Chapter 7

Seven

Cory

The jet touched down smoothly, but I barely noticed. Sag Harbor was one of those places I could appreciate for its calm and beauty if I wasn’t so tangled up in my own head. As I stepped off, I scanned the area, letting the fresh coastal air hit me like a cold splash to the face.

Two days. Only two days had passed since I’d sat out in that damn boat, watching Elena ride away with her friends. That night had left a bad taste in my mouth, one that had only intensified as time ticked on. Every time I thought of her with someone else, laughing, maybe feeling the way I used to make her feel, my jaw clenched.

Asha’s driver pulled up in a sleek black car, and I slipped inside, nodding to the guy behind the wheel. “Sag Harbor Bay Road, right?” he asked. I nodded, and he was off. I stared out the window, half focused on the scenery, half-wishing I could hit rewind and change how things had gone with Elena from the start.

Elena. No matter how many times I tried to focus on other things, her name was an anchor in my mind, pulling me back to memories I hadn’t asked for. And Jake. The kid had struck a chord in me the moment I met him, and it had been Jake’s question—his invitation to his game—that had kicked my mind into a tailspin I couldn’t pull out of. Was he my son? I didn’t know, but the thought was inescapable.

The problem was, I had no clue how to get close to Elena without bulldozing my way in. I couldn’t even pick up the phone and call her outside the salon because I didn’t know her number. And things were more complicated now that I knew she had someone else in her life—some guy who could reach across the table and hold her hand. Every instinct in me wanted to fix things, to take control and get answers, but something told me that wouldn’t work with her—not anymore.

The car slowed as we pulled up to Asha’s place, a sprawling mansion overlooking the beach, full of elegance and opulence. It suited her—Asha liked to make an entrance and live large. She’d made a name for herself with her beauty line, and now, everywhere she went, the world knew she’d arrived.

As I got out, the front door swung open, and there was Asha, grinning knowingly. She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, looking exactly like someone expecting a friend in need of advice. I’d called her before I came, asking for help, and she seemed more than ready to give it.

“Come on in, Cory,” she said, her eyes sparkling with that mix of mischief and insight that only Asha could pull off. “Sounds like you’ve got a lot to get off your chest—too much for a simple phone call.”

Asha’s patio was a slice of paradise. The waves crashed softly in the background, and the salty breeze was just enough to remind me I was far from the chaos of my own life. Sag Harbor was her sanctuary, but she thrived on the attention that came with it—part influencer playground, part luxurious retreat. She motioned for me to sit, a mischievous glint in her eye as she poured two glasses of her favorite wine.

“Alright,” she began, leaning back with an easy smile, “what’s got you so wound up you had to drag yourself all the way out here?”

I chuckled, more at myself than her question. “You know me too well, Asha.”

“Please. I knew you had issues the second you called me. You only ever show up here when something’s got you twisted in knots.” She winked, and I couldn’t help but smile. Asha had a knack for hitting a nerve, and she did it effortlessly.

“Maybe I just wanted a change of scenery,” I replied unconvincingly.

Asha gave a mock sigh, swirling her wine like she had all the time in the world. “Sure, Cory, you wanted a ‘change of scenery.’ I’m sure it has nothing to do with a certain woman from Beaver Creek you recently ran into,” She raised an eyebrow. “So, spill. What’s going on with Elena?”

I took a deep breath, letting the weight of it all settle. “It’s…complicated. I tried to reconnect, but every time I get close, something gets in the way. She has someone else now.”

“Someone else?” she echoed, her eyes widening with surprise. “Didn’t see that one coming.”

Leaning back, I ran a hand over my face. “Yeah. Some guy she’s seeing. Makes it a lot harder to just walk up and ask her what the hell happened all those years ago—or whether her son might actually be mine.”

Asha’s brows shot up at that. “Wait, wait. You think her son might be yours?” She let out a low whistle. “Now it’s getting interesting.”

I laughed bitterly. “Interesting isn’t the word I’d use. It’s like a punch in the gut every time I think about it. But yeah, the timing’s right. There’s this kid, Jake, and something about him… it’s familiar, Asha. I can’t shake the feeling. And Jake asked me to come to one of his games, just like a kid would ask his dad.”

I hesitated, clenching my jaw before adding, “Part of me just wants to march up to Elena and demand a DNA test. I don’t know what else to do. I’m angry, Asha. I’m frustrated that I’ve been shut out of his life if he really is mine. I don’t know how to handle it without making it a battle.”

