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Chapter 6.
*****
*Corey*
My fingers tapped against the steering wheel as I drove, there was no music, just urgent tapping. I was trying to distract myself by offering to drive us home. I had no intention of stopping anywhere for the night. Well, except the basic refreshment stops. It was about a twenty-five-hour drive back home without stops and I wanted to be there in the least amount of time possible.
“Corey, what’s wrong with you?” Zeke spoke up from the passenger seat beside me shooting me a questioning glance.
The car had been fairly silent for the most part since we had left the hotel four hours ago, everyone seemed somewhat tired. I hadn’t said a word to or even so much as looked Carrie’s way, she sat right at the back and I was glad about the distance. Jason had spent most of his time glaring at me since the incident in the club. He was right to be angry. I was so damn stupid. I just hoped he would keep his mouth shut until I could speak to him about it privately. Thankfully, he hadn’t mentioned it to anyone… yet.
“Nothing. Why-why would anything be wrong?” I asked.
Jason snorted and I shot him a glare through the rear-view mirror. He just looked somewhat disgusted and disappointed as his eyes returned to his phone and it left me feeling even more terrible.
“Let it go, Zeke. You do not want to be a part of whatever is in his head.” Sean said shaking his head. Zeke nodded in agreement and I rolled my eyes looking back at the road. After staring at it for a few seconds, I couldn’t help but look back at Jason who was not looking at me. It made me swallow as panic rose into my chest again.
‘Just… don’t say anything.’ I linked to him.
‘I seriously can’t believe you.’ His narrowed eyes moved to meet mine in the mirror.
‘It was a mistake. We were both drunk.’ I replied before letting out a shaky sigh, ‘Please… don’t tell him.’
‘Oh, I won’t tell him.’ He replied, I almost felt a second of relief but he added, ‘That’s your job.’
“I can’t,” I spoke before the thought could even process in my mind. Everyone looked at me and I cleared my throat, “I can’t – uh – see the, uh, road sign.” I covered quickly.
“I told you to eat breakfast,” Sean said. “We’ll get something at the next stop, and then we’ll stop in Jeffery’s Town for the night.”
“What? Why? We said we were driving all the way.” I said. “You said we would be home by tomorrow, you said no stopping – except for the obvious.” I just needed to get home as soon as possible.
“I know, but Marcus lives there now.” He said, “With Bianca.” He added.
“What?” I glanced at him shocked before turning back to the road, “They finally got together? She finally moved away from the peaks?” I asked.
“Apparently and yes. We haven’t seen him in forever, might as well drop by.” He said. “Or he’ll be pissed when he finds out we just drove by when we could have visited.” His words drew some chuckles. That was probably true.
“Yeah, maybe she’ll detect Jason’s mate for him,” Zeke said.
“Pfft, my mate can wait and you’re speaking as if you can find yours,” Jason replied.
We laughed but I stopped as Carrie spoke. “So, this Bianca we’re heading to is the Witch who brought your friends Adan and Rita back to life?” she asked.
I was drunk when I had told her about Jayden, but I had told her everything. Every little detail. I wish I had not, but that happened. I knew he was upset about it, he hated the fact that people we know knew about his past, let alone someone he didn’t know. Heck, I was upset about it. I was an idiot. An inconsiderate, reckless idiot. The trip was reminding me why I quit drinking…
“Yes.” Sean replied, “Why?” He asked, his voice edged in suspicion.
“I… I just… Can she do it again?” She asked sounding sad.
“Yes,” I replied. “Why?” I added.
Sean chuckled.
“I… No reason.” She mumbled.
“Really? No reason?” Sean asked. Carrie sighed as if the cold tone in his voice when directed to her was getting to her.
“I know you don’t want me here.”
“I would be surprised if you didn’t know that.” I bit my lip as even Zeke turned to look back surprised by Sean’s bluntness, “No reason?” He repeated.
“If you must know, my mother –”
“Okay, I don’t want to know.” I felt a little bad about that interaction, sorry for Carrie and everyone else seemed to feel the same way as the car went awkwardly quiet before Sean cleared his throat clearly regretting being so rude to her, “So yeah, we’ll stop there for a night, Corey. I’ll let Marc know we’re on our way.”
“Got it.” The car delved back into silence after that and I found myself feeling guilty about wanting to pretend I missed the off-ramp.
