Based on the comments from last chapter... I decided to upload this one a day early. Because I think it's time we rip off the bandaid.

Thank you to @jueka1 @jessieaaa_ @themckenziefrenzy @FredWeasleyswife1999 and @JustGenesis128 for engaging in the comments section last chapter

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Those three words he had so confidently said to me stayed with me that night after he had left and while I pretended to Casey he hadn't been here.

And as I got ready the next day to meet with Cory at the cafe, they still echoed in my brain, causing my heart to beat rapidly, my stomach to squirm, and my cheeks to flush.

And they continued to rattle around as Cory took the seat opposite me, looking much healthier. Much more alive. Much more like Cory once more instead of the ghost who had left.

"You look better," he said to me.

Finally coming out of my head and leaving the three words behind me, I pulled myself into the moment so that I could give Cory my undivided attention for once. "Better?"

"Happier," he said, a little bit of sadness creeping in. Because the idea of me being happy without him was something to mourn.

And I felt that same sadness creep in at that prospect.

"Should we order something?" he then asked.

A small smile slipping onto my face, I nodded and picked up the menu.

After we finished up our food, making light chatter about name possibilities and how the nursery was coming along, we rested our forks down on the table, a sigh overcoming both of us.

Morose tinged his blue eyes as he extended a hand across the table, picking mine up in his. "I missed you," he whispered.

Giving his hand a squeeze, I replied, "I missed you too." But I wonder if he felt the guilt. Him being this kind made me not want to hurt him. Made me want to just continue in whatever state of limbo this was, never making a decision on either person to avoid anyone getting hurt.

"And I love you," he then said.

I met his awaiting gaze. "I love you too," I whispered.

"But you're not in love with me anymore." He said it like it was matter-of-fact. And even though there was a tinge of disappointment tainting his tone, he seemed... okay with the fact.

I looked down to the table, trying to snake my hand out of his, but he gripped on. When I stopped trying, he rubbed circles into my hand.

"It's okay," he then said.

"I'm sure I can try to—"

"No."

I looked up at him.

"You're not in love with me anymore. And I still am in love with you... but I don't want to be. Because you're drifting from the girl I fell in love with. And while I admire the woman you're becoming, it's clear we are going in separate ways."

My bottom lip began to quiver and his other hand shot out, grabbing my free one.

"Shh," he said. "People are going to think the food here is terrible."

A giggle, mixed with a sob escaped my mouth. I freed one of my hands to wipe away the tears that had escaped before I put it back in his. "I don't think that's exactly what they'd think."

Cory winked at me in response. "Well it couldn't be anything else. We're holding hands so they wouldn't assume it was a breakup."

He squeezed my hands once more and I wondered how he was staying so calm while I was about to turn into a blubbering mess.

"Because I've had two weeks to cry over what we had lost while you keep denying it," he said.

Eyes wide, I moved back. "Did I say that out loud?"

He nodded, a knowing smirk on his face as he pulled back one hand, resting his head on it. "I'm not going anywhere though. They're my kids and you're..." This time he hesitated, eyes going shy as they flickered between the table and my face before he uttered, unsure, "You're my best friend?"

"Of course I am, Cory," I said. And I meant it. Because no matter what happens between us, we still had our friendship.

"Good," he said, smiling again.

"So... what now?"

His hand pulled out from mine, leaving it cold, as he sat back in his chair, a sigh escaping his face. "Now I need to get my stuff out of that apartment. I need to set up my own nursery in mum's house. I need to—"

"You aren't staying with me?"

Cocking his head to the side, he said, "It's a two bedroom house, Lily. One for you. One for the kids."

I looked down at the table. "I can't afford the rent alone."

"I've got you covered."

I glanced up.

"I'll cover it until you're back on your feet, back at uni, and have a job of your own, and they are in daycare."

"I don't know if that's—"

"Lily. They're my kids. It's two of them versus one of you, so even when you have a job, I kind of have the responsibility of paying for half of their expenses. Besides, I don't have to pay rent at mum's." He shrugged.

I went to protest but he shook his head at me, so I stopped. "What..." I whispered, but stopped myself.

"You can say it," he said softly, leaning back over the table, but not reaching for me this time.

"What made you come to this decision?" A part of me hypocritically wondered if he had met someone else.

"I reached out to a lot of friends I had to distance myself from because of you..." He glanced up at me, eyes wide with alarm before rushedly saying, "Not that your wariness of my female friends was unwarranted at first. But not once did I ever betray you Lily since we lost the baby. I was fully committed to you."

A part of me felt attacked at that. And he saw it on my face.

"Don't beat yourself up, Lily. What's done is done. I hate that you hurt me but... I've put my fair share of damage on you too. Basically, in talking with friends, in reflecting on us, I realised we're really young. And just because we've got this big responsibility coming up, doesn't mean I should expect you to stay with me. I got my chances to date. I experienced sex with many partners before you. And you... You didn't ever get to live like that. The moment you were free from your parents you... Well, you were stuck with me."

"I feel like a jerk."

"Perhaps. But I get it."

"So you decided to end us because you want me to have freedom to... have sex with other people?"

A laugh escaped his mouth. "I don't mean to sound rude, but I'm not sure how... soon that will be on the horizon for you. I mean, if this Tyler guy is open to maneuvering around that big stomach of yours..." He was trying to be friendly, trying to be kind and humorous about it. But I could still see the pain flicker in his eyes as he said Tyler's name. "I want it for me, too, Lily."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean... not only do I deserve to have someone who's not looking over their shoulder and messing me up because they don't want to be with me anymore."

I winced at the harsh blow, but it didn't make it any less true.

"But I also never really had a proper relationship outside of you. I mean, Courtney, Summer, Bianca... I was still a kid then. A part of me wants to know what it might be like to have a serious relationship with someone else now that I know better. To learn more about myself and what I want from one." He shrugged and gave me a small smile. "It's thanks to you that I value myself more. You taught me that there are parts of me that can be loved... that sex isn't all there can be when you have intimacy with another person."

Eyes watering, I grabbed his hand tightly in mine this time. "You have an amazing soul, Cory Peterson. And you can make any woman fall in love with you."

"Just not... this one."

"I did."

"But you also fell out."

I looked to the table. Even though he was mostly strong, the pain was still there. And it would be for a long while. But we couldn't lash out at each other just because it hurt when the other pointed out something we did. We had to accept all the horrible parts if we wanted to be strong parents for these kids.

"You will make the next woman so happy and she will fall so deeply in love with you," I said.

A smirk graced his face as he jokingly said, "Next time I'll take her on a date first... Maybe kiss on the second. Leave any sex for the fiftieth."

"Fiftieth?" I exclaimed.

Shrugging, he said, "Spicing things up."

But I just smiled at him, glad we had reached this point in our relationship where we could talk again. Glad we didn't have that weight hanging over us.

"But I need you to do one thing for me... considering you owe me and all."

Brows turning downwards, I said, "Anything."

"Let's name one baby Corella."

"Anything but that."

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Please leave your complaints about the chapter and how much I've broken your hearts in the comments below.