Page 63 of More than Fiction (Misty Springs #1)

Corbin

My fingers tapped impatiently on Andi’s desk, barely registering her words—my mind focused on one subject.

Sophia was going on a date.

How long had she been seeing someone? Was it serious?

“Do you want to… I dunno, maybe knock that off?” Andi snarked at me.

I stopped and waved my hands innocently in the air before bringing my nails to my lips and gnawing anxiously at them—a nervous tick I hadn’t done since college.

“Did you even hear a word I said?” She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. “I think Nasty Ned has it out for you, and I think your shady little buddy Davis is in on it, too.”

“You’re paranoid, Andi. No one has it out for me .” I dismissed her, though a part of me had already considered the same thing.

I’ve made plenty of enemies—the Norwood family being the latest added to the list.

But Ned? I wasn’t worried about Ned in the slightest. And Davis was nothing but competition.

Besides, the last thing I needed was Andi poking her nose in my business.

“Fine, don’t listen to me,” she resigned. “But you can buy me some dinner, and I know just the place.

***

“David Hasselhoff’s drunken whiskey-e burger?” I asked as Andi tore into the massive burger in her hands .

Baywatch played in the background in Elijah's dimly lit dining room. The room was packed with a steady crowd who had gathered to enjoy the movie and the food.

“I thought they only did theme nights on the weekend?” I grabbed the extra napkins on the table, covering my lap and half tempted to stuff them down my shirt like a baby’s bib—this thing was a mess.

“They really do it up around the holidays. The hotel is fully booked,” she garbled through a mouthful of food.

“You would at least think they would go with a Christmas-themed movie.”

“That starts this weekend—Die Hard,” she said as she shoved another huge bite in her mouth.

“Don’t forget to swallow that,” I joked.

She flipped me off.

I reluctantly took a bite, unwilling to accept that a small-town hotel in the middle of nowhere could churn out food that would draw such a crowd.

But as soon as the food hit my tongue, I realized just how wrong I could be.

It was gastro-heaven.

This nine-dollar burger was better than my favorite pub around the corner from my place—which charged me thirty.

I swallowed, not ready to admit that Andi was right. “You’ve gotten quite familiar with the ins and outs of this hotel, huh?”

She nodded as she finished chewing. “I didn’t think I would, but I love it here. However, living in a single room for more than two months was starting to drive me crazy. I actually found an apartment in Sophia’s building.”

I tried not to let my mind wander at the mention of Sophia.

Where was she on this date? What were they doing? Would they go back to her place?

My insides twisted as images flashed in my brain of her with someone else.

I turned my direction to the big screen on the wall, hoping to distract myself with busty, slow-motion running in red swimsuits.

I devoured my burger until every last bite was gone, then licked my fingers.

Andi was right —

“Told you,” Andi smirked as she watched me.

A flash of movement behind the bar caught my eye as Cassie wove around the bartender and toward the register.

I took the opportunity to refill mine and Andi’s drink—a guise to corner Cassie instead.

“They’ll come to us,” Andi protested, but I was already on the move.

I made it to the bar just as Cassie was about to leave, clipboard in hand, checking off her managerial to-do list for the evening.

“Hey,” I said, setting my empty cups on the bar top.

“Oh. Hey, Zoolander ,” she hurled the nickname like a slur.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I really hate that nickname.”

She shrugged and started walking again.

I took a few hurried steps to catch up with her. “Hey, hold on.”

Cassie turned and raised her eyebrows at me, tilting her head in question.

“Sophia, she’s on a… date?” I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

Cassie rested the clipboard on her hip and gave me a sly grin. “Oh yeah, that is tonight.”

She turned and continued walking like we were finished with this conversation.

I followed her out of the dining room—aware that Andi was probably watching the entire exchange, but I couldn’t bring myself to care about that right now.

“Who is he?” I asked, my tone taking a half-degree turn toward desperate.

“Who? Will? Oh, he’s just this super handsome, super built, super sexy hockey player. Great guy, super hot … did I mention that?” She scrunched her eyebrows before turning away from me again.

I followed her to the front desk. “How long has she… how many dates have they gone on?” I pressed, fully desperate now.

Cassie walked behind the front desk and set her clipboard down.

“Let’s see.” She puffed her cheeks with air, blowing a big breath out as she held up her fingers. “Carry the two…”

I growled in frustration.

She looked at me with a devious smile. “What’s it to you anyway?”

I paused for half a second as I considered .

What is it to me anyway?

I didn’t have an answer, but I didn’t need one—Cassie wasn’t a damn psychiatrist, and I didn’t need analyzing.

I crossed my arms. “I’ll buy you a bottle of Macallan.”

Her eyes lit up at my bribe. “Okay. I suppose I could tell you it’s their first date. And I suppose I could tell you they are just grabbing a drink at Boomer’s. And I suppose I could also tell you that she didn’t even want to do it, and it was all Devyn’s master plan.”

“Thanks,” I grumbled, turning to leave.

“Corbin,” she added with a serious tone.

I turned back to face her.

She tapped her fingers on the desk lightly. “I’m not telling you because of the whiskey. I’m telling you because… she’s happier… with you around.”

I was stunned into silence.

“I don’t know what kind of corporate-y bullshit there is keeping you two apart, but I can tell you—she’s worth it.”

“I know she is,” I agreed, my throat tight. I spun on my heels and headed toward the dining room, coming up with an excuse in my mind to tell Andi why I was leaving.

“I want the Eighteen, though!” Cassie yelled at my back—the woman knew her whiskey.

I walked into Elijah's dining room, weaving in and out of the little rectangular tables adorned with plastic beach-themed tablecloths.

My steps slowed as I approached my seat—the one I’d abruptly left without explanation was now occupied.

A woman who looked about Andi’s age leaned in close, her posture relaxed and familiar as she spoke to Andi. Her dark hair fell over her shoulders, and her light skin was dotted with freckles.

For all her sharp edges and no-nonsense demeanor, Andi was... softened . Her face alight with a kind of ease I hadn’t seen before.

I stepped closer, clearing my throat.

Both women turned their attention toward me, the newcomer’s hazel eyes scanning me with polite curiosity.

“You’re back.” Andi’s eyebrow arched as she reclined slightly in her chair. “Did Cassie have something riveting to share with you? ”

“Just needed some... clarity on my hotel bill,” I lied smoothly, adjusting my tie as I reached for my wallet. I pulled out a few bills and slid them across the table to Andi. “This should cover dinner.”

Andi grabbed the money without a second thought.

I glanced back at the woman who stole my seat.

“Stacy, this is Corbin. Corbin, Stacy,” Andi said sweetly.

“Nice to meet you finally.” Stacy shook my hand gently, giving off a quiet demeanor, a lamb to Andi’s lion.

“You look like you’re in a rush to get somewhere.” Andi smiled wide, a knowing look filled her eyes.

“Yeah, I have some things to finish up at the office.”

As I stepped away, her voice followed me. “You’re predictable, you know.”

I didn’t respond.

What could I say? She wasn’t wrong.

I had no real plan as I left Elijah’s, my shoes hitting the pavement with purpose despite my lack of direction.

All I knew was that Sophia was at Boomer's—on some date —with someone who wasn’t me.

And no matter what.

I had to stop that date.