Can't do shout outs for voters today (explanation at the end)

But here's the shout outs to those who commented last chapter: @jueka1 @JustGenesis128 @FredWeasleyswife1999 

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"Jess, are you free?" Steve asked as he paged me over the headset.

"Yeah," I replied, stopping with my trolley load I was pushing back into the store. "What do you need?"

"Can you bring a caution cone and a mop to aisle five?"

"What am I cleaning up?" I asked before starting to push my trolleys again. "Steve?" I heaved the trolleys back into the bay for the customers and untied my rope. "Steve?" But he was radio silent.

With a sigh, I walked through the store to the back dock and into the cleaning supplies room, grabbing the cone, bucket, and mop and heading to the aisle in question.

Yellow liquid over the floor, it took everything within me to not scream to the heavens above and question why me. Mop loaded with soapy water, I began cleaning up the 'spill'.

"One more, Cory," I started as I barged into his office. He was in the middle of doing rosters as he looked up at me, brows furrowing for my interruption. "I swear if I have to clean up one more puddle of piss, I'm quitting."

"Another?" he exclaimed, putting his paperwork down. His gaze was more distant than usual, bags shadowing his under eyes.

I sat in the chair across from his desk. "Another. And Steve reported it. A part of me is beginning to think he is pissing on the floor to get back at me for murdering his family in a previous life or something."

That roused a chuckle from him, warming my heart to see an almost-Cory grin on his beautiful face.

"Maybe you should switch to day care?" he offered.

Eyes narrowing, I replied, "And clean up poop and boogers too? No thank you. No kids in my horizon for many many years."

Any humour in his gaze disappeared at once as he looked down to the table.

"Everything okay?" I asked softly.

"Um... yeah. Are you done for the day?"

"Just about. Going to tidy the supply room then I'm off."

Nodding, he said, "Don't forget to log your hours." Then he turned back to his paperwork.

Taking that as his code for 'please leave my office', I got back to my feet and headed over to the door. But not without pausing on my way. "Hey, Cory?" I asked, turning to look back at him.

His gaze looked up, but he didn't say anything.

"You know I'm always here... if you need to talk."

Small smile slipping on his face, he nodded at me. "Likewise, Jess." Then he looked back down again.

Biting my lip, I still paused in the doorway looking at him. And after almost a minute passed, he seemed to sense it.

"Something you wish to discuss?" he asked.

"Um... not exactly." I walked back across the room to his desk, hands grabbing the back of the seat as I met his blue eyes. "You wouldn't possibly... want to get a drink tonight?"

Slowly cocking his head to the side, he said, "A drink?"

"I could just use a friend right now. And I know you're my boss and you can't talk to me about your problems, but surely I can talk to you about mine?"

His expression softened once more and he gave a short nod. "Of course. Where?"

I didn't really have anything I wanted to talk about. I just hoped this was my way in. I didn't want to be with Cory. I didn't want to wreck his home or anything. I just hated seeing him so forlorn.

But even though all I ever wanted from him was to rely on me as a friend, I'd be lying if I said he didn't make my heart waver.

I didn't even have to seek him out when he walked into the bar. It was like I could feel his presence in the space, calling for me to turn to look at him. Eyes meeting mine, he gave me a small wave and walked across the space between us. Yet as he approached, I couldn't help but let my eyes trail over him.

Dark jeans with tears over the knees, tight navy shirt, cropped almost-black hair, and iridescent blue eyes. In uniform, he made my knees weak and stomach churn. Out of uniform...

I quickly let out a breath I hadn't realised I had been holding as he sat down next to me.

"So what's your poison?" I asked him.

Hand running through his hair, he heaved a sigh. "I haven't had a drink in months, if I'm being honest."

"What?" I exclaimed, moving back in my seat. It wasn't a response I expected from him.

"Once Lily got pregnant and couldn't drink... well, I ended up abstaining too. She didn't like going anywhere with alcohol as she couldn't drink it." He shrugged, like it was a nothing story. But I could see the flicker of pain in his eyes as he spoke of her. They still weren't right.

