Maybe forever

Talking things through

*Amelia*

"I need an explanation, Jasper. Why didn’t you tell me that all of this was Cory’s idea? And how long have you known?" I park in the basement, my heart racing.

Jasper looks at me, guilt written all over his face. "Sorry, sweetie. Cory called me a month ago, but he made me promise not to mention him. He was afraid you would say no."

"And he was probably right, but I don’t like being played." I get out of the car, slamming the door a bit too hard.

Jasper follows me to the elevator. "I’m sorry, darling. But what happened between the two of you? You seemed so happy when you were recording the single."

"Uh, to put it shortly, he was too intense. I got scared. He punched out my ex, I asked him to leave, and when I came to apologize, it was a tall, leggy brunette who opened the door." I let out a sigh as I step into the elevator.

Jasper walks in too, placing a hand on my arm. "I’m sorry to hear that, Ami. He just seemed so in love with you… almost too much."

"That was the problem. He was so intense and moved so fast; it scared me. I wasn’t ready for that, and in return, he felt unloved." I pull out my keys, my mind racing. “We were just a bad match.”

Jasper walks by my side. "Then that man is f*****g blind. I saw the way you looked at him. I actually thought the two of you would be forever."

"It just wasn’t meant to be. I’m not really angry with him; I kind of understand why he reacted that way. It was just a fling, nothing more." I take off my shoes and flop down onto the couch.

Jasper squats down next to me. "Sorry I pressured you to let him come by. I just felt that you had something to talk about."

"That’s okay. It’s going to be fine. As I said, I’m not angry with him, so there’s no problem talking about the song." I smile, but I feel anything but relaxed.

Jasper gets ready and leaves, and I start pacing the apartment, unsure of what to do with myself.

When the doorbell rings, I jump. I scold myself for getting so worked up. It’s just going to be a conversation about the song.

"Hi Cory, come on in." I open the door and find him standing there, smiling, looking utterly relaxed in shorts and a T-shirt.

He pulls me into an awkward hug. "Hi again, Ami. Wow, this is a nice apartment they put you in."

"Yeah, it’s not bad. Do you want a glass of white wine?" I walk into the kitchen, and he follows me.

"Why not? That sounds like a good idea." He says smiling nervously.

I fill two glasses and hand him one, then I walk out onto the balcony, sitting in one of the chairs.

Cory sits down across from me, stretching his legs in front of him. "Ami, I feel I owe you an apology for doing this behind your back."

"But why did you do it, Cory? Why spend all this energy? I bet there are a lot of women singing better than me living here." I sip my wine, trying to keep my voice steady.

He chews on his lip, looking thoughtful. "I don’t really know. I really meant it when I said that I think the song is perfect for you, and I felt like I owed it to you."

"Cory, you don’t owe me anything, but I’m happy for the opportunity, so thank you." I send him a little smile, feeling a warmth spread through me.

His eyes catch mine, almost green right now, and they’re warm and comforting. "But I do, Ami. I owe you a lot, especially an apology… or more like a lot of apologies. I was such an idiot."

"Yes, you were, but you weren’t the only one. I should have done a lot of things differently too." I shrug, the weight of the past lingering around us.

He takes a sip from his glass and looks toward the ocean. "I don’t understand why you stuck with me for so long. I must have been hell to date. I was a hot mess. I wasn’t really ready to date again after the divorce, and I didn’t expect to get swept off my feet like that. I panicked."

"You weren’t always easy, I can tell you that, but when you were, you were so f*****g perfect. I kept believing everything would be alright." I get up and walk to the kitchen to grab the wine.

When I come back, I find Cory deep in his own thoughts. After a moment, he says, "I think I knew we were heading for disaster no matter what, and I took the easy way out, hoping to protect myself from getting hurt."

"I actually think you’re right. We had everything against us. I don’t think either of us was ready; we would have never survived the long-distance thing." I fill his glass, the tension between us easing.

He nods. "But what I did was still unforgivable. It was the worst thing I could do to you, considering everything with Daniel."

"This may sound very wrong, but maybe it was all for the best. It made it impossible for me to make up excuses or believe it would be okay." I hadn’t thought about that before, and it surprises me.

He gives me a lopsided smile. "I’m still really sorry about it. I’ve never regretted anything more in my life, and I think she regretted it even more. I was crying the whole time."

"Seriously? You cried while you were with her? Cory, for God’s sake! I’m sorry, but I can just imagine what she was thinking." I can’t help but laugh, despite the heaviness of the conversation.

He shakes his head. "Oh, believe me, she didn’t just think it; she told me in not-so-pretty words what a disappointment I was and how embarrassed I should be."

"s**t, I’m so sorry. It’s very rude to laugh, but it’s kind of funny." I bite my lip hard, trying not to laugh too much, though I actually feel kind of sorry for him. “And you also kind off deserved it, karm and such.”

His smile turns a bit sad. "I guess it is kind of funny… or at least tragically comical. Yeah, must have been karma, and it was well deserved."

The awkwardness fades away, and we talk and laugh like old friends… better than we ever did when we were dating.

"Well, there you are." Jasper steps out onto the balcony, having returned from his meeting.

We look up at him, surprised by how late it is. Cory gets up. "I better get home. We have work to do tomorrow."

"I’ll walk you out." I put my glass down and get up. Cory says goodnight to Jasper, and we walk to the door together.

He pulls me into his arms, hugging me tightly. "I’m so happy we got to talk, Ami."

"Me too, Cory. And I’ll see you tomorrow, right? Sleep well." I stretch up on my toes and kiss him on the cheek.

He gives me one of those cute little smiles. "Yes, see you tomorrow, and sleep well too."