I just wanted to go home, just wanted to see Jayden. I wished I had not run into Carrie back at the hotel, but that seemed harsh. Maybe I had given off mixed signals or something, she seemed nice enough. I had conflicting thoughts of wanting to ask her about her mother, but at the same time wanting to stay as far away from her as possible and just act as though we had never kissed. She wasn’t my concern anyway… Jayden was. It was just a kiss. Maybe if I just came clean immediately he would realise that and not over-think it. That was probably the best course of action.
——
*Jayden*
“Jay!” I laughed as Joe tackled me into a hug when I walked into the Inferno Packhouse. “Where are the twins?” I rolled my eyes as he looked behind me, trying to spot the twins who were not there.
“School.” I said, “Same as Clara.”
“Oh.” He frowned. I laughed.
Everyone usually just ignored Corey and me when the twins were around. I understood why, they were awesome little gremlins that no one could resist giving all their attention to.
“Is my mom here?” I asked.
“Yes, she’ll probably have heard you already,” Joe replied. “Are you staying for dinner?” He began to walk and I automatically followed while replying.
“I can’t, I have to pick the twins up. Corey still isn’t back yet, but Sean called and he says they’re on their way, just gonna stop to see Marcus for a bit.”
“Sean… Corey didn’t call?” He asked raising his eyebrows at me once we were in the kitchen. I shook my head sitting down at the kitchen table. I figured he had sensed how surprised and upset I was at the last call, probably had not meant to tell Carrie the things he did and was afraid to call me back because he thought it would lead to a fight, at the moment I did not care and just wanted to hear his voice. We could fight once he was safely back home. It was impossible to get a hold of him though.
“Joe?” I looked at him.
“Yes?” He said grabbing some, apple juice from the fridge and tossing one at me. I caught it and frowned at him.
“That’s not fair, you never offer me a beer; you just assume I want juice,” I said twisting the kids-themed carton in my hand. And in a box, no less…
“I don’t care how old you are, I’m not willingly giving you alcohol.” I shook my head but chuckled as he sat down with his own juice box. “Hey, at least it looks like beer on the inside, let’s pretend.” He added with a smile and I shot him a glare. He chuckled in response.
“Alright, at least give me soda,” I said.
“From what Tamia tells me, you have way too much soda.” He said. I’ll have to stop sharing with her… “Stop feeding my grandkids junk.” He narrowed his eyes at me.
“Joe, I’m not a child.” I shook my head drinking some of the juice.
“Like I said, Jayden; I don’t care.” I frowned at him as my mother laughed joining us in the kitchen and hugging me from behind.
“Where are my babies?”
“Not here.” Joe replied, “I know, right? Why is he even here? He’s of no use to us without those kids.” They laughed at the shock on my face. “I’m joking, Jayden. We still love you, it’s hard to, but we do.” I rolled my eyes as they laughed, “So, what’s up?” he asked leaning over the counter.
I shrugged.
“I’m not really sure.” I admitted, “I just feel like crap… about Corey.”
“And here I was thinking you’d actually visit to see Joe and me.” My mom gave a frown. Joe laughed as I gave a chuckle.
“I am here to see you… mostly…” I let out a sigh, “I just… I guess I need advice? Joe?” I looked at him.
“Talk to me.” He smiled.
“I don’t feel like he’s being completely honest with himself. I hate feeling like it’s my fault. I mean, what if I pushed him into this? What if he regrets everything?”
What if he was right the first time and the Gods had actually made a mistake by mating us and our friends and I had just pushed him into being with me, accepting me and us.
“Firstly, it’s been nine years, it’s a little late to be regretting this and Jayden, don’t be stupid.” I looked at Joe blankly, “That man is completely honest with himself. Stop thinking that you’re the only one that wants what you two have together because I can promise that he’s completely in love with you, Jayden.” He said.
“Yes, stop being a baby,” I laughed as my mother gave me a soft smack on my shoulder before she sat down beside me, “But seriously, Jayden, you have nothing to worry about. Corey loves you, anyone can see that, why won’t you?” she said.
I gave a shrug as I sighed before drinking some more juice which was actually quite refreshing. I guess Corey was right, I needed to stop being so insecure and trust him. It was funny that after everything we had been through, after all the time we were together; I still couldn’t completely trust him. I knew it was partially because of Mike and my father, but I went to counselling for that. I was over it, right? Well, I made it look that way and that was enough… usually.
“Oh, you’ll never change.” Joe chuckled as he patted my head, I didn’t even attempt to glare at him because of it, because he was right.
*****
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