Page 146 of Courting Korie
On stage, someone starts another piece—something lighter this time, a little funny, the room responding in soft bursts of laughter. I watch Cole instead, in case he changes his mind about needing help.
Cole leans in to place his order, then turns to look around while he waits. When his gaze drifts past the door, his whole body freezes. It’s subtle—something most people wouldn’t even notice. But I do. We’re too good of friends now to miss it.
His head tilts a fraction, like he’s seeing something wrong, then his posture changes entirely, from cautiously relaxed to… something else.
I follow his line of sight to the dark-haired bouncer, who is staring at Cole with just as much shock. That’s the only word that fits—shock. Even from across the room, I can sense the tension between the men.What the hell?
Cole steps away, turns on his heel, and heads straight for us. He snags his keys from the table without a word.
“Cole!” I say.
“I gotta go.”
“What?” Korie turns, blinking up at him. “Already?”
“Yeah.” His voice is tight, controlled in a way that says it’s barely holding on. “Something came up.”More like someone.
“Cole,” I try again.
“Not tonight,” he says, sharper now, already slipping back through the crowd. “I’ll—I’ll text you.”
And then he’s gone. River tries to grab him as he slips through the door, but Cole shoves him. Hard. I can’t hear what he says from this distance, but whatever it is, it isn’t friendly.
What the hell was that about?
Miles frowns. “That was weird.”
Jordan leans forward. “You think he’s okay?”
I clench my teeth. Something’s there. History, maybe? “No idea. I’ll call him tomorrow.”
On stage, the poem hits a punchline, and the room laughs again, the sound warm and easy. We all try to settle back into it, but the vacant chair is impossible not to notice.
Around us, everything keeps moving—music, voices, the low hum of a night that doesn’t care about the edges of someone else’s story starting to crack open.
Korie’s studying me, as if trying to pick up clues about my friend.
I steal a kiss and smile. “Let’s enjoy our night, okay?”
I think about that night nearly three months ago now, where Hattie had blurted her ridiculous idea at this exact table, and how easily Korie and I had laughed it off. I’ll never admit it, but I owe my twin for that night—big time. We wouldn’t have ever realized how well we fit together had she not nudged us.
Without Hattie, I never would have realized the person I’ve always turned to was the one my heart needed most. I just had to slow down enough to recognize it. I jumped so easily from date to date, wondering why they never worked. When really, I just needed to look at the person who had been there all along.
I kiss their temple and whisper. “I love you, Kor.”
Korie’s smile is instant, and they lean into me. “
THE END
