Page 90 of Exchange of Heart

‘Ben!’ shrieked Vivienne.

‘Fire!’ squealed a voice in the crowd.

People screamed and ran for the exit.

‘We can put it out, it’s not that big.’ I grabbed the wine bucket at the side of the table and poured the ice over the flames, putting out almost half of it instantly. ‘Quick, go grab some more from other tables before it spreads.’

Steven passed his daughter to his wife and raced to the other tables with Corey. One by one, we threw the ice over the flames until they were completely extinguished. The smoke hadn’t made it to the detectors, the sprinklers hadn’t activated, the night could be saved.

‘It’s out, the fire is out,’ Vivienne called cheerfully to the noisy crowd still making their way to the exit.

‘Mum, I’m sorry.’ Ben lowered his head.

‘Sorry isn’t going to cut it,’ Craig barked, storming over.

He grabbed Ben’s arm and dragged him through the side exit with enough force and lack of empathy that Ben struggled to stay on his feet. My heart pounded in the cage of this unattainable life. It was too much. I couldn’t spend the rest of my days struggling through the chaos Corey had mastered. I glanced at the downturn of his lips. The frown he didn’t deserve.

The music started back up and hesitant feet pattered back to the dance floor where Oliver and Diane dominated the middle, arms wrapped around each other.

‘Well, I guess something good has come out of tonight.’ Corey gestured to them.

‘Yeah, but, my brother?’ I scrunched up my nose at Diane’s choice, then laced my fingers through his and tugged him forward. I wanted to forget the drama with Ben and the shitty feelings that swamped us each time we saw his family. ‘Dance with me.’

Softened bodies, a warm embrace, an escapement from the harsh reality we tried to ignore. I closed my eyes and held Corey close, ignoring the strange sensation of holding my own body against this large one. I tried to think about nothing more than the calm taking over Corey’s face.

Surviving required losing myself in these small moments.

These small moments with Corey.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Nora

The routine I’d fallen into as I stepped out of the lift at Zealy on Thursday morning was uncomfortably easy. After rolling out of bed, I’d met Corey in the kitchen where he’d handed me a coffee, then I made us scrambled eggs while he had a shower. We were like ying and yang working together to find the balance. I’d dropped him at work and watched his confident stride disappear through the Dreyton lobby doors, then zoomed to Zealy.

I responded to emails and chased up overdue reports with a twang in my chest. I adored this position. It was a reminder of what I was working towards with my qualification. Of why I’d stuck it out earning peanuts as a receptionist, knowing one day I’d recruit and build an office based on hard work and respect. Not bulldozing through with hatred and dominance. I’d almost slashed through my to-do list when Craig dropped a stack of papers on my desk, jolting my focus from my laptop. My forehead creased as I looked from the papers to his expressionless face. The silence that followed squeezed my heart with a grip of death, waiting to see how long it would take me to concede and figure out what I’d done wrong.

‘What’s that?’ I asked after an eternity.

‘Everything you completed this week.’

‘Everything?’

‘Everything,’ he repeated.

Sweat built in my underarms as I awaited my fate. I was either good enough to impersonate a finance manager, or I was the underachiever Corey had originally accused me of being. My stomach churned in anticipation, the traitorous bubbles building in my intestine and knocking on the door of my clenched asshole. Somehow, the gas shot back to my stomach and gurgled like an inside fart. My hand flew to my stomach, my unwavering gaze stuck on Craig. His top lip lifted in disgust, yet a laugh burst from his mouth.

‘You’re doing well, Son. It’s nice to see you using that brain of yours again.’ He patted his hand against my desk twice before turning to leave.

Warmth flooded my body, equally proud and embarrassed as I tried to forget the bubbling cauldron in my stomach and focus on the compliment. ‘Thank you.’

He faced me before he walked out. ‘I knew you had it in you.’

The bubbling cauldron turned to wild butterflies, and while I’d normally call Hayley after a moment like this, I grabbed my phone and my fingers hit Corey’s number.

‘Hey.’ Corey appeared on the screen with my freckled nose.

‘Guess what?’ I couldn’t contain the smile on my face.