Page 38 of Where We Belong

She may not want to hear me, but I won’t leave until she has the full truth and can make an informed choice.

“Lysander kept insisting I forget you and just focus on Bernie. That you deserved better than the mess I’ve made of my life.” I snort derisively. “Day in, day out, the same lecture came from him.”

I pace the living room, frustration boiling up. “Just like when we were young and Aslan threatened me, and Gatsby always warned me away from you. I let their disapproval get in my head.”

Cory’s eyes flash. “So you’re saying my brothers are to blame for you being an ass?”

I rake a hand through my hair. “No, that’s on me. I just… I admire them so much, like the big brothers I never had. I let their opinions sway me because I wanted their approval.”

“Just get out,” Cory snaps, trembling with anger. “I hate all of you.”

I nod, gutted. “I hate myself too. But I want to make this right, I swear.” My voice cracks with emotion. “I want to fix us.”

“That kiss. My first kiss—what did it mean to you?” she asks abruptly.

“Everything,” I reply without hesitation.

Her eyes search my face. “Then why now? Why confess this after all this time?”

“While I’m trying to figure out why I’m upset at the world, I realized it’s me who I’m angry at. I’m furious because I put myself in a situation where I had to choose between a baby and you—I destroyed any chance I had to be with you.” I run a hand through my hair in frustration, pacing her living room.

“Is that why you said sorry when I congratulated you on Bernie’s birth?” she asks.

“Yeah.” I stop, facing her.

“So why are you mad at the world?” Her eyes search my face.

I take a shaky breath. “My therapist and I are working on that, but most of the things upsetting me lead back to you.”

Cory frowns. “Me?”

“I’m angry that I can’t let myself love you like I want to,” I confess raggedly.

She shakes her head, looking away. “You can’t do this now, Benedict. Is it because of Bodhi?”

I scrub my hands over my face. “No. I swear I was trying to stay away so you could be happy. But knowing I couldn’t have you was eating me.”

“Sorry, Ben—”

“No, don’t apologize and disregard me,” I cut in desperately. “Just give me a chance to make this right.”

Her eyes narrow. “What exactly do you want from me here?”

I take her hands in mine, forcing her to look at me. “I don’t want a kiss, or just forgiveness, or a few dates. I want you to make me work for a chance at forever with you.”

Cory stares at me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. I wish I could glimpse her thoughts, but all I see is anger.

“I don’t know if I can handle that again,” she says finally.

“This time, it’ll just be me convincing you I’m worthy of your heart,” I urge. “You won’t have to do much.”

She regards me warily.

“We can take it slow, rebuild the inn together like you wanted,” I suggest. “Create that hotel of your dreams.”

Cory bites her lip. “But what if it doesn’t work out? Being around you would be impossible, let alone working together.”

I nod. “Then I’ll leave Paradise Bay. You can sell the place, at least it’ll be your vision.”

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