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“I try to be anyway,” Cora said with a smile, grabbing the board as she lifted her chin in the direction of the living room. “Let’s sit somewhere more comfortable.”
Not needing to be told, I reached for the two wine glasses and followed her over. We sat next to each other on the grey loveseat, which looked like it had been well-used and broken in. It gave me some relief after dancing for hours with her.
“Did you ever think you’d come back to Rose Valley?” She asked me, sipping from her wine slowly.
Thinking back to that time, I sighed. “At first, I didn’t think I ever would. I felt like I was above the small-town life and that I would never miss it. But after being in the city for a while, I knew that wasn’t true. I decided that when I had everything in place for myself, I’d come back and do the work I felt genuinely passionate about.”
“Most people don’t,” she chimed in, reaching for a grape. “They stick with something comfortable enough and forget about their dreams. But it’s nice to know you didn’t do the same.”
Nodding to myself, it was strangely pleasant to hear her approval. “I found myself in a position where I was financially successful, but I needed something more. I have the luxury of being able to start something from scratch, and so far, the reception has been good. I’m very lucky.”
Sitting next to Cora, I felt pulled to her. I wanted to reach out and touch her again, to see just how far we were both willing to go. Even if my previous buzz was already washing away from my healing abilities, that drunken bravery seemed to stick around.
“I’m assuming you’re following your passion too,” I murmured, noting how gentle and delicate she looked in comparison to myself.
“Of course,” she began, smiling at the thought of it. “I always knew I wanted to be a journalist, even if I didn’t know where to start.”
“And what was your inspiration?”
As she thought, I couldn’t help myself from brushing against her slightly and taking in the strange comfort she gave me. A new sensation moved through me, sparking that desire I had since the moment I saw her in the Roadbar.
A somewhat sheepish look moved through her eyes, and Cora swallowed deeply. While I expected her to shy away from my touch, it only seemed to open her up more.
“Injustices in the world,” she hummed, seemingly recuperating that confidence as she continued. “There might not be an overwhelming amount of crime here, but informing the people of what’s happening around them is important to me. Everyone has a right to know.”
“Your heart’s in a good place,” I said, noting how passionate she always sounds about her work. “Everyone’s lucky to have you here.”
“Even if I’m a nosey journalist?” She asked, letting a teasing smile settle on her lips.
I chuckled at that. “Even so.”
Warming up to me more, Cora turned to face me fully, leaning her shoulder into the couch. “So much has changed since we were kids. Especially you.”
I cocked an interested brow. “How so?”
“I mean, I never thought we’d be here like this,” she started, holding her glass delicately in her hand. “You didn’t exactly like me all that much when we were young.”
I snickered. “I wouldn’t say that.”
While I thought she would’ve continued reminiscing, Cora furrowed her brows at me, somewhat taken aback. “You used to bully me relentlessly.”
Hoping to keep the mood light, I shook off the accusation. “I did not.”
But this time, she pulled back slightly like she was wounded by it. “You absolutely did. I hated going to school because of you.”
“We were kids, Cora.”
She scoffed. “That didn’t stop you from making my life a living hell.”
“I think we’re remembering two different childhoods.”
“We must be,” she muttered, putting that cold wall between us again. Shaking her head, she put her glass down on the coffee table. “I can’t believe you’re being so casual about this.”
Something about her insistence made irritation flare beneath my skin. “You’re being dramatic about this. Everything was fine—”
“That’s incredibly easy for you to say. You weren’t the one going home crying every day or asking your parents if you could transfer schools because it got so bad,” Cora spat, looking disgusted by me out of nowhere.
Not understanding what she was even really talking about, I wanted to let it go, but I had the feeling she wasn’t ready to.
