Page 29 of Mr. Brightside

God. This man. How does he go from over-the-top flirtatious to totally genuine in the space of a breath?

“I don’tnotlike it. But I’ve heard you use it with Tori for years.”

He sits back and brings his hand to his chin, looking thoughtful as he peers out the windshield at the movie screen. When he focuses back on me, his expression is alight with authenticity. “I think I want to call you baby. Would it be okay if I stopped calling her that and only used it for you?”

I crack my knuckles quietly as I consider his offer. Why does this feel like we’re negotiating so much more than a nickname?

“You would do that?” I question. Not because I don’t believe him. But because I can’t imagine him making such a big change for something that’s supposed to be a temporary arrangement.

“You’re marrying me, Cory. Of course I’d do that for you.”

I’m grateful for the darkness that surrounds us so I can downplay the grin threatening to take over my whole face. I pretend to pay attention to the movie for a few seconds before murmuring a soft “okay.”

“Okay,” he repeats salaciously. “Pretty sure it’s my turn to get in some questions,baby.” I don’t miss the way he emphasizes my new nickname. And I don’t hate it one bit, either.

Chapter 14

Cory

“Whydidyourabuelaraise you instead of your parents?”

That’s a softball question compared to the hard-hitters I just lobbed his way.

“Abuela raised me, but my parents did, too. We all lived together when I was little. My parents had me when they were teenagers. My mom and my dad got married, and they stayed together until I was in first grade. There was nothing dramatic or messy about their divorce. They just decided they were better off as friends and co-parents.”

I shrug as I try to explain my family dynamic. My parents have always made me a priority, and I’ve always known they love me. They just weren’t the ones who raised me.

“After the divorce, Dad moved out first, then he met someone and started a new family. My mom met a guy when I was in fifth grade, and she eventually moved out, too.”

“They just left you?” he asks. There’s no judgment in his tone. Just genuine curiosity.

“Oh no,” I insist. “They both wanted me to come with them, actually. But I refused to go. My parents were only sixteen when they had me. We all grew up together, in a way. My abuela was the parental figure in my life when I was a kid. She still is. I love her just as much as I love my mom and dad. And honestly, I didn’t want to have to choose between them.”

“That makes sense,” he murmurs under his breath as he nods to himself.

I’m not sure if my explanation was what he expected or not. My family is non-traditional in a lot of ways, but I always had my parents’ support; I always felt their love. I feel like an asshole talking about them so much, though, after everything he revealed to me just now about his own home life growing up. I’m glad for the subject change when he asks his next question.

“What were you like as a kid?”

Well, here goes nothing. Jake gave me his honesty. I guess it’s my turn to give him mine.

“I was a total dork,” I admit. “I had glasses by the time I was four, and Abuela had to shop in the husky section until I got to high school and finally hit a major growth spurt.” I chance a glance to gauge his reaction and see the hint of a smirk playing on his face.

“Don’t laugh!” I defend, smacking his arm as his grin grows wider.

“I’m not laughingatyou,” he insists, adjusting his position so he’s facing me completely.

“Well, I’m not laughing, so you’re not laughingwithme,” I chide.

He sticks his tongue between his teeth and scrunches up his nose. “I’m just picturing it in my head, is all. You were probably so stinkin’ cute. I want to see pictures from when you were little.”

My eyes search his in question. “You do?”

“Yeah,” he replies automatically. “I really do.” He runs one hand up my leg in a move that’s more direct than anything he’s tried to pull so far tonight.

I watch, fascinated, desperate for him to make this move. My cock is acutely aware of his palm traveling up my pants. I try not to squirm as I feel my dick hardening without my permission. But as soon as he reaches mid-thigh, he redirects and snatches up the box of Sno-Caps I had resting on my lap before dumping some into his mouth.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” he asks through a mouthful of chocolate.