A man like that, falling for him was something I couldn't control. And I had my reasons.
But it turned out that when a man wanted to put on an act, he could keep it up for years.
Fine. Let him chase his dream. I'd live my own life.
"By the way," Corey rubbed his nose and lowered his voice. "We've got the National Band Championship coming up, so I'll be pretty tied up. Might not make it home some nights. Just... bear with me, okay?"
I went blank for a moment before remembering that their entry slot for the competition was something I'd begged a client to arrange, practically groveling for the favor.
With his band's actual skill level, they never would have qualified on their own.
But that entry slot? I didn't feel like giving it to them anymore.
So I nodded lightly.
"Sure. Got it."
Corey froze. Whether it was guilt or something else, he suddenly wrapped his arms around me from behind, pulling me close.
"Babe."
His voice was muffled against my hair.
"Thank you. For supporting my dream. For understanding."
In my previous life, Corey eventually found out about the investments I'd secretly funneled into his band.
Unlike what I'd expected, he was furious. He trashed the entire apartment.
"What's that supposed to mean, Caroline? You bought me a national championship with your money, is that it? I'm telling you, this is an insult!"
"Take your money and get the hell away from me! My band could've taken first place on our own talent. You were just sticking your nose where it didn't belong!"
We didn't speak for weeks after that. It took Noah playing peacemaker before the cold war finally ended.
Sometimes I genuinely had no idea what that man wanted.
I snapped back to the present and pushed him away gently.
"Alright, if there's nothing else, you should go. I need to stay with Noah."
Our voices must have been too loud, because Noah woke up anyway.
He rubbed his eyes, spotted Corey, and broke into a grin.
"Daddy!"
Corey opened his arms, his eyes brimming with warmth as he scooped the boy up.
"Did you miss Daddy? Still feeling sick? How about Daddy goes and gets you some food, hm?"
While the two of them chatted, the door swung open without warning.
"Hey, sis."
Letitia stepped inside, a smile already arranged on her face.
"I heard your little one was sick, so I picked up some light dishes for him."
Under the fluorescent lights, the red-dyed tips of her hair were impossible to miss. She was barely in her early twenties, eyes bright and sparkling.
If I was being honest with myself, she really was striking.
No wonder Corey had zeroed in on her the moment they met, even posting their photo together on social media, calling her his kindred spirit.
I said nothing. Corey took the food from her hands.
Noah studied her curiously, then blinked.
"Hey, miss, the perfume you're wearing smells exactly like Daddy's. That's so cool!"
The air in the room turned to ice. Both their expressions went stiff at the exact same time.
"Noah, what are you talking about? Daddy's cologne is a common brand. It's totally normal for someone else to wear the same one." Corey scrambled to cover.
But Noah had never been one to filter his thoughts.
"Nuh-uh. Daddy's cologne is the custom one Mommy got him when she was on a business trip overseas. It's one of a kind in the whole world."
Corey's gaze darted sideways. He covered his mouth with a cough.
"This kid... always saying the wildest things."
"Alright, Noah, let's go to the bathroom." I cut in just in time, then looked at the two of them. "He needs to rest and get some sleep soon."
The hint to leave couldn't have been more obvious.
At the doorway, Corey suddenly turned back.
"Babe."
He tugged at his hair, visibly uncomfortable.
"Letitia's outfit was too short during a performance, so I lent her my jacket. That's how she got my cologne on her. Don't overthink it."
I couldn't be bothered to guess how long it had taken him to come up with that pathetic excuse. My eyes stayed on my phone screen.
