“Of course.” Corey’s lips turned down and he cocked his head to the side. “Why would you say that?”
This interaction wasn’t anything new. Conversing with Corey had always been frustrating as hell. Will shook his head before bringing the topic back to Andy.
“Cor, you were at a basketball game. I wasn’t going to take you away from the game to tell you about Andy.” Will shrugged. “I was going to call you.”
“Who the fuck is Andy?” Corey crossed his arms over his chest, brow furrowed, and he stared Will down.
“You know. Andy, Steve’s friend—from my swim team. The one who has a shot at states this year?”
“Oh yeah. Your favorite one. What about him?” His friend pulled two beers from the fridge but thewhat the hell are you talking aboutlook didn’t leave Corey’s face.
Will took a breath, then dove in. “Andy’s going to live with me for a while. His sister is sending over forms for medical and school authorization tomorrow.” Will shrugged.
“What?” Corey dropped both beers. Luckily, they only fell a few inches onto the counter with a clatter. Will grabbed them, put them back into the fridge, and took out two that wouldn’t explode, then handed one to Corey.
“It happened out of the blue.” Will started in on the whole story, explaining how Andy had been hiding things from his sister, and how Aly was caught between a rock and a hard place.
Corey ran his hands through his hair, “Do you think now is the best time for this? It’s an odd reaction to a breakup—even for you.” He took a long pull from his beer. “I know you might feel a bit”—Corey turned his nose up like the words tasted like spoiled milk—“lonely and lost or some shit.” The guy was terrible at heart-to-hearts, and half the time, Will didn’t follow his train of thought, but he kept his mouth shut and let him continue. “But taking in a kid isn’t like getting a dog. Maybe that’s what you should do. Get a dog. Seems like a better idea.”
Will scratched his head. “What areyoutalking about?”
“Beth, and Taran, too, I guess…they took turns yelling at me about Genni. About how she apparently broke up with you because shegot married…” Corey trailed off, raising his brows.
“Oh yeah.” Will nodded. “She did.” It felt like that drama had happened a lifetime ago. Or like he’d watched it happen to someone else.
Corey narrowed his eyes.
“What?” Will asked, both palms up.
“That’s it?” Corey asked, his expression still full of disbelief and annoyance.
“What’s it?”
Corey shook his head, took a deep breath, and focused on an invisible spot on the other side of the kitchen. “When I thought Taran and I were over, it messed me up real good.”
“Aw, fuck. Are you two having issues again? Because I don’t have time for that shit now.” Will frowned. “If she’s not solidly in your life, you’re a total basket case.”
“Taran and I are great.” He snorted. “I’m worried about you.”
God, he wished people wouldn’t worry about him. It was exactly why he hadn’t wanted to tell them. He knew this would happen. Luke, Joey, Danny, and Clayton would be calling at any moment. At least he could count on Grant to shut up and leave him alone.
He was fine, but convincing Corey of that would be a challenge. Especially because he didn’t want to explain how he’d spent almost a year getting used to the idea. He went a different way. One Corey would get.
“Cor.” He spun his beer on the counter as he spoke. “Do you worry every time Luke picks up a new girl in a new city?”
“Nah.” Corey shook his head and took a swig of beer. “He’s just killing time. He doesn’t care.”
Will stared at him without responding, waiting for his idiot friend to get it.
“Really?” Corey finally said, his eyes going wide. “Five years, and you didn’t care?”
Will shrugged.
“Okay, then. She’s no longer your girl.” Corey picked up his beer and held it out. “To bigger and better things.”
Will clinked his bottle against Corey’s. “Bigger and better.”
“Hopefully this kid thing is easier than people make it seem, because I think you might be totally fucked.” Corey chuckled.