Page 35 of Where We Belong

Ben: It all depends.

Cory: You’re not sure?

Ben: I might have to move out.

Cory: Your practice is here.

Ben: Sure, but what if I have to leave?

Cory: Leave and go where?

Ben: Probably Seattle. One day Derek, Finn, and Piper will stop jumping around and settle there since it’s Piper’s hometown.

Cory: But then Bernie wouldn’t grow up with Eris.

Ben: She’ll make other friends.

Cory: Is this because I said to skip the family dinner? I won’t be there either, so there’s no point in you not going.

Ben: You shouldn’t miss out because you can’t stand me.

Cory: It’s fine. I see everyone often enough.

Ben: Can we talk?

Cory: What’s there to talk about, Benedict?

Cory: Ben…

Cory: Ben…

Cory: Okay, so you want to talk, but you’re ignoring me.

Cory: Don’t message me, I have a visitor. It’s probably Hux or Kenzie. I don’t want you to interrupt me..

Cory: Go away, Benedict.

Ben: Can we please talk?

Cory: Go away!

Ben: Please, open the door.

Cory: Nope. Where’s Bernie?

Ben: Kenzie is babysitting for me. Can you give me ten minutes, please?

Cory: Don’t make me regret this.

Chapter Eighteen

Cory

After Bodhi dropped me at my apartment, I needed a distraction from replaying our disastrous six-month relationship. I headed to Paradise Bay. There’s always something to do at the bar. But once I stepped in and saw how the staff had everything under control, I remembered that it’s been almost two years since Hux and I stopped working on the everyday tasks.

We oversee operations but focus on the administrative side of our businesses now.

Huxley freed up his time to travel with Enid and run their bookstore. And me? Well, I did it to help Benedict with Bernie. She’s too young to go to daycare. Sure, plenty of children don’t have a stay-at-home parent, but knowing how important the formative years are, I offered to be there for her.