Page 46 of Nepenthe (Bracing for Love 2)

The waitress comes to take our orders before I can answer. When she leaves, Lucy throws another question at me. “Are you still coming to visit before we leave?”

“Yeah. That’s the extent of my spring break plans.” I don’t have a spring break now, so going down for a weekend before they do will have to work. I shift in my seat towards Olivia. “And what are you doing for spring break?”

“I thought about going home for a few days, actually.”

“Where are you from?” Patrick questions.

I listen while Olivia gives them a little background on herself. Of course, as our plates are served, conversation doesn’t stay away from me. Thanks, Lucy.

“You should go with Jon, Corey, since you don’t have any plans.”

“I can’t,” I answer automatically, knowing that I have to work.

Lucy frowns. “Why not? You just said the only thing you were going to do is come see us.”

“I, uh.” Shit. Shit. Shit. Olivia pokes me in the leg again. I glare at her. No. I won’t tell them, especially not in front of Grant. He may be Lucy’s “serious” boyfriend, but he’s not family.

“What’s going on, Corey?” Patrick sets his fork down and watches me struggle with my words. He knows something’s up. I’ve been quiet for too long.

“Everything is still okay, right?” Lucy adds.

My eyes scan the waiting faces of everyone at our table. My mind is completely blank. I don’t know what I’m supposed to say. When my eyes land on Olivia, she subtly nods. Shit. She wants me to tell them.

“Corey?” The concern coats Lucy’s voice and I hate it. I hate it so much.

My mouth has refused to work as I look to Lucy. The worry is there in her eyes, in her frown, in how she slowly sets her drink back on the table, her gaze locked on me. When my voice finally works, I want to groan with the stupid words that come from it. “What was the question again?” So many had been asked, I don’t know which to answer.

“Are you okay?” Lucy repeats. “You know, because of before.” Her eyes skip to Olivia, knowing that we don’t usually discuss family matters in front of other people. However, she never glances towards Grant.

“Did you tell him, Luce?” An undercurrent of rage flows from my mouth with my words.

Grant speaks, officially pissing me off. “Don’t get mad with her.” His tone is deadly. “If it makes you feel better, she didn’t tell me all of it at first. She wanted to talk to someone besides her brothers, who don’t ever tell her anything upfront anyway. You can’t blame her for that.”

A moment of silence passes. In a way, he may be right.

“Answer the question, Corey.” Patrick brings us back to the topic we started with.

Olivia leans over and whispers in my ear, “Just tell them. It’ll be fine.” Under the table, I feel her arm on my leg, palm up like that night I admitted I needed help.

Reluctantly, I take her hand. “Before I say anything, things are fine. Nothing is wrong.” I keep my eyes on Lucy because she’s the one I don’t want worrying the most. “But, I’m not in school right now and I’m not working at the club either. I’m working with a carpenter full time.”

“But why? You’re going to be behind and—”

“Luce, stop,” I interrupt. “I’m just taking a break to reevaluate.” Yeah, that sounds good. “I never wanted to use my political science degree. I went to grad school because I didn’t know what else to do. If I’m going to spend money on a degree, shouldn’t it be something I want?”

She wants to say something, her mouth is slightly parted, but she doesn’t say anything.

“You’re doing good, though?” Jon asks.

“Perfect.” Anything to stop talking about this.

“Then next time we ask, don’t lie,” Patrick snaps. “How long have you not been in school?” My silence answers his question. Long enough. “You really piss me off, Corey. We’ve been calling you and checking in and all this time, you’ve been lying to us? You don’t lie to family.”

“You lie to Luce all the time,” I throw back at him, trying to keep my temper in control.

“No, I don’t. We might not tell her things right away, but if something changed in our lives, she would know. I wouldn’t lie, especially if nothing is wrong.”

My eyes flicker to Grant. Even if I was going to tell them, I wouldn’t say it in front of him.

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