Forbidden Fruit (gxg)

Part 22

"So, like, are you in love with Kori or what?" Trey asked me.

It had been a couple of weeks since the work event, and I was spending more time with Kori than ever.

Trey and I went out for coffee one Saturday morning in early February, and he asked me this question as we sipped our lattes.

"So, like, are you in love with Colin or what?" I asked him in a mocking tone.

"Hey, no fair," Trey laughed, "You and Kori are officially dating, Colin and I are not."

"You might as well be! You're always with him."

Trey rolled his eyes and smiled, "I know. We've moved past only getting together to hookup. We actually hangout out, and I think it could progress into something more. But we're not official, unlike you and Kori."

"I still think that you and Colin are both afraid to admit to the other how you both truly feel," I said to Trey as I took a sip of my iced latte, "Kori and I fully admit to each other how we feel. It just has to be in private."

"I assume you're not going to want to go on that way forever, right?"

"No, definitely not. But she's my direct boss. I have to, at least for a while."

"Could you switch to another department?" Trey asked me.

"I've honestly thought about it. It might take some pressure off Kori as well," I said to Trey, "Maybe I should go back to working at the front desk. Even though I like the IT department a lot."

Trey looked at me, "I know you're really enjoying your department. But it might be for the best if you make a switch."

"The only thing is, if other people find out we're dating, they'll talk. And likely figure out that we got together before I switch departments."

"So? Let them talk. Who cares?" Trey shrugged.

I laughed, "I need your outlook on life."

"I've known you since we were 19 I would've thought it'd have rubbed off on you more," Trey chuckled.

"Maybe I just have to spend even more time with you," I joked to Trey.

"I'm not objecting to that, Ash," he laughed, "Not to turn this conversation all serious on you...but how are you feeling about your appointment coming up this week at the hospital?"

Automatically, I swallowed nervously.

When I got stuck with the needle by the patient, I had to do extensive blood testing to make sure that I was clear of any diseases that could be passed along by blood. My initial results came back clear, but they make you come back after a few months to get further testing to confirm everything is fine.

I had that further testing this coming week.

I hadn't even told Kori about it, and my appointment was that coming Wednesday, during work hours.

Telling anyone besides Trey about it made the appointment more real.

However, I had to tell Kori about it. Not just because she was my boss, but because she was my girlfriend and I wanted to keep her in the loop about everything.

When I went to her place that night, I told her as we sat on the couch together, Chester beside us.

"So...I have to leave work early on Wednesday," I said to Kori, "Not to bring up work right now."

"Alright, no problem," Kori said to me, "Why do you have to leave early? As a boss I technically have no right to ask you, but as your girlfriend..."

I felt myself sigh, "I have an appointment at the hospital I used to work at."