Chapter Twenty-One

Cori pumped her legs and moved her arms even faster on the elliptical machine at the fitness center near her subdivision. The dance music Grey had recently sent her played through her cordless earbuds.

Other members, many of them also there to get in a workout after a day on the job, occupied the machines lined up on either side of her.

Her thigh muscles burned from exertion under her blue leggings. Her cropped white tee wicked away sweat as she pushed harder, matching her rhythm to the catchy beat.

She hadn’t had a workout in weeks, but with Grey in Austin, she’d needed the distraction. She missed him so much. But workouts with him in North Carolina at the beach had been a lot more fun.

“Come on, Cori. Keep going. We’re almost there. You can do it.”

That’s what he’d told her when they’d gone running on the beach. He’d encouraged her, and she’d done it. Sometimes, she’d gone even further with him running beside her, pushing her on.

The machine beeped, signaling the end of the aerobic program, and Cori climbed off the elliptical, grateful the workout was over. She repositioned the zippered arm band near her shoulder that held her phone and essentials then snagged the small towel she’d left on the shelf underneath the TV attached to the machine.

The playlist had really kept her going. She would have to tell him that the next time they talked. But when that would be was uncertain. Since Grey had arrived in Austin that past weekend, he’d been busy.

When they’d talked yesterday, he’d been on his way to a meeting and had sounded understandably stressed, considering the event for Liam was just over a week away. He’d also agreed to be one of the DJs in the lineup for what was now being called a life celebration for Liam. Even more surprising, he’d mentioned that he was going to perform a completely prerecorded set.

Grey considered the ability to mix music live and match the mood of the crowd an art form. He’d never criticized what other DJs chose to do in their sets, but for Grey, in his heart and soul, he wasn’t a “press play” DJ.

Her Apple Watch beeped with a call. Her heart leaped, but it wasn’t Grey. It was Nat. She hadn’t talked to her friend since she’d stolen her whipped cream. Just a few check-in texts. Same with Alexa. All three of them hadn’t been in one room since the party at Club Escapade. It almost felt as if the three of them were avoiding getting together—maybe so they didn’t have to face the thought of Alexa moving away.

As her earbuds rang in the call, Cori walked out of the main workout space and into the hall just outside the juice and smoothie bar.

Cori tapped the face of the watch and answered. “Sorry, I’m all out of whipped cream. You’ll have to buy your own.”

“Something’s wrong with Alexa.”

The urgency in Nat’s voice prompted Cori to hurry to the front exit. From the background noises on Nat’s end, her cell was linked to her car system. But what was that wailing noise? “Where’s Alexa? What happened to her?”

“I have no idea what happened. That’s why I’m calling you. I just found her at the grocery store wandering around buying boxed wine.”

Boxed wine? No, that couldn’t be what Nat said. Alexa wouldn’t touch the stuff. Corked always. Twist top, in a pinch. But boxed? Never.

“I think you’re breaking up.” Cori dug her car key out of her arm band. “You said something about wine in a box?”

“Yeah, you heard me right. Boxed. Wine.”

The wailing grew louder. Was that Nat’s dog Betsy? But that didn’t sound like whining or barking. It was more like a yowl or a screech. “What’s that noise? Do you have a wounded cat or something in the car?”

“No, Cori.” Nat’s tone held pure exasperation. “I’m not driving around with a damn wounded cat. That’s Alexa.”

Oh shit. Cori ran to her car. If Alexa sounded like that, something really terrible had happened. What was going on?

…

A half hour later, in the living room at Nat’s house, Cori passed out glasses of wine to Alexa and Nat, who sat on an emerald couch. Holding her own glass, she perched on the wood topped ottoman that doubled as a coffee table, ready to listen to Alexa.

Nat, usually the unflappable one, had skipped getting comfortable, remaining in the rose and beige dress she’d worn to work. Concern for Alexa creased her forehead and showed in her eyes.

Alexa hugged a turquoise pillow to her chest. Dressed in a navy T-shirt and jeans, with her tousled long hair and tear-stained face, she looked like a broken-hearted teenager. She’d been ready for a day of uneventful packing, but Dickhead Brad had struck again, coming between her and Rafe in a way that seemed unrepairable.

Brad thought he was so smooth. His lying ass needed to be covered in honey and staked on an ant hill. And Rafe, she needed to find the guy and knock some sense into him. How could he not see that Alexa wanted him, not Brad?

Unfortunately, Alexa and Rafe hadn’t known each other for very long, and that had made it easy for Brad to manipulate the truth, leading Rafe to come to all the wrong conclusions.

If Kevin had tried to do the same thing with Grey, the result wouldn’t have been the same. Grey would have seen right past the bullshit. Even six years later, they truly knew each other. She and Grey had a connection, and they cared about each other…like a real couple.

The truth hit Cori, smacking against the armor she’d stuck her heart into for protection and riveted shut with a six-month promise. Soft emotions she couldn’t stop leaked out from a widening crack and flowed into recollections from the past few weeks of being with Grey.

She didn’t have to censor herself with him; she could just be. She didn’t have to make him fit into her life with her family; he just did. She didn’t have to explain herself to him; he just understood. And more importantly, she didn’t have to make herself happy with Grey; she just was whenever she was around him.

Cori took another sip of wine. Sometimes, it felt so right between them, it was as if he’d never left—as if her time with Kevin had been some weird bad dream. Grey had always been her reality. But that would mean she’d never stopped loving him, wouldn’t it?

