“Because you scared the heck out of me, and I pulled it too hard.”
Lea frowned. “Why are you so tense?”
Snipping the line where it had frayed, I lifted a shoulder. “No reason.”
I re-threaded the line through the eyelets and squatted beside my tackle box, pulling my second-to-last reed-running spinner lure out.
“Who’s that?” she asked, pointing to the picture I’d taped inside my tackle box when I was twelve.
“My Uncle Dave.”
“Is that a Navy uniform?”
“Mm.”
“Wait. He looks so familiar.”
“He used to visit on his leave. He came to a few of our games.”
“Oh, yeah! He always had a Dr. Pepper with him.”
I grinned. I’d forgotten his obsession with those things. “Thought you were visiting your mom.”
“That’s actually why I’m here.” Lea sighed. “She wants to talk to you.”
Securing the lure on the line, I slid my gaze to her, but she was staring at her palm, running a finger across it like doing that would fix our situation. “She mad?”
“She was.”
I nodded, readjusting my hat and slipping the hook into an eyelet on the pole to secure it for the walk back to camp. “Guess I’d better go own up to everything.”
“Nothing about any of this is your fault.”
“Gonna get in a lot of trouble if you keep telling yourself that, Lea. When are you gonna get it? I'm dangerous.”
“Cory.” She set her hand softly on my arm, and I wanted to let her leave it there. More than anything, I wanted to pull her in close and repeat our time on the south bank last night, before all the chaos. Man, last night seemed like years ago. I pulled my arm away and closed my tackle box instead. “Where is she? I’ll go apologize.”
“That’s not why she wants to talk to you.” Her voice was teetering on the edge of the same tone she used to take with Nolan whenever he started teasing her in front of her friends in high school. “I told her we’re dating.”
“You what?!” I frowned, turning to face her.
“I told her we’ve been hanging out. That we’re dating now.”
I closed my eyes, a frustrated breath grating through my teeth.
“You basically said that last night, right?”
“Last night? I was an idiot last night.”
“Oh. So that’s where you’re at now? Just throwing everything amazing between us away because of one little problem?”
“It wasn’t a little problem.” Heat was racing across my skin, fire raging in my gut when an image of what happened flashed through my mind again. “He threw you to the ground. And you’re already injured.”
“So what? I’m not made of glass.”
“He could’ve done worse. So much worse.” I hated the pain in my voice, and the way my throat was tightening. I hated the sting in my eyes even more. I was strong, but I wasn’t strong enough for this. “We can’t, Lea. It’ll never work.”
“My mom’s in the Snack Shop right now, and she knows what happened, and she wants to get to know you better anyway, Cory. Because I trust you. You have nothing at all to do with what happened.”
“I’ll end up just like him.”
“You won’t.” Her brows drew together. She shook her head, taking a step toward me, lifting her palm to my cheek. “You’re nothing like him.”
I couldn’t look at her. She was too innocent, and I didn’t deserve her comfort.
“Look at me.” She moved closer, bringing her other palm to my face as she stood on tiptoe. “Cory. Look at me.”
I grunted and set my eyes on hers, so much strength and longing stirring inside, and for all the same feelings echoing in me, I couldn’t make myself look away.
“You’re beyond incredible. You’ve been through so much, for so long, and look at you. You’re doing something you love, and you’re going after your Navy dreams, and he’ll never be able to take those things away from you. And guess what? I’m not afraid of him. I see him for the jerk that he is, and I won’t let him take this from us. Please. Don’t let him win.”
I trailed her arm and cupped her cheek, studying every line and curve of her face. She was beautiful. More than beautiful, and it wasn’t just her looks, either. She had something. A gumption I wished I had. There was so much strength in her, and she was aiming it at me, and I had no idea how to handle it. I wanted to kiss her . . . No, I had to.
I dipped my lips to hers and closed my eyes, releasing a heavy sigh. Her mouth molded to mine, and she pushed herself closer, her breaths deepening, and mine did, too. Man, she was something else. Smart. Faithful. Bold. So fearless.
