me through it
nothing to walk through
you should go to bed
quit telling me what to do
fine stay up all night and have the worst hangover of your life tomorrow
choice is yours
I did want to kiss him. I don’t know if it’s because I shouldn’t want him or if it’s more than that. He did bring me home, made sure I was safe. But maybe he is just looking out for himself? Or maybe this is simply what decent humans do for one another.
I don’t know.
The room spins, a slow tilt that reminds me of the drinks—and the way Lane manages to knock me off my axis even when he’s just standing there, looking at me like I’m something he’s trying very hard not to have.