Chapter Twelve Cory

"D o you ever think that maybe you and I should just get together and forget about this whole dating thing?" I asked, taking a bite of my scone.

"What in the world would two tops do with one another?" David laughed, gesturing wildly with his hot coffee in his hands. "We could just sit around and watch movies or work out, I guess. But what about the sex part?"

"Blowjobs are fine, right?"

"They're okay," he laughed, furrowing his brows. "Besides, I was under the distinct impression you didn't want anything to do with me like that."

"You're cute!"

He lifted an eyebrow.

I rolled my eyes. "But you're right. I just don't think about you like that."

"That's what I thought."

"Not to mention I'm a werewolf," I muttered.

That really got David laughing. "That's what I like about you, Cory. You're always saying the funniest stuff."

"That's me. So funny."

"But in all seriousness," he said, leaning across the table. "If you're a furry or something, that's totally okay with me. I don't mind."

I was the original furry. But he wasn't going to understand that. Instead, I reached out and patted him on the hand. "Thanks for your support, David. But I'm not a furry."

"Well, if you ever want to get into it, let me know. I hear the ass is choice at those conventions."

"I'm sure they would appreciate you whittling them down to such a stereotype."

David took another sip of his coffee. "You doing okay, buddy?" he asked. "Maybe I'm reading into it too much, but you've seemed a bit off these past few days. Ever since Thanksgiving really."

"I… I'm just tired," I lied. "The holidays are always a bit rough. Between work, helping at the hotel, and not having any family that wants me… it just makes this time of the year not a lot of fun."

Well, not all of it was a lie.

"Anything I can do to help?"

"No. I'm okay. Sorry I've been so grumpy lately."

"Well, with all the holiday stuff and the shit with your ex, I think I can understand." He put his coffee cup down. "How is the ex thing by the way? Has he bothered you at all?"

I let out a long sigh. "I saw him again. But he's not really bothering me. Actually, to my surprise, he seems to be keeping his distance." I sipped my coffee. "Apparently me giving him the death stare worked. I was afraid he'd be too dense to get it."

"Well, it's good that he's respecting your space. I don't know what happened between you two, but it's obvious you don't want to be around him. Too bad you won't let the rest of us play with him…"

"You are such an ass."

"You know I'm kidding!" he laughed, flashing that bright smile of his. "Although, it's not like there's a lot of choice around here. This town is pretty small, and nobody is ever serious about anything. Half the time I have to drive an hour just to get a blowjob."

"Why not move up to the city then?"

"And leave you here all alone? Would you ever forgive me?"

I grinned. "No."

"Then how could I leave?"

"You'll find someone," I replied. "You're a handsome guy. I doubt anyone would deny you. I'm sure the perfect guy will show up any moment."

The door to Andy's cafe dinged behind us as someone stepped inside. One moment David was looking at me, the next his eyes were fixed on the door, his coffee frozen halfway to his lips.

"I… I think he just did," he muttered.

I turned in my seat, glancing toward the door. The moment my gaze fell on him, my heart leaped into my throat.

Liam .

"My god," David whispered. "He's gorgeous."

"Fuck," I groaned, turning away the moment Liam noticed me. I buried my face in my hands. "Fuck, fuck, fuck."

"What's wrong?"

"That's him," I hissed.

"What?"

"That's my fucking ex !"

David seemed absolutely dumbstruck. " That's him?!" He stared openly, not trying to hide his wonder and bewilderment. "You didn't tell me you dated a Greek fucking god!"

"He's not!"

"The hell he isn't," David laughed. "Are you blind?"

"David, please! He'll hear you."

We both stayed silent as Liam finally walked by, heading up to the counter to make his order. Even from a few booths away I could hear him order an iced chai latte. It was his favorite. Memories flooded back of all those days we'd gone into town and got coffee together. He always paid, buying me whatever I wanted for breakfast and lunch as we walked around town. Sometimes we just kept on going from dawn until dusk, neither of us wanting to leave one another's company.

Those memories came back followed by a flood of confusing emotions. I'd cared for him so much back then. And even though I didn't want to admit it, a part of me still cared for him. But with that realization came a wave of fury. How could he have betrayed me like he did? I thought what we had was special. More special than anything else anyone had ever experienced. I truly thought he was my mate for fuck's sake. But that couldn't be true. A real mate wouldn't turn against his partner. That's just not how it worked.

Liam was a fraud. And I had to stop caring about him.