Her hands roved my back, and she tilted her head, pulling away to give me a big ol’ smile.
“What?” I asked, my voice way more of a rasp than I expected.
“Nothing.”
She kissed me again, and I tightened my grip around her waist. What would it be like to call her mine and be proud to be hers? What I wouldn’t give to find out. I pulled away, studying the way her eyes glowed more green than brown in the fading sunlight.
“I love you, Cory,” she whispered, closing her eyes and leaning her forehead against my chin.
Heat charged through my chest, and I couldn’t breathe. She loved me? “How could someone as pure as you love someone as broken as me?”
“I just do.” She dipped her head to my chest and released a heavy sigh. “I know you have your doubts about figuring this out, but I want to. I really, really want to.” She moved her hands to my back, gave me one last squeeze, and released me to take a step backward.
I probably should’ve said something just as strong back, but my mouth was dry, and my heart was beating all erratic, and I still couldn’t believe if she’d really said it or not.
“We’ll be at the Snack Shop for a while. I hope you can shut those lies down and just come hang out with us.”
She turned and walked back toward camp, the towering sequoias lining the perimeter of the lake trying their best to overshadow her, but nothing in existence would ever be able to. Not even someone as bullheaded as me.
A little charge of warmth shot through me, and a grin hitched across my lips.
What were the odds of this?
If Lea Miller was known for anything besides her singing voice, it was the fact that she didn’t stop until she had what she wanted—and for some ridiculous, crazy-lucky, probably fading reason, she really, really wanted me.
LEA
Mom and Garrett were sitting at one of the tables outside the Snack Shop, Mom eating a salad, of all things—when Bridgeport was known for the BEST fries and shakes. I had to give Garrett credit for his choice in a triple-decker burger and curly fries.
“Should’ve got a shake to wash that down,” I told him as I slid into the seat beside Mom.
“They’re bringing it out,” he said between bites. “Something about cleaning the machines first.”
Mom searched the space behind me and furrowed her brows before she slid a basket of chicken fingers toward me. Of course, she picked chicken fingers. They were my favorite as a kid. “Where’s Cory?”
I dipped one into the ranch dressing and cleared my throat. “He was busy.”
Her frown deepened, and she traded worried glances with Garrett.
“Mrs. Miller. Hey!”
I groaned and chomped into my chicken finger as Kyle pulled his sunglasses up onto his head, his hair sticking out behind them like he was wearing a headband.
“Kyle! How are you?” Mom wiggled her fingers at him and set a hand on Garrett’s arm. “This is Lea’s classmate, Kyle. They went to preschool together. They were the cutest, always singing together.”
Garrett smiled and stood, extending his hand. “Good to meet you, I’m Garrett.”
Kyle shook Garrett’s hand and I rolled my eyes.
“I’m gonna go grab a soda,” I said.
Mom offered the one beside her.
“And a big fat sundae.”
“You didn’t tell me your mom was coming up, Lea,” Kyle said, nodding at me as I stood. “Did you tell her about the thing?”
I jutted my chin, narrowing my eyes.
“Thing?” Mom turned to me. “What thing?”
I cleared my throat. “Something super dumb that I was forced into.”
“C’mon. You’re killing it! You gotta be warming up to our . . .” He glanced from side to side and leaned closer, whispering, “duet by now.”
Mom’s jaw dropped as she set her hand on my arm. “Duet? Sweetheart, you never told me you and Kyle are doing a duet!”
Amazing. First off, I’d thought it was supposed to be on the hush-hush, but you know what? Maybe this was good. Maybe they’d blab it, and ruin it, and they’d end up killing it—worse than dead.
Mom’s eyes were glowing with all the years of attempts at making me date Kyle, and my stomach turned.
I had to get out of here. “I’ll be back.”
