Page 15 of Claiming My Grumpy Ex

I exhaled, staring down at my glass. Asha had always been brutally honest, but this was one time I didn’t know if I was ready to hear it. “You think I’m pushing too hard?”

She gave me a sympathetic smile. “I think you’ve got a lot of unresolved feelings—jealousy, guilt, maybe even anger. And I think you’re the last person who can just ‘play it cool.’ But the Cory I know doesn’t give up. So don’t mess this up by turning it into a showdown. Just be there for her and Jake.”

I looked out over the beach, letting her words sink in. “I never thought I’d be the type to want… family,” I muttered, more to myself than her.

She reached over, giving my arm a gentle squeeze. “People change, Cory. Hell, even you. But if you don’t deal with your past, it’s going to keep holding you back. Go to that game, show Jake you care, and give Elena time to see who you are now.”

Asha’s gaze softened, and I could see she genuinely meant it. We’d known each other a long time, through ups and downs, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something else in her eyes—an echo of the past.

“You know,” she said, a smirk replacing her serious expression, “I once thought you and I had a shot. But look at us now. Guess it wasn’t meant to be.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “You’re too smart for me, Asha. And too dangerous. But thanks for always being there. I needed this.”

She raised her glass in a mock toast, her eyes glinting with mischief again. “Just make sure you don’t mess this one up. Go back there, be yourself, and don’t let jealousy or pride get in the way. And for the love of everything, don’t make her feel like you’re just there to ‘claim’ Jake.”

I raised my glass, clinking it against hers. “You always know what to say, don’t you?”

“That’s why I’m the successful one,” she teased, flashing a grin.

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the smile curving my lips. Asha had a way of getting to the heart of things, even if it made me uncomfortable. As I finished my wine, I felt something settle inside me—a sense of purpose I hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Alright, Asha,” I said, getting up. I’ll do it your way—for now.”

“Good boy,” she replied, her voice mockingly sweet as she waved me off. “Go find your girl, Cory. And this time, don’t screw it up.”

Asha’s eyes lingered on me, and for a moment, I could see the playful spark return, the one that hinted at history, at an easy intimacy that we’d once almost explored. She tilted her head, giving me that signature grin of hers that had probably taken down better men than me.

“You know,” she said, her voice low and teasing, “you could always stay the night. It might help you unwind. I know a few ways to take your mind off all that anger and frustration—especially for a sexy guy like you.” She leaned back, crossed her legs in a slow, deliberate motion, and kept her gaze fixed on mine.

I chuckled, shaking my head as I took in her not-so-subtle offer. “You’re relentless, Asha. But I know better than to get tangled up with you.”

Her grin widened, and she shrugged, feigning innocence. “Can’t blame a girl for trying, right? But seriously, Cory, don’t lose sight of what’s important. You’ve got a chance to find out if you have a family waiting for you back in Texas. Don’t let your need for control ruin that.”

I nodded, appreciating her frankness and the steady hand she’d extended when I needed it most. “Thanks, Asha. I needed this… and you.” I set down my glass, standing up and glancing out over the beach one last time. The temptation to linger, to let her be the escape she was offering, was strong. But something inside me knew that staying would just be another way to avoid what I had to face back in Cedar Cove.

“Besides,” I added, “my pilot’s waiting for me. If I stay any longer, I’ll only be postponing what I have to do.”

Asha stood up, walking me to the door, her hand giving my arm one last squeeze. “Go get your answers, Cory. And if you mess it up… well, you know where to find me.”

I smirked, appreciating the glint of humor in her eyes. “I’ll try not to need that backup plan.”

As I stepped out the door, heading back to my jet, I felt a strange sense of relief. I wasn’t leaving Sag Harbor any less conflicted, but Asha’s words stuck with me. She was right. This was my chance, maybe my only one, to discover what I could’ve had if I hadn’t left Elena all those years ago.

The plane was waiting, engines ready, as I climbed on board. I settled into my seat, watching the lights of Long Island fade in the distance, and braced myself for what I’d face when I touched down back in Dallas.

Eight

Elena

“See you tomorrow, ladies. It’s all yours.”

The clock hit two-thirty, and I was out of there. I’d told Mindy, Sarah, and Nikki I’d be back tomorrow, knowing they could handle things until closing. Today was too important. Jake had been counting down the days to his doctor’s appointment, hoping for the green light to get back on the field. Baseball meant the world to him, and I didn’t want him missing a single moment of it.

As I leftReflections,the familiar buzz of small-town chatter and the lazy Wednesday afternoon surrounded me. Cedar Cove was comfortable and predictable. I liked that about it. But today, a flicker of something else gnawed at me, something I couldn’t quite shake since last week.

I slid into the driver’s seat, started the car, and adjusted the mirror. That same thought kept nudging at me, the memory of seeing someone—Cory—sitting in that boat, just beyond the pier, staring toward the salon. Had he really been watching, or was my mind playing tricks on me? I brushed it off with a deepsigh, gripping the steering wheel tightly. I couldn’t afford to go wandering down that rabbit hole, not with Jake waiting for me.

By the time I got to the school, I’d convinced myself it was nothing. I could imagine Cory in Dallas, busy with whatever important work he did now. And here I was, trying to convince myself that his sudden reappearance didn’t mean a damn thing.

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