After a moment of silence, Liam collected his drink and headed to the opposite side of the cafe. He took a seat and pulled out a small journal, beginning to write. I was happy that he'd chosen to sit facing the opposite direction of us. Maybe he'd done it on purpose. It seemed thoughtful, but the moment I felt that, I pushed it away. I still hated him.

"Well," David finally said, still staring openly at Liam. "I didn't know you had such excellent taste in guys. I see why I don't interest you."

"Fuck off, David," I muttered, going back to my scone.

"And that scar… whew . That does something for me. I didn't know I was into that sort of thing."

"He's just some guy. Nothing special."

"He's beautiful!"

My chest tightened at those words. I felt this sudden possessive urge, a jealousy that David was gawking so much at the man who was supposed to have been my mate.

"Will you stop saying that?" I snapped. "Please? It's irritating."

He furrowed his brows. "What happened between you two to make you this annoyed with him?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Did he cheat on you?"

"No."

"Lie to you?"

"No, David."

"Then what happened?"

"He almost got me fucking killed, that's what!"

Several people nearby turned in our direction as I raised my voice. Taking a deep breath, I forced the rest of the scone in my mouth. I was making a fool of myself.

"What," David whispered, trying to act normal. "The hell does that mean?"

"It means exactly what it sounds like. The dude nearly got me killed."

"Like in a car accident?"

I suddenly realized how dangerously close we were to subjects I could not explain to David. He'd never understand why Liam's father wanted me dead if I didn't tell him the werewolf thing. And there was no way I was gonna do that. So, I had to think up a lie. And fast.

"Y-Yeah," I finally said, coming up with nothing. "It was a car accident. He was recklessly driving. Drunk. High. I don't know. Something."

David sat back in his chair. "Wow. I had no idea." He glanced over at Liam again. "He doesn't look like a drunk or an addict."

"Maybe he got cleaned up," I groaned, going back to my coffee. The lie was not very satisfying. "I don't care. Either way, I don't want to see or speak to him ever again."

"Why is he still hanging around here? Surely he's got family or whatever back home."

"They… kicked him out because of his drug problem."

"So, he's living here now?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

I took a deep breath, wondering how much of this I really wanted to get into. "I… I don't know. I think he hoped to make up with me and get a free place to stay or something. Whatever. It doesn't matter though. He's already got a place, and I don't want to be near him again."

"Did he apologize?"

"I didn't let him."

"Cory…" David said, reaching over and grabbing my hand. "Even if you don't want to be with him, you should at least let him apologize. He looks so sad and broken down already. Not to mention he lost his family and his home. The least you could do is hear him out."

I pulled my hand away with a scoff. "Why are you defending him?"

"I'm not! I just thought–"

"I don't care what you thought," I shot back before he could finish. "Because you're wrong. There's nothing between the two of us and I don't want to hear his voice! Instead of apologizing, he shouldn't have put me in danger in the first place!"

"We all make mistakes…"

"Not like that, we don't."

David furrowed his brows, giving me a good once over. "There's more to this than you're telling me. You don't act like this when you're mad. Something else is going on."

"That's ridiculous. There's nothing else going–"

"You still have feelings for him."

I stopped, my eyes widening as I stared at David. My jaw worked and my lips parted, but no words came out. I tried and tried, but seconds continued to pass in silence.

David just nodded, finishing his coffee and placing the mug back on the table. "Well, I can see why you're so against letting anyone else pursue him."

"That… That's got nothing to do with it!"

"Uh-huh. Sure Jan." He pushed himself up from the table, picking up his mug and empty plate. "Whatever is going on here, Cory, it's obvious neither of you have resolved your old feelings. If you really want to get over this and move away from all this anger you have, I think you should talk with him."

"I don't want to–"

"And on a more personal note," he added, leaning close. " I'm not a big fan of how mean you're being to me lately because of all this. I've been looking the other way, but I'm your best friend. I don't deserve that kind of treatment."

Before I could get a word in, David turned away and headed for the door, dropping his dishes in a bussing tub on the way out. The door chimed, and I was left there in the booth by myself with a half-finished coffee and several people staring in my direction.

"Mind your own damn business, will you?" I grumbled, turning back to my coffee.

Meanwhile, my heart was pounding. Not because David was mad. I knew he was right, and he'd forgive me once I apologized to him. No, my heart was pounding because David had hit the nail on the head. I still had feelings for Liam. And not just regular feelings either.

I still loved him.

And I hated myself for it.