My eyes slipped to the dock on my way to the Snack Shop, and I caught sight of Cory heading toward us from the fishing shed. He glanced up and caught my eye, and I pointed to the Snack Shop. The lopsided grin creeping across his mouth caused a tiny explosion in my heart, and I couldn’t wait for Mom and Garrett to leave so I could figure out a way to spend some more time with him.
The bell on the Snack Shop door jingled as I opened it and approached the line at the counter. The next jingle brought Cory with it. I dropped back from the line and waited for him to stand beside me.
“You came.”
His half-grin turned full-smile, and I couldn’t hold back a smile of my own.
“My mom and Garrett are out there getting all chummy-chummy with Kyle.” I rolled my eyes, and Cory basically growled.
“That guy’s got it coming.”
“Makes me want to win this competition so hard.”
“You will.”
I ordered a sundae. He ordered a chili dog. “And I’m paying for hers.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I do now.”
Everything inside me buzzed when his finger trailed my elbow.
“Meaning?”
“You know what I mean.”
The intensity in his stare made me swallow hard, like a nervous middle-schooler when their crush said a casual “hey.” I think I did know what he meant, and I think it meant what I’d been hoping with all my ridiculous, stuck-on-Cory-Griffin heart for a year. Cory picked meeting my mom and Garrett over fishing. That was so far beyond insane.
I bit my lip to keep my giddiness in check and flipped my hair instead of busting up in complete delirium. Gah! What was even happening?
Cory snapped the lid on his soda cup and took a sip, eyeing the window as I filled mine. “Looks like he’s gone.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “Praise the Lord and hallelujah, and I’m not even joking. Seriously. That guy’s trying to get me to quit or something.”
They called our number, and we took our food outside.
Cory took a deep breath, staring at mom and Garrett like they were the principals of Bridgeport and he just got sent to their office.
I gave him another smile, and if we weren’t in the middle of the Snack Shop patio, I’d probably squeeze his hand, too, but I was still a camper, and he was still on staff, and working out how to behave up here for the next day and a half was about to get super tricky. “Ready?”
He cleared his throat and gave a curt nod.
I chuckled. “It’s not like she’s never met you.”
“Doesn’t mean she likes me.”
“She will.”
“We’ll see.”
“Have a little faith, Debby Downer. You’re freaking awesome.”
He shook his head and took another deep breath.
“Mom, you remember Cory,” I said as we approached their table.
Mom forced a smile. “Hi, Cory. Nice to see you again.”
“And Cory, this is my mom’s boyfr—fiancé, Garrett.”
Garrett stood and shot his hand out the same way he did for Kyle, only his eyes weren’t as kind this time.
“Nice to meet you.” Cory shook his hand.
“Heard we might need to have a little chat.”
Oh my gosh! He had to be kidding.
“Uh, sure. Whatever sounds good to you, sir.”
Garrett stared Cory down, still holding his hand. Cory didn’t budge.
“Mom?” I whispered.
She cleared her throat. “Honey, how was your burger?”
“Just fine,” Garrett replied.
“Come sit by me, Cory,” I said, wanting to bury my face in my hands. Garrett finally released Cory’s hand, and Cory sat next to me.
What was Garrett thinking? Who did he think he was, and why would he feel like he’d need to try and intimidate a guy I cared about when he had no clue about me, or him?
“So, you like working at Bridgeport?” Mom asked through the fakest smile I’d ever seen her wear.
It wasn’t best case scenario, but thank God, she was making at least some kind of an effort.
“It’s nice,” Cory said, his cheeks flushed pink.
Oh my gosh, he was nervous! “Cory leads the fishing tours.”
“Oh.” She turned to Garrett. “You like fishing, don’t you, honey? Maybe you can get a trip in while we’re up here tonight.”
Garrett gave her a small smile and nodded. “I wouldn’t mind putting a little time in on the lake. What do you think, Cory?”
Cory nodded. “Sure.”
Mom gripped my hand. “That’s just perfect because, you know, I’m dying to hear Lea and Kyle practice that duet. That’ll give you something to do while I’m in there.”
