The Cover Up

~13~

Authors POV

Cory stood near the entrance with his hands shoved into his pockets. For the first time all day, he wasn't moving. Wasn't talking. Wasn't pretending. His eyes followed the automatic doors as people came and went.

Families.
Friends.
Loved ones.

People who looked relieved. People who looked devastated. People who looked like they'd just been given another chance. And after everything he'd seen today, one thought kept replaying in his head. Life changed too fast. Too damn fast. One minute everything was normal. The next minute somebody you loved was in a hospital bed. The next minute you were praying for one more conversation.

One more hug.
One more chance.

He swallowed hard. Because all day he'd been thinking about Aubrie.  Even while standing beside Kya. Even while trying to convince himself he wasn't. The hospital doors slid open behind him.

"Cory."

He turned around. Kya stood there holding her purse against her chest. For a moment neither of them spoke. There wasn't really anything left to say. Not after today. Not after the way she'd caught him staring across waiting rooms. Not after she'd watched his attention drift every time Aubrie walked by. She already knew. And honestly? He was tired of pretending she didn't.

"You heading out?" she asked.

"Yeah."

She nodded slowly. The silence lingered. Then Kya sighed. A small sad smile touching her lips.

"You ain't gotta explain it."

Cory frowned.

"Explain what?"

She laughed softly. Not because anything was funny. Because sometimes laughing hurt less than crying.

"That you came here with me."

His chest tightened.

"Kya—"

"But your mind been on Aubrie all day."

The words landed between them. Honest. Simple. True. Cory looked away. Because denying it would be pointless. She deserved more respect than that.

"I didn't mean to hurt you."

"I know."

"I really do care about you."

"I know that too."

Kya looked down at the ground. Then back up at him.

"But she got your heart."

Cory didn't answer. Didn't need to. His silence told her everything. A tear threatened to form in her eye, but she blinked it away before it could fall.

"Go."

His eyebrows pulled together.

"What?"

"Go get your girl."

"Kya..."

She smiled. This time it looked more genuine. More accepting.

"Before you spend another year pretending she ain't who you want."

For a second he just stared at her. Then he stepped forward and pulled her into a hug.

"Thank you."

She hugged him back.

"For what?"

"For understanding."

When they pulled apart, Kya pointed toward the parking lot.