Corey Vance, since I gave you what you wanted, then fine. This time around, we truly owe each other nothing.
Noah Abbott was still unconscious. I stepped out of the hospital to grab some food.
A piercing roar of cheers erupted from the little restaurant next door.
"Congrats to the band on another win! And congrats to Corey for scoring our Letitia's love confession!"
I froze. My gaze drifted to the group celebrating outside the restaurant entrance.
Corey stood there holding a beer bottle. Beside him, a young woman with a high ponytail had her shoulder pressed close to his.
I recognized her instantly.
Letitia Dickerson.
"What confession? Don't make stuff up."
She ducked her head shyly, but her eyes kept sneaking glances at Corey.
"I just shared my feelings with Corey, that's all. He has a family. I'd never want to come between them."
Corey's hand paused mid-drag on his cigarette. Almost reflexively, his other hand reached out to block someone from pouring her another drink.
"Exactly. Quit talking nonsense."
A few of the others looked annoyed.
"Come on, Corey, don't be so whipped. Honestly, your wife Caroline just looks down on all of us musicians. Every time she shows up at rehearsal with that look on her face? Tch."
"For real! Those stiletto heels, those oversized sunglasses, looking us up and down like we're beneath her. She's not even trying to hide it!"
Letitia widened her doe eyes and turned to Corey.
"Corey, is that how you see it too?"
He lowered his head and took a long drag. The smoke curled around his face, making his expression impossible to read.
"Caroline is definitely career-driven, and she takes good care of Noah too."
"But when it comes to feelings... who can really say?"
Letitia caught the implication. The smile tugging at the corners of her mouth was barely containable.
A strange, bittersweet ache bloomed somewhere near my heart.
I steadied myself for a moment, then walked up to the counter and asked the owner to pack up an order of fried rice.
"Babe?"
Corey spotted me and went visibly stiff, scratching the back of his head with a guilty sort of restlessness. "The band's having a dinner tonight. I forgot to mention it. What are you doing here...?"
"Hey, sis!"
Letitia's voice rang out, bright and chipper. "We just got started. Want to join us?"
Then she tugged at Corey's sleeve and pouted.