(Corey) I Just Want To Be Right By Your Side (Taylor) [22]

(Corey) I Just Want To Be Right By Your Side (Taylor) [5]

Lunch was just barely endurable.

For the most part everyone chatted with each other but I could feel as well as see the glances at me throughout the meal and all the unspoken questions hung heavy in the room making the atmosphere oppressive. I fidgeted several times considering leaving early but then that would just make more questions. Several times I felt Corey start reaching out to touch me only to change his mind and let his hand slip back to his side.

“Nici are the cops gonna keep the bad man in jail for a long time?” Griff asked out of no where.

I nearly choked on my drink.

“Griff!” Corey scolded.

I could see the tears welling in his eyes and I couldn’t stand the thought of him crying over this. Scarlett reached out to gently hold him while giving Corey the evil eye. I couldn’t help but feel the guilty party though. Corey wouldn’t have snapped if he wasn’t so worried about me.

“It’s alright Corey.” I said softly. Everyone’s heads turned in my direction. I felt like a fish out of water.

I could feel my chest moving but I couldn’t seem to find any oxygen.

“Nici…you don’t have to…”

“He asked a valid question.” I turned to Griff who was sniffling on Scarlett’s lap. “We don’t know yet sweetie the cops have to talk to a judge about how they should punish the bad man for what he did.”

Griff continued sniffling from his mom’s lap but he looked a little happier now. I looked back down at my food picking at it with my fork. Normally I would be digging into this container of Chinese with all my heart but right now it didn’t even seem appetizing in the least. I felt Corey’s hand brush mine and I tensed. I watched his hand retract slowly and his fingers curl until his hand was clenched into a fist at his side. Even though I knew he wasn’t angry at me I couldn’t help the tears that started to well in my eyes.

“Christina….” I didn’t look up but I felt her moving.

I could feel Corey’s eyes on me but I couldn’t look at him. I followed her out quickly noticing a slight drop in the conversation as we exited the room. As soon as the door shut behind me I started crying.

“Nici….”

“No Christina I don’t want to talk. I’m sorry I just want to be alone.”

She frowned but nodded.

“Corey has my number if you want to talk later.”

I nodded and then quickly dashed up the stairs and into my room. I locked the door behind me and fell on my bed sobbing. This wasn’t going to work. I didn’t know where I was going to go or what I was going to do but I couldn’t stay here if this was going to affect Corey’s children like this. I cried until I had no tears left and then I fell into an exhausted sleep.

I woke to a strong knock on the door. My heart jumped at first but then slowed down as I remembered I was among friends.

“Nici? It’s Shawn.”

I got up slowly and made my way across the floor. I flipped the lock and opened the door wide enough to talk without being rude but not wide enough to be construed as an invitation to enter.

“Corey was worried you didn’t eat much at lunch. I told him I’d bring your food up so you could finish up here if you’d like. I thought it might be more comfortable for you.”

I looked down to see my carton of Chinese and my soda in his hands.

“You know Corey doesn’t allow eating in the bedrooms,” I said absently reminding him of a rule he probably helped Corey establish.