I sighed. This wasn’t going the way I planned at all.
“You don’t have to, Cory.” I stared at Garrett.
“I can.”
Garrett smiled. “I’m in.”
Mom patted my arm. “It’s perfect, baby. Now, Cory. Tell me, how’s your mom? Haven’t seen her in a while.”
He froze.
I swallowed. “She’s good, Mom.”
She held my gaze in that “Lea Marie, don’t you challenge me” stare.
I didn’t care. Cory came to hang out, not to be interrogated.
“She’s in Tennessee,” Cory said, barely audible.
“Tennessee? I didn’t know your parents moved.”
“They’re . . . uh . . . divorced.” He cleared his throat, staring at the table.
Oh my gosh! He was going to run so fast, and this is what I got for trying to convince him they’d be cool about us!
“Oh.” Mom’s eyes widened, and she turned back to her salad. “Sorry to hear that.”
“I’m not.” Cory lifted his eyes to hers. “She’s doing good out there.”
Mom nodded. “What about your dad? I-I don’t want to seem like a snoop, but you know, after I got the call this morning about what happened, I just . . . You know, I just need to know he won’t be a threat in the future.”
Cory adjusted his hat, nodding. “He’s in jail right now. Pretty sure they have enough on him to keep him there for a while, but he shouldn’t be a problem anymore.”
“What makes you so sure?” Garrett butted in.
I groaned into my hands. “This is so dumb.”
“I’m leaving for the Navy, end of August.”
Mom’s eyes bulged again.
Garrett nodded, his face relaxing, making him look a little less rigid. Not much, though. “That’s really cool. What made you choose the Navy?”
Cory straightened his shoulders, folding his arms across his wide chest. “My uncle. He was a chief petty officer.”
“Wow. Thank him for his service for me. Those guys sacrifice so much for the rest of us.”
Cory went quiet again. “He passed a few years ago.”
“Oh. Sorry to hear it.” Garrett traded looks with Mom.
&
nbsp; I cleared my throat. “Okay. Welp, Cory and I are heading off now. I have to go meet Taylor for a . . . thing.”
Mom drew a deep breath, eyes roving between me and Cory like she was trying to read our futures or something.
I frowned at her.
She sat up straighter.
“What time for fishing?” Garrett asked Cory.
“What time’s your rehearsal?” he asked me.
“Seven.”
Thirteen
CORY
When I decided to hang out with Lea’s family, I didn’t realize I’d be signing up for a personal interrogation from her future stepdad. It wasn’t like I was afraid of being questioned. That happened on the daily back home, and there was never a good answer for anything. But this was different. Lea was at stake in all of this, and knowing how much she wanted to be with me lit a fire in my gut I couldn’t explain. For whatever reason, her fight for me made me want to fight for her, twice as hard.
Something was changing in the way I felt about her. She wasn’t just Nolan’s little sister anymore. She was strong, brave, and beautiful, and I could see us being good for each other . . . after I had a Navy career set in place.
Garrett met me on the dock, looking slightly less perturbed than earlier, and fishing would be a surefire way to bring him down to my level a little quicker.
“All set there?” he asked. “Need any help?”
“Ready to go, sir.”
“Enough with the sirs, Cory. I know I’m going gray, but I’m still young at heart. Just call me Garrett.”
“Yes, sir.”
He lifted a brow.
I grunted. Calling him by anything other than “sir” was going to be near impossible. Not with the way I was raised to respect anyone twenty years older than me. “It’s ready.”
He whistled and climbed inside, buckling his life jacket and helping me paddle out. “So, you have feelings for my soon-to-be stepdaughter.”
Dang it. I should’ve ran through my answers a few more times. “Yes, si—I do.”
“Mind telling me what it is you like about her?”
I swallowed, a bead of sweat pooling on the back of my neck. “She’s a ball of fire.”
“She’s definitely that.”
“And she’s easy to read.”
Falling In Hard: Book Four in The Bridgeport Lake Summer Series Page 11
