Page 8 of Where We Belong

Since she’s taking my text out of context, I call her. Thankfully, she answers the phone on the first ring instead of sending me to voicemail like she’s been doing for the past few months.

“Why now?” she asks.

I try to hide my frustration as I respond, “Hey, how are you?”

“Benedict, I don’t have time for pleasantries. Why after almost four years?”

Fuck, why is she making this so difficult?

Would it kill her to answer my question? I need to know if that asshole, Bodhi Whineysomething or other, is treating her right. I’ve asked Derek to run a background check, and he’s refused to do it. We don’t know if that asshole is some sociopath who will abuse her or a criminal who might get her killed. He’s taking her away from us. That’s pretty much a red flag, isn’t it?

“I’m waiting, Ben,” Cory presses sharply.

“This weekend my family visited us, but they had to stay in the city because we don’t have hotel accommodations in this town,” I explain neutrally. “It’d be an easy fix if we just build one where the old inn used to be.”

“And who’ll design this mystery building?” she challenges.

“I’ll figure out that part once I know where you stand.”

“You’re dumping this on me?” she hisses.

I exhale slowly, tamping down my irritation. “Of course not. I’ll handle architects if you want me to or we can make the decisions together. Otherwise, I’m happy to buy your share.”

“Why don’t you sell me your part instead?” she volleys back.

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Is she serious? After everything we’ve been through, she wants me to give up my stake in the inn. My mind races, trying to comprehend her reasoning, but all I feel is a mix of frustration and hurt.

I hate to hit where I know it’ll wound, but I have to make her reconsider. “What guarantees that you’ll actually build if I sell? You don’t like to work alone.”

“It won’t be your problem anymore,” she argues.

“But it is,” I counter firmly. “The town needs those rooms. Every business, including my practice, would benefit from a local hotel.”

“I can handle it alone.”

“By yourself?” I sound redundant, but either she’s not listening, or she’s just being obtuse.

I wish I knew what I did to her, but this isn’t the time to focus on that. I need to know what we’re going to do with the hotel. She can claim that she’ll do it on her own but we both know that won’t happen.

Cory’s always done everything with Huxley, her twin. She likes partnerships. If there’s no one to work beside her, she loses interest. That’s who she is, and the reason why I bought the inn for her. Hux didn’t want to be a part of it anymore. And now that he’s engaged, his plans are a lot different from Cory’s.

“Huxley could—” she starts.

“Hux won’t do it,” I cut her off.

Would it be too cruel to remind her that his business partner is now Enid? I don’t want to hurt her, but she has to look at the bigger picture. But what if that’s her current problem—the guy she has spent her entire life with has somebody else. She’s not alone, but she can’t just call him at any time to bail her out like they used to do with each other.

If only she allowed me to do that for her, but she just cut all communication between us. This is the first time we’re having an actual conversation in months.

“Cory, I’m your only hope,” I push, knowing there’s a lot on the line.

A lengthy silence follows. All I hear is her breathing for a long moment. “Let me think about it.”

“When are you coming back?”

“Soon,” she mumbles.

I hesitate but have to ask, “Is he treating you right?”

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