Turning to the bartender, I took the liberty of ordering us two drinks at that moment. Then I leaned across him to grab two coasters, placing one down for both of us just before the bartender returned with our drinks. But as I passed his chest, I couldn't help but notice he didn't smell quite like he normally did.

And I know... 'Gosh Jess, you must have it bad for him if you know what he smells like'. I couldn't help it when we started. Knowing he had a partner... knowing she was pregnant, I have tried many times to suppress my feelings. But then one time I fell over and he caught me... I couldn't help breathing him in.

He still had the same deodorant and cologne. But his clothes had a different odour. Instead of the usual lavender, he smelled of plain fresh linen.

It took every ounce of control in me to not ask him about it... because that would be creepy.

"So what's bothering you?" he asked, taking a sip of the beverage in front of him. I smirked as his eyes contorted at the unfamiliar taste of alcohol.

"I have this friend..." I started.

His eyes narrowed as he took another sip, but then he nodded, as if to say 'go on'.

"He's not quite himself lately." I played with the straw in my drink, knowing his gaze was full on me now. "I just can't figure out how to help him."

"This friend... is from uni?"

"No," I mumbled.

He heaved a sigh. "Jess, I came out because you said you needed someone to talk to about something."

"I do. I'm worried about him."

He was quiet for an immeasurable amount of time, calling for my attention to him. He wasn't looking at me. His eyes were instead focussed on the drink in front of him as he thought intensely about something. After some moments passed, he brought the drink to his mouth and emptied it. Then he turned to me and whispered, "I'm flattered you're worried about me, but you don't have to."

"I can't help it," I breathed.

Oh no... oh no, oh no, oh no. We are not going there, Jess. Do not, under any circumstance, let him know you like him like that. We are friends. Even if he and his girlfriend are having problems, you will never be with him. He will have kids soon. We are not ready for something like that.

His lips pressed together then he called the bartender back, ordering another drink. As my heart began to race while his knowing eyes met mine once more, he finally said, "Well I'm going to need a lot more alcohol in my system if you think you can get me to talk without regretting it."

Arm around my shoulder, I guided him through my front door and into my house.

"You're too nice, Jessica," he slurred, voice way too loud.

"Shhh!" I responded. "You'll wake my housemates." I dragged him through the house, doing my best to shush him along the way, and then pushed him into my bedroom , closing the door behind me. I flicked on the small light by my bed and turned to face him.

Smile slipping across his face, his half-closed eyes took in the full length of my body. "You're a very pretty girl, Jess," he said to me.

And in that moment, I thought my heart was about to jump out of my chest. Did Cory just... did he compliment me?

"Had I been younger..." but he didn't finish that sentence. Instead, he walked across my room and fell onto his back on my bed.

"You're only a year older than me," I challenged, as I sat down next to him. He patted the empty space beside him and I laid down, being sure to keep my distance. He and Lily were still technically together... even if he had moved out for the time being. I was not a homewrecker. Even if she hurt him first.

Hand reaching across the space, his fingers trailed across my cheek, pushing a lock of my hair behind my ear.

I could feel my face burn up at his touch.

He wouldn't do this sober, I reminded myself. So don't read into this... Don't take advantage of the situation.

His hand trailed down my arm, fingers lacing through mine. "Had I been younger... I wouldn't be able to keep away from you," he breathed. Then after his blue eyes tore every bit of me apart, he released me from his gaze, hand remaining in mine as he turned to face the ceiling. "But whenever I look at any girl now, all I see is her."

Heaving a sigh, I gave his hand a gentle squeeze and shimmied across the bed, closer to him. Arms pressed up against each other, hands connected, I leaned my head onto his shoulder. I wasn't trying to be suggestive in any way. I was just giving him the human contact I knew he was craving in this moment.

Because, of course, I have been there before. I've had my fair share of heartbreaks at the cost of my trusted partner falling for someone else. "You'll get through this, Cory," I whispered.

His head rested on top of mine. "Are you sure?" his voice croaked.

