You two are good together.
You push each other.
You make each other better.
Back then, I’d believed that meant something permanent. Like whatever existed between Korie and me was strong enough to survive anything. Win or lose, we’d always have each other.
Then they quit the team.
Not suddenly. Not all at once.
First came the missed practices. The excuses. The way Korie stopped talking about future meets like they were already halfway gone before anyone else noticed.
And when they finally left, I’d spent months wondering how I missed it, and even longer wondering why Korie never felt like they could talk to me about it.
It still guts me when I think about it.
The memory settles heavily into my chest as I head back toward the front desk, fear lodging somewhere in my throat. How good can something be if it still ends with someone leaving?
Lately, I’ve caught glimpses of that same hesitation again. The way Korie goes quiet when I talk about the future. How they look away when things get too real. Like part of them wants this as badly as I do, and another part is already bracing for impact.
Am I misreading them? Is Korie really not in this?
My phone buzzes, and I pull it out to see a text from Korie.Just going in to work now. I’ll be home late. Don’t feel like you have to wait up for me. <3
I stare at the message longer than I should.
A month ago, we would’ve stayed up half the night talking anyway. Falling asleep on the phone. Trading stupid stories and flirting until one of us passed out mid-sentence.
Now Korie’s telling me not to wait up.
That ball of dread expands slightly beneath my ribs. Maybe they’re just tired, or work has been overwhelming lately. Hell, maybe I’m reading too much into this because of what Cole said.
But the uneasiness still lingers, quiet and persistent for the rest of the day. Not strong enough to drown out how much I care about them. But enough to make me wonder if I missed something important all over again.
Is Korie pulling away?
23
KORIE
Aris bounces on the dresser, eyeing me like I’ve done something wrong.
“What?” I say in a harsh whisper.
She flies to my shoulder, bumping my cheek with her small feathered head. It shouldn’t tug at my heart as strongly as it does, like she somehow knows I needed that little bit of affection. I stroke her chest and draw in a slow breath.
I’m so on edge, so… frayed.
When I hear Holden enter my bedroom, I turn my back to the door.
“Nearly done,” I say, picking through my clothes in the closet.
I’ve changed shirts twice already, but nothing feels right.
Holden leans against the doorframe, saying nothing. But I can feel him watching me. His eyes are far too curious lately.
“I said I’ll be ready soon,” I say again.
