Page 31 of Where We Belong

When I finally fall silent, Heath demands roughly, “Why are you telling me this now?”

I run a shaky hand through my hair. “Because as I mentioned, I love her. And I asked her to give me a chance to… to figure us out. When I talk to her next, I want to lay everything on the table—my feelings, my intentions. I’m tired of hiding from this out of fear of hurting her or losing you or your family. Even if I lose everyone after this call, at least I’m finally trying.”

Heath exhales loudly. “Listen, you’re my best friend, Ben, but this is…” He trails off, and I can feel his frustration simmering.

“I know, I’m a fucked-up mess, and I don’t deserve her. But I swear I’m getting my life together, for Bernie and Cory,” I say almost enthusiastically. “I just need you to hear me out.”

After a tense moment, Heath asks wearily, “What, exactly, do you want from me here?”

“I really don’t know. I just…”

“You don’t even fucking know?” he growls. “Do everyone a favor and stay the fuck away from her.”

Before I can respond, Atzi’s voice sounds in the background. “I’ll talk to him, Heath.”

“He has to stay away,” he groans.

“It’s not that simple,” she says. “This is definitely not about you, but Cory, even when he’s trying to do the right thing and tell you about his feelings.”

“But—” Heath starts talking, but Atzi interrupts him.

“Hey, Benedict,” she greets me. “So, you’re finally ready to confess your undeniable love for her?”

“I’m trying,” I whisper.

“Listen, I’ll talk to Heath about this, but you…” she sighs. “You have to promise me that you won’t hurt her this time.”

I frown, stung. “When have I hurt her?”

She laughs. It’s a humorless laugh. “Men. You’re so fucking stupid.”

“Probably, but if I hurt her before, it wasn’t on purpose.”

In the distance, Heath growls, “I might kill him.”

“You won’t,” Atzi says firmly. “Let them figure this out.”

“Ben, I swear…” Heath continues cursing, and I can barely hear what he’s saying.

I run a hand through my hair, emotion swelling in my chest. “I’ve tried not to love her, I swear. But it’s impossible. She captured my heart so long ago… I don’t want it back.”

How do I explain to them that she’s where I belong? My person, the one soul that matches mine. The problem is I’ve lived my life terrified—of hurting, of being hurt. And now, facing Cory’s rejection head-on, I realize just how much I’ve lost. How many moments I missed with her because I was a coward.

I remember the first time I saw her, a teen in her brother’s oversized hoodie, hair escaping her braids. She grinned at me with that wide, innocent smile, and in that instant, I was lost, even if I didn’t understand it yet.

Over the years there were a thousand chances—stolen moments on lazy Sundays, nights talking by the fire long after the others wandered off to bed, road trips where it was just the two of us belting out songs at the top of our lungs. Daily texts talking about anything or maybe nothing. Cory was always there when something bad happened to one of my patients.

I had a thousand chances to tell her how I felt, how she set my soul ablaze, how I wanted to spend every mundane, beautiful, messy moment by her side. And I said nothing. I let fear freeze the words in my throat.

Now she’s slipping through my fingers, and the regret is eating me on the insides, threatening to swallow me whole. I know I can’t get back what we lost. That’s on me, my cowardice. But if she gives me a chance, just one, I’ll spend every day making up for that lost time.

I’ll show her all the ways I love her that I never had the courage to do before. I’ll give her my battered, imperfect heart and pray she still wants it. This may be my last opportunity, and I’m terrified, but more than anything, I’m determined not to waste another second we could spend together. I can’t lose her again without trying.

I can’t recover what we lost because I was an idiot, but if she lets me love her, I’ll make up for every second we missed.

Chapter Sixteen

Cory

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