"Of course. Because even if you two don't end up together, you have your family. You will soon have your daughters. You have Tristan."

He didn't say anything after that. And for a while I began to wonder if he had drifted off to sleep. Feeling my own eyes growing heavy, I almost let myself fade away. But I stayed awake just long enough to hear him say, "And I have you. Thanks for being here for me, Jess."

My eyes fluttered open to the light streaming in through my curtains. At some point, someone had closed them and turned out my light. And at some point I had righted myself in my bed and... changed into my pyjamas.

Eyes wide, I sat up in my bed and glanced around.

A tall glass of water sat on my bedside. A berocca next to it with a note.

Thanks for last night,

Cory.

Thanks for... I took steady breaths and closed my eyes, trying to fight through the throbbing pain as I recalled exactly what happened and how my clothes switched over.

We drank a lot at the bar... Danced despite there being no dedicated dance area. We hugged... Held hands...

But not once did we kiss. Not once...

But then my eyes opened and heat flushed over my face as I recalled what I did.

At some point in the night, I got out of my bed, stripped out of my clothes and changed. Cory's tired eyes blinked open and he suddenly covered his face and cleared his throat.

"Jess... are you forgetting I'm here?"

"Mmm," I replied in my tired state, climbing back into bed and snuggling into the pillow.

A small chuckle escaping from his mouth, he moved up in the bed next to me, grabbing my hand in his. "Sleep well."

Now, pulling my phone out, I stared at his number, wondering what I could possibly say to him. What the right thing was.

But before I could even think twice, suddenly my phone was ringing, his name lighting up.

"H-hello?" I squeaked.

"Hey, Jess... Are you okay? Your voice sounds off," his voice caressed my heart through the phone.

Clearing my throat, I said, "Y-yeah. Sweet as." Sweet as? Seriously?

"Great. Hey, I know last night was rough and you must be feeling wrecked today but... Steve and Karen called in sick. I'm already filling for one and I've tried calling everyone but no one will fill in for the other... Can you come in at all?"

Smiling at the thought he didn't want to bother me, I got out of bed. "Of course. Be there in half an hour."

"Thanks Jess. You're amazing." I thought at that he'd bid me goodbye, but he didn't. The line was silent, his breath coming through on the other end. Neither of us making a move to hang up.

Heart thudding in my chest, I waveringly asked, "Am I?" It was flirtatious and I knew it. I was digging for a compliment from someone I shouldn't. But I couldn't help myself. I craved his attention and affection.

He didn't respond straight away either. It was enough time for the self-doubt to trickle in and for me to almost actually kick myself for crossing the line.

But then he said, "Yes. You're phenomenal."

And then I smiled and told him I'd see him soon, hanging up the phone. I could have asked for more, but I knew that would be too soon. For him and for me. Because he had a whole lot to sort out if I ever wanted to go there with him.

And if Cory was someone I really wanted, I had to be his friend first before I could ask for anything more.

Happy Friday and thanks for reading everyone! Make sure to leave a vote and a comment about what you liked and disliked on this chapter.

Three announcements:

1) Vulnerable: Book 1 of the Magic Mutations Series was shortlisted for the Wattys 2021! 

AHHHHHH! >> [Please in-line comment your excitement here] <<

I'm super grateful it has been shortlisted and is being recognised and read finally. However, thanks to the shortlisting on late Monday night my time (after I uploaded the last Positive chapter) it um... kind of blew up my notifications. So I was unable to keep track of who voted for the chapter. Perhaps there is another way to check votes but I don't know how, which is why I haven't done shout outs for voters this time. 

2) I have an instragram account for this Wattpad account now. Don't really know what I will do with it or if I will use it much, but it's there if you want another way to conenct with me. (Link in my bio).

3) News you will all be excited to here... I wrote the last words of this book last night. I should have been doing my assignment due next Tuesday, however, reasons came up that saw me unable to focus. So I finished writing the whole book. I do need to edit it but... expect a chapter twice a week now. AND DON'T ASK ME HOW THE BOOK ENDS. I'll never tell you.

Until next chapter!