Page 43 of Where We Belong

Cory: You should be sorry. If it hadn’t been for you, maybe I would already be married with some…

Ben: Please finish that sentence.

Cory: Actually, I can’t. I really can’t see myself with anyone…

Ben: I need you to text in complete sentences, Cordelia.

Cory: I don’t think I’m ready to say it.

Ben: Please?

Cory: You, okay. I always thought you and I would end up together. I hoped that you’d notice me, but that never happened.

Ben: I noticed you. I was terrified of messing things up, including you. You’re too precious to be with an asshole like me.

Cory: But you’re not, you’re…

Ben: You can’t call me perfect.

Cory: Of course not. I would never dare to do that. You’re Benedict, the guy who always shows up when anyone needs him.

Ben: Not just anyone, I do it mostly for you.

Cory: Do you, really?

Ben: Of course I did. I adore you, Cory, why wouldn’t I be there when you needed me?

Cory: And see, that’s what made me fall for you. Maybe that’s why I can’t see myself with anyone else.

Ben: No idea if that’s true, but I’m fucking thankful for it.

Cory: This doesn’t make things all better.

Ben: I wouldn’t expect it to, but it gives me hope.

Cory: You really think we can work things out?

Ben: Yes. I love you. You kind of like me… I just need you to fall in love with me—catch up, glide, and fly.

Cory: Can I ask you about Avery?

Ben: Why?

Cory: Were you ever with her? I really need to know.

Ben: She asked me once if we could try it—after Rys and Caspian got together. I explained to her that even though she’s lovely, my heart belonged to someone else. That’s when we stopped being friends.

Cory: Who were you talking about?

Ben: You, of course. You’ve owned my heart for a long time. As I told you before, my friendship with her was because her family and mine kind of gets along.

Cory: Do you miss her?

Ben: No, and I don’t miss those friends I left behind after I moved out of New York. It’s more like I miss being calm and chill about things. Now I’m always stressed about everything.

Cory: Is the therapist helping?

Ben: I want to think that we’re making progress, but it’s a long road. I let a lot of things accumulate, and now I have to unknot too many issues—for Bernie, you, and me.

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