Page 62 of Pretty Lies

His brother made an inquisitive huh. Cory’s attitude had come back fast and heavy but this time, it wasn’t about the same thing as before.

“I missed something from the last time we talked. Fill me in,” Joe said, resting deeper into the passenger seat. “Might as well get comfortable.”

“That’s why you’re here.”

“And to do something for you.”

Cory shrugged. “That, too. We’re getting to that—”

“You want me to find what I can on Luis, current and past?”

“Basically. I’m busy. Also not getting the full story from people. My job is supposed to be Della. I just like to know shit, Joe.”

“I know. Still, fill me in.”

Cory rolled his eyes, but did what his brother wanted. It passed the better part of a half-hour in time to go over everything with Joe that had happened in just the past couple of days, not to mention the overall picture he was currently seeing.

“It’ll take me a bit to get it all without raising flags,” Joe said after Cory finished, “but we’ll know what Luis’s been up to since the two of you parted ways back when … or mostly.”

Cory didn’t reply.

He’d barely even cared to listen.

Joe didn’t miss it. “Seriously, what is up with you?”

Della had turned off the lights in her kitchen. Cory had a moment where he thought should have just asked to go in, man, fuck the pride, and he went quiet.

Joe gave him a look from the side.

Cory pretended like he didn’t see.

“She thinks I’m like her ex,” Cory said, the words bitter as they passed his lips. “Like Luis. Same type of dude, Joe. And I don’t know, I’m not all that different if you look at what I’ve done and where I came from and all that shit. In some ways, we’re exactly the fucking same.”

Joe hummed under his breath. “At least you know it, though. The problem comes when people aren’t self-aware, Cory.”

“Except that’s not the problem.”

“What is?”

“That I don’t want her to think I’m anything like him.”

Joe’s brow raised high, that look in his eye enough to make Cory point a single finger at his brother with a stare that stung.

“Don’t say a thing,” Cory uttered.

His brother’s palms popped up in surrender. “Saying nothing, Cory. But shit …”

Cory made a thick ugh sound under his breath before turning the key to make the car’s engine roar and the lights flood the road. “Call me when you got something and get the fuck out of my car, man.”

Joe’s laughter chased him out of the car, but he leaned back in the door before slamming it shut just to say, “It’ll be great, Cory.”

“What will?”

All he saw was his brother’s shrug before Joe turned and disappeared into the waiting shadows on the side of the street.

Prick.