Page 54 of Exchange of Heart

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Corey

‘Corey.’ Mum wrapped her thin arms around Nora, who returned the hug like I’d instructed.

Mum was a hugger, constantly needing that tangible love. Part of me wondered if it was because Dad was rarely home, always late at work closing a deal or rubbing shoulders with a new client. Perhaps she needed that physical touch to make up for her withdrawn husband.

‘Who is this lovely lady you’ve brought with you tonight?’

Mum dragged her impressive gaze up the navy cocktail dress Nora insisted I wear. Refusing to stumble around my oversized childhood home in heels, we’d compromised on some gold sandals.

‘This is Nora, a friend from class,’ said Nora.

I shuffled my size six-feet forward like a stranger to my own house. Not that I really needed to pretend, I’d never felt like I really belonged here.

‘Such a pleasure to meet you.’ Mum smiled

‘And you. What a beautiful home you have.’ During the long drive up the winding driveway around the manicured lawn, I’d practiced what to say, yet somehow, my rehearsed greeting came out like a fifty-year-old woman who’d come for afternoon tea. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the most mortifying moment. Before my brain comprehended what my body was doing, my knees bent, and I bobbed in a little curtsey.

A curtsey.

Nora’s entire face wrinkled as she mouthed, ‘What are you doing?’

My mother, bless her soul, had the courtesy to ignore the royal gesture that would haunt me – and probably Nora – for the rest of our lives.

‘Come in, come in. We’re all having drinks in the living room.’

My feet wouldn’t move past the threshold as I lingered on the pristine white doorstep. I’d successfully avoided the last five family dinners, and I reconsidered whether this messy moment was the right time to finally show up. There would be questions Nora couldn’t properly answer, and accusations hurled she shouldn’t be forced to deal with. It was unfair of me to put this on her, but there was also no turning back now that we’d arrived.

Nora scrunched my brows together as she waited. ‘You okay?’

‘You can’t mess this up.’ The words were an order, but my tone pleaded.

She reached for my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze which managed to travel up my body and give my heart a comforting squeeze. With Nora by my side, I stepped past the heavy wooden door and led her into the living room. Standing next to Nora was like being a lion trapped in a cage. Life buzzed through my arms which I forced to dangle at my side, my fingers wiggling with nerves like little snakes preparing to strike.

‘Remember what I told you,’ I whispered.

Before she could reply, Steven, then Ben, then Luke all took turns slapping her back hello. Her hand ripped from mine in their commotion of pass the parcel. The golden drinks cart glistened inviting gleams, and I frowned knowing I couldn’t help myself to my favourite bottle of whiskey. I searched the huddled faces for a glimpse of my own, trying to decipher the smile on Nora’s face. Was it genuine, or was she already miserable? And had she scoffed at the marble statue in the corner yet? Everything appeared bigger and grander in this small body. I almost hated to admit it was… pretentious.

‘We’d been taking bets on whether you’d show.’ Steven grinned, his eyes as grey as mine, with a hint of Mum’s blue around the pupil.

‘I knew you wouldn’t let her down.’ Ben’s words were already slurred.

It had been almost two years since his wife left him before we’d even met her due to their shotgun destination wedding, yet month by month he threw back Dad’s whiskey faster and faster.

‘Who’s that?’ Luke wiped his golden curls from his forehead for a better look at me.

‘I’m Nora, nice to meet you.’ I extended my arm to shake my favourite brother’s hand.

Luke needed the most protection from my father. His dimpled smile, innocent eyes – blue, entirely Mum’s – and his wild imagination. This guy would rule the entertainment industry one day. The ideas that popped into his head were insane. Fresh views, bright concepts. Dad had grumbled about his tuition fees and how he might as well flush his money down the toilet, but it would be damn well worth it. Luke’s talent would be wasted on my job.

‘So, you two are…’ Luke’s suggestion that we were dating warmed my cheeks.

‘Friends.’ Nora spoke louder than necessary.

Luke raised his hands in surrender. ‘I only asked.’

‘How’s work been, darling?’ Mum handed me a foul-tasting gin and tonic like her own, then turned to Nora with the whiskey I wanted.