…

Exhausted from the day, Grey stretched out under the covers of the king-sized bed in his apartment. The latest details for the life celebration event rolled through his mind. The venue had been switched that morning because the promoter had oversold the event. It didn’t impact his part of organizing things—the DJs he’d contacted were still donating their time. The only big change for him was a performance in front of a larger crowd—something he hadn’t planned on. But he also hadn’t planned on returning to the grief support group.

After a meeting at Breakers three days ago to discuss the event, he’d discovered Sofia crying uncontrollably in her car in the parking lot. Cleaning Liam’s apartment alone, helping with Liam’s memorial…it had finally taken its toll. When she’d composed herself, he’d asked if she’d like the information for the support group he’d attended in town. Just because it hadn’t worked for him, that didn’t mean that it wouldn’t be good for her.

She’d been shy about going on her own, and he’d accompanied her, sitting in the back of the room for moral support.

But when a guy in the group had mentioned how he struggled with “what if” and “should have” questions about not spotting his friend’s problem, he’d understood exactly where the guy was coming from.

A conversation opened up with the group about how the “what ifs” and “should haves” weighed on people, dragging them down like an anchor, making them feel like they’d somehow failed. The group had also talked about how having those questions were a part of the grieving process. And the importance of understanding what wasn’t in their control—the free will of their loved ones when they were alive—as well as not knowing the answers to those questions now that they were gone. Acknowledging that was a huge part of the healing process, and it was one way to break free from the vicious circle of guilt.

Innately, he’d known that, but for some reason, this time, when he’d heard it, it had resonated as the truth.

He hadn’t told Cori yet. When she’d called the other night, he’d been walking into the support meeting with Sofia. They hadn’t spoken since then but had just sent texts to each other. He’d been busy. But he wasn’t now.

Grey picked up his phone from the bedside table. It was ten thirty p.m. her time. Was she up?

In the midst of texting her to see if she was awake, he changed his mind and called her.

She picked up on the second ring. “Hey, Grey.”

“Hey, beautiful. How are you?”

“Even better now than I’m talking to you. Hold on a sec.” Her voice grew muffled. “Are you sure you don’t want some tea?”

Someone on her end responded, but he couldn’t make out the voice. Who was with her?

“All right,” Cori said to the person. “Let me know if you need anything. Good night.” Her voice unmuffled. “I’m back. Alexa’s spending the night with me. She’s had an awful day.”

“Alexa…that’s your friend who’s moving to Seattle, right?” Grey sat up and propped the pillow behind his back. “What’s going on?”

“Well, she’s not moving to Seattle anymore. Yay on that, but on the other hand, she’s having guy trouble.”

Cori filled him in on problems between Alexa’s new boyfriend, Rafe, and Alexa’s ex, Brad.

Grey huffed a quiet breath. He could relate to Rafe’s situation. If Kevin ever showed up on Cori’s doorstep spouting nonsense, he wouldn’t like it, either. But he also wouldn’t have fallen for it because he knew Cori. She didn’t want Kevin back.

Cori sighed. “It’s a tough situation, but hopefully Alexa will take the advice Nat and I gave her and not give up on Rafe. But that’s enough about my world. How is everything going with you?”

A confession about attending the group support meeting hovered on the tip of this tongue. No. He was still working through the things he’d connected with at the meeting. It was a lot for him to take in. And after helping her friend, Cori didn’t need his baggage on her mind, too.

“Things are falling into place. But we had to change the venue because the promoter oversold the tickets.”

“Wow. I guess having too many people is a good problem to have. Is the new location as cool as the club?”

“Actually, it’s a step up. I’ve played there a couple of times. It’s a converted warehouse space in Austin that regularly hosts music events. It’s got a bigger stage and a better sound system. And we can sell a few more tickets.”

“How are you feeling about playing there?” Cori’s tone grew softer and held hints of concern.

He filled in what she wasn’t asking—was he still planning to do a pre-recorded set.

Going that route at Breakers for the celebration had been an easier decision, but doing his last set, probably forever, on a much bigger stage, in front of a larger crowd and not freestyling like he used to… Indecision pushed in on Grey, forcing him to let out a long exhale. “I’m good with it.”

“I know you’re going to do great. I wish I could be there.”

A sudden ache of pure loneliness opened up in Grey’s chest. Seeing Cori’s face in the crowd and knowing he’d see her after his set had always made him perform better. Needing a topic switch, he said, “My father’s assistant called. He wants me in New York the Monday after next to talk about a new liaison position he’s creating for me.”

“Really? Do you know what you’ll be doing?”

“Lots of observation, at first. I’m supposed to provide a boots-on-the-ground perspective to the top level executives.”

“Sounds interesting.”

Maybe it was for someone who liked chasing paperwork 24/7. But this was his future. It was time to adjust and get on board. “Yeah, I’m sure it will be real interesting. I’m looking forward to it.”

A couple of hours after the call, Grey lay in bed, the prospect of his future behind a desk at Latham Reeves keeping him awake. The job did have one advantage—a better shot of getting back with Cori.

A casual relationship had made sense when she’d first mentioned it, but since they’d straightened out what had really happened six years ago, and he’d told her about Liam, something had shifted. They had a bond that he hadn’t realized, until he was now back in Austin, existed between them. It felt even stronger than the one they’d shared years ago. Cori had to feel it, too. But she might need convincing to leap into a relationship with him.

Plans floated through his mind as Grey drifted off to sleep. He’d spoil her with shopping sprees, spa days, and more trips to the beach. He’d make sure that Cori knew how special she was to him, that she was his queen, and he was there to support her in reaching her goals and dreams…or to recapture the ones she’d left behind.