Page 20 of Burn It Down

My stomach lurches at the thought.

Cora graduated from Harvard like her mother and father before her. She’s armed with a degree in social innovation and philanthropy and she uses it to its full potential. She’s making quite a name for herself and is very selective about which projects she takes on. Considering people always seem to want what they can’t have, her limited openings fill up fast.

I knock on her door and hear her heels clicking on the hardwoods a second later.

“Oh, it reallyisa special occasion! You brought the Ferrari out for me!”

“Only the best for you.”

Cora loves this thing for some reason. I chose it tonight because of that, but a sick part of me is disappointed that she hasn’t yet realized it’s the Corvette I take out ontrulyspecial occasions. I love that car more than anything I own. I drive the Ferrari only when I’m trying to impress a client…or my girlfriend.

Dinner passes smoothly, although I find our conversation a bit more strained than usual. Outside of work, our parents, and drama at the club — which I’m not interested in — Cora and I don’t have much in common.

Plus, I’m distracted by the phone in my pocket. I’ve been dying to read Dylan’s message since I felt it buzz over an hour ago.

But it’s Cora’s phone that rings loudly in the quiet space, drawing annoyed glares from the diners. She silences the phone and flips it over, but not before I see the screen.

“Cor, why is my dad calling you?”

She rolls her eyes. “He wanted to discuss the upcoming gala,” she explains. “He’s requesting additional tables for clients and I don’t have room for them due to the size of the venue.”

“Is he giving you a hard time?” I ask, ready to throat punch my father for being the asshole he is.

“Not really. He’s just persistent in trying to figure out options.”

“I’ll talk to him,” I sigh, raising my martini glass to my mouth.

“Please don’t,” she says, patting my hand across the table. “I don’t want to look incompetent or like I can’t handle my own problems. He’ll be my father-in-law one day and I want to earn his respect.”

I can understand that.

Before I can nod or verbalize my agreement, the phone buzzes on the table instead of ringing this time.

“Would you mind if I take it? I’ll only be a minute.”

“Go ahead.”

She slides her finger across the screen to connect the call and whispers, “Hi, Steve. I’m at dinner with Jacob, could I give you a call later?”

She closes her eyes and sighs and I know he’s doing that thing where he completely disregards what’s being said and launches into his own agenda.

Cora holds up her finger to me and mouthssorryas she slides her chair back from the table.

I nod, already pulling my own phone from my pocket. My free hand reaches for my martini and I take another healthy sip.

Nothing can prepare me for the relief that washes through me as I unlock my phone, sweat quickly coating my neck.If I didn’t already know I was gay…this would be a pretty big sign. I laugh to myself — andatmyself — for feeling so giddy over a text.

Dylan 6:03pm

Yeah, some. But it isn’t just us. Couple other places got hit too.

Rethinking leaving the Corvette with me?

Jacob: 7:16pm

Not at all.

An idea slams into me at full force as I read his message over and over. The guys and I are taking Knox’s boat out on Saturday. Cora’s going bridesmaid dress shopping with her older sister and my parents are flying to their house in the Keys for a few days. Which just leaves me and the guys to ourselves on a rare day when no one’s scheduled at the fire station.

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