Asha leaned forward, her expression softening. “Cory, if you really think Jake might be yours, you’ve got to know for sure. But—” she held up a finger, cutting me off before I could interject—“not by waltzing in and demanding a DNA test.”

“I can’t think of another way,” I admitted, frustration simmering beneath the surface. “It’s not like I have a claim on him. And there is another guy in Elena’s life…” I trailed off, feeling the jealousy squeeze my throat.

Asha shook her head, her voice gentle but firm. “Look, Cory, I get that you want answers, but you can’t bulldoze your way in. You’ve got a history with Elena, and that’s delicate territory. You want her to let you in? Show her you’re there for Jake without making it a paternity battle.”

I exhaled, staring down at my glass. Asha had always been brutally honest, but this was one time I didn’t know if I was ready to hear it. “You think I’m pushing too hard?”

She gave me a sympathetic smile. “I think you’ve got a lot of unresolved feelings—jealousy, guilt, maybe even anger. And I think you’re the last person who can just ‘play it cool.’ But the Cory I know doesn’t give up. So don’t mess this up by turning it into a showdown. Just be there for her and Jake.”

I looked out over the beach, letting her words sink in. “I never thought I’d be the type to want… family,” I muttered, more to myself than her.

She reached over, giving my arm a gentle squeeze. “People change, Cory. Hell, even you. But if you don’t deal with your past, it’s going to keep holding you back. Go to that game, show Jake you care, and give Elena time to see who you are now.”

Asha’s gaze softened, and I could see she genuinely meant it. We’d known each other a long time, through ups and downs, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something else in her eyes—an echo of the past.

“You know,” she said, a smirk replacing her serious expression, “I once thought you and I had a shot. But look at us now. Guess it wasn’t meant to be.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “You’re too smart for me, Asha. And too dangerous. But thanks for always being there. I needed this.”

She raised her glass in a mock toast, her eyes glinting with mischief again. “Just make sure you don’t mess this one up. Go back there, be yourself, and don’t let jealousy or pride get in the way. And for the love of everything, don’t make her feel like you’re just there to ‘claim’ Jake.”

I raised my glass, clinking it against hers. “You always know what to say, don’t you?”

“That’s why I’m the successful one,” she teased, flashing a grin.

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the smile curving my lips. Asha had a way of getting to the heart of things, even if it made me uncomfortable. As I finished my wine, I felt something settle inside me—a sense of purpose I hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Alright, Asha,” I said, getting up. I’ll do it your way—for now.”

“Good boy,” she replied, her voice mockingly sweet as she waved me off. “Go find your girl, Cory. And this time, don’t screw it up.”

Asha’s eyes lingered on me, and for a moment, I could see the playful spark return, the one that hinted at history, at an easy intimacy that we’d once almost explored. She tilted her head, giving me that signature grin of hers that had probably taken down better men than me.

“You know,” she said, her voice low and teasing, “you could always stay the night. It might help you unwind. I know a few ways to take your mind off all that anger and frustration—especially for a sexy guy like you.” She leaned back, crossed her legs in a slow, deliberate motion, and kept her gaze fixed on mine.

I chuckled, shaking my head as I took in her not-so-subtle offer. “You’re relentless, Asha. But I know better than to get tangled up with you.”

Her grin widened, and she shrugged, feigning innocence. “Can’t blame a girl for trying, right? But seriously, Cory, don’t lose sight of what’s important. You’ve got a chance to find out if you have a family waiting for you back in Texas. Don’t let your need for control ruin that.”

I nodded, appreciating her frankness and the steady hand she’d extended when I needed it most. “Thanks, Asha. I needed this… and you.” I set down my glass, standing up and glancing out over the beach one last time. The temptation to linger, to let her be the escape she was offering, was strong. But something inside me knew that staying would just be another way to avoid what I had to face back in Cedar Cove.

“Besides,” I added, “my pilot’s waiting for me. If I stay any longer, I’ll only be postponing what I have to do.”

Asha stood up, walking me to the door, her hand giving my arm one last squeeze. “Go get your answers, Cory. And if you mess it up… well, you know where to find me.”

I smirked, appreciating the glint of humor in her eyes. “I’ll try not to need that backup plan.”

As I stepped out the door, heading back to my jet, I felt a strange sense of relief. I wasn’t leaving Sag Harbor any less conflicted, but Asha’s words stuck with me. She was right. This was my chance, maybe my only one, to discover what I could’ve had if I hadn’t left Elena all those years ago.

The plane was waiting, engines ready, as I climbed on board. I settled into my seat, watching the lights of Long Island fade in the distance, and braced myself for what I’d face when I touched down back in Dallas.