Page 62 of Under the Influence

I can’t help but stand there in awe. I’ve never seen Nash kiss anyone in public, not ever. Sure he’s slept with plenty of girls but kiss them? Act like he cares? Never. He even kissed her in front of his father.

“Tell your friends bye, son.”

Nash pulls his lips from Cori’s, turning his eyes to me, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, man. Alright.”

I push the front door open, Cori following close behind me. We slip into my truck, and it’s a short drive down the street to our houses.

“You sure you’re alright?” I ask, wanting to know what happened between them.

She assures me that she’s fine, hopping out of my truck. “Is everything okay with your girlfriend?”

It feels a little wrong talking to Cori about Avery, but she deserves to know. Especially after that kiss the other night.

“Yeah, everything is fine. Well, it is now.”

Cori’s eyes go wide like she knows something I don’t.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I laugh.

“I just didn’t expect it, that’s all.”

Wait. What?

“Didn’t expect what?” I ask, thoroughly confused.

She waves her hands, “Nothing, it’s none of my business.”

She turns to walk over to her house, my voice stopping her mid-stride, “What is none of your business? What the hell do you think you know?”

She looks around, I guess making sure nobody can hear her, “You skipped school because she needed an abortion, right?”

I nearly choke to death on my own saliva. She thought I got Avery pregnant? Is that what everyone thinks?

“Holy shit. Is that what everyone is saying?” I croak. “No. Cori, Avery wasn’t pregnant.”

Cori’s eyes go wide with embarrassment, “Oh my God. That’s just what…” she stammers. “Well that’s what people at school were saying.”

I shake my head in disbelief, her voice still frantic, “So basically all day I thought that you kissed me knowing that Avery was pregnant. I was…” she rambles. “I was so mad at you.”

I shouldn’t say this, but the words just flow, “I kissed you because I can’t stay away from you, and Avery can’t be pregnant. Well, not by me anyway, because we’ve never had sex.”

Hearing that truth actually fall from my lips is eye-opening.

Cori’s giggle isn’t something I was expecting to hear in return.

“What is it?” I laugh.

“I should’ve known better than to even consider those rumors. I realize now how stupid it sounds.”

“Yeah, Legacy can come up with some pretty crazy ones.”

She laughs again, obviously thinking about something.

“What is it?”

“The other part of the rumor,” she shakes her head, her dimples showing.