Page 51 of Where We Belong

Ben: How’s everyone?

Cory: Heath wants to kill you. Atzi is stopping him, and the triplets are as adorable as ever. I can’t believe they’re getting so big.

Ben: It’s time for a new baby in the Spearman family.

Cory: That’s why Lysander and Cami are having one—they said you confirmed it’s only one.

Ben: I tried to keep them in suspense, but Lysander can’t take a joke.

Cory: At least he’s not as grumpy as Heath.

Ben: True. Keep sending me pictures since I won’t see you until next week.

Cory: Miss you.

Ben: Miss you more.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Aslan: You can’t be serious about dating Benedict Farrow.

Cory: I’m not sixteen anymore. Thank you for looking after me, but I’m old enough to make my own decisions.

Aslan: Are you sure about this? He has a child.

Cory: An adorable little girl who everyone loves. She calls you Uncle Aslan, and you’re calling her baggage.

Aslan: I didn’t say that. I just want to make sure you’re aware of what you’re getting into.

Cory: A loving relationship with a man who’s trying his damn best to be a better version of himself for his daughter and me.

Aslan: Wow, I wasn’t expecting that answer from you.

Cory: As I said before, I’m not sixteen. You should be more supportive of my decisions, though I appreciate that you still worry about me as if I was your child.

Aslan: And we always will. I understand none of us are your father, but we tried our best.

Cory: Did he ever love me?

Aslan: Why would you ask that?

Cory: I feel like he had time for everyone but me.

Aslan: Ha, you were too independent. Most times, you would get annoyed when any of us—including Dad—tried to help you. He just gave you the space he thought you needed.

Cory: I wish he hadn’t. Everyone has memories of him but me.

Aslan: How about those annual father-daughter dances in elementary school?

Cory: They were fun.

Aslan: He always looked forward to taking you and even ensured that Mom had a seamstress make a tie from the fabric of the dress you were wearing.

Cory: I don’t remember that.

Aslan: Lysander might have saved some of your boxes. I remember seeing a dress or two with the matching tie.

Cory: I’ll text him. Hopefully, it’s in the big storage place.

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