Ain't No Sunshine

Chapter Two

Cory

Shesetmeup.Summer totally set me up. Or, at the very least, made plans to increase the chances of running into Nate organically. Ugh! I could just...nothing. I would never do anything. But damn her.

It’s been a month since we made that deal, and I’d actually forgotten about it, almost. At least, I was no longer thinking about it hourly. I’m currently standing in line to get tickets to some movie I don’t even want to see, and guess who’s standing ahead of me?

Yep; Nate. Which means I now have a deal to fulfil, and dammit, that terrifies me.

I collect our tickets and turn to meet Summer where she’s waiting at the entrance, immediately scowling when I see the hint of a smirk she’s trying to hide. She raises an eyebrow. “What’s that look for?”

“You know exactly what it’s for,” I mumble with a pout.

She laughs, curling one of her long blonde locks around her finger. “You’re right; I do. But it was a complete coincidence. Sort of. Mostly.”

“I’m listening,” I say expectantly, running my hand through my copper brown hair and probably messing it up. God, I hope Nate’s not seeing the same movie.

Summer crinkles her nose. Something she does often when she’s a little uncomfortable. “I may have overheard a guy from the football team say he was meeting Nate here. On this day. At this time.”

I shake my head, but before I can speak, Summer cuts me off. “Look, it was a complete coincidence that I heard that conversation. I was filling up my car, and he happened to be filling up at the pump next to me while chatting with some girl through the window.”

And, of course, her story sounds legit. At least I know it wasn’t premeditated. I shake my head with a forgiving sigh, and mutter, “You still set me up.”

“I did.” Summer beams at my obvious acceptance and links her arm through mine. “Now, let’s get this shitty movie over with so we can decide how to get Nate,” she says, already pulling me toward the entry.

“Wait!” I pull back on Summer’s arm. “I’m not sure I’m ready yet.”

Her gaze softens; she knows I’m not talking about the movie. “Those guys were assholes, Cory. I’m not saying you won’t ever come across another jerk in your life, but I’ve never heard a bad thing said about Nate, and at some point you have to trust again, or you’ll never find love.”

I raise an eyebrow because she needs to do the same thing.

“The love you want,” she clarifies.

“I’ll never understand why you don’t want it.”

Summer shakes her head as an answer. “Cory. You’ve been pining over Nate for months. It can’t hurt to get to know him. Take things at your pace and see what happens.”

“What if this time I end up too broken?”

Summer shakes her head in protest. “I will always find a way to put you back together. The only way you’re going to know is if you put yourself out there. Now, come on.” She loops her arm through mine to lead us inside.

A week later, I find myself standing outside The Ball House. Home to some of the football team. Home to Nate. Don’t ask me how I know that. I’m pretty sure everyone does. Don’t they? With a deep breath, I take in the enormous building that’s more like a mansion than a home. My lip’s about ready to bust with how hard I’m biting it, and I’m struggling to keep my hands still. Summer stands beside me with a sympathetic smile on her face. She’s more enthusiastic than I thought she’d be, but I know I don’t have all night. To be honest, I never thought she’d step foot in this place. For good reason…

I take a deep breath and grab Summer’s hand. “Okay, I’m ready,” I say as my heart continues to race out of my chest.

She smiles and pulls me to the door, pausing for a moment before stepping over the threshold. Yep, this is harder on her than she’s letting on. I want to focus on that, to ask if she’s okay, but a quick scan of my surroundings has my stomach in knots, and I spiral. Oh, God, what if he turns me down? I’m definitely not prepared for such a public rejection. I bite the inside of my cheek and stand tall. Well, as tall as I can for my short height, even with my five-inch heels.

It’s safe to say I’m on edge until I finally see Nate, and my pulse skyrockets again. I can’t do this. He doesn’t even know who I am. He’s going to reject me. He’s—

“Relax, it’s going to be fine,” Summer says, interrupting my freak out.

I shake my head because she’s wrong. Just because no one has ever said no to her doesn’t mean I’m awarded the same luxury. “I can’t do this,”I repeat out loud this time.

Summer’s eyes widen at something she sees over my shoulder before moving back to me. “How about I help you out?”

“How?”

“I’ll be your wing woman. Like Barney Stinson. I’ll say ′Have you met Cory?′ then walk away.”