Page 51 of False Comeback

“Ah, good.” He walked over with a big smile. “You’ve seen.”

“When do they get here, Corey?” Gabe asked eagerly.

“Do they have any experience, or are we going to have to teach them everything?” Biff asked gruffly.

“Do you know what the Beast is?” Kit piped up.

Corey laughed lightly, tossing back his hair. “Now I know this is exciting, everyone, but save your questions for Holt. He’ll be coming by later to fill you in. And,” he added brightly, “so will our new colleagues.”

“They’re coming in today?” Val asked.

Corey nodded. “Yes, just to meet the team. So please, everyone, be on your best behaviour. Be warm. Make them feel welcome.” He glanced at me, standing at the back of the group, then sought out Vince before clearing his throat. I stiffened. “Crossbody, Vince. If I could have a word with you both?”

Flexing my fingers anxiously by my sides, I walked over to him as Vince broke away from the group and reluctantly approached, his gaze averted. He made sure to keep several feet of space between us when he stopped and crossed his arms.

“Alright.” Corey looked between us with a mildly concerned expression. “I’m grateful for how well you worked together last week, and I know Holt is too, but I really do think we can go further. Repair this damaged relationship.”

“We’ve never been friends,” I said woodenly. “There’s no relationship to repair.”

“Then let’s grow one. Together.” He tried to reach for both our hands, realised Cora was tucked under his arm, and kissed the top of her head before setting her down. She scampered off with a little bark as Corey took my hand and did the same to Vince.

We both visibly tensed. If Corey tried to put my hand in Vince’s, I was going to quit. On the spot.

Which may have been an overreaction, considering his finger had been inside me, but I still would.

“Corey—” Vince began, voice filled with dread.

“We’re going to work through this together,” he said emphatically, squeezing our hands and giving them a little shake to drive his point home. “Holt’s given me the go-ahead. We’re doing couples therapy.”

“What?” I rasped in horror, just as Vince squawked, “Who?”

“You two.” Corey beamed at us. “I’m a certified counsellor.”

“We’re not a fucking couple,” Vince spluttered.

“Well, no, but a lot of the techniques will still apply. We’ll be working through your differences. These… blockages that are stopping you from—”

“No.” I yanked my hand free. “No, Corey. We will not be doing that. I cannot stress enough just how strongly I mean this: I cannot think of anything fucking worse.”

“Same,” Vince blurted, his jaw clenched.

Corey released his hand and raised his brows at us in an approving look. “See? It’s already working. You’re finding common ground.”

“You can’t force us to attend therapy, Corey,” Vince ground out.

“Well, actually…” Corey demurely inspected his fingernails. “Holt loved the idea. And he has in fact insisted that you attend at least a few sessions. So we can attempt to rid the workplace of the oppressive energy your animosity creates while our new co-workers are settling in.”

“Holt can insist all he wants,” I snapped. “He still can’t force us to do it. This is nonsense, Corey.”

The orc sighed and briefly closed his eyes. “I had such high hopes.” His green eyes opened again and fixed on us. “I’m very disappointed, you two. I’d thought, after last week, you’d at least be open to the idea. Don’t you want to resolve this?”

“No,” I bit out through clenched teeth.

“You’re acting like children. Clinging on to this pettiness for no reason. Because there is no reason for you to dislike each other.” He placed a big hand on his chest, eyes growing a little wet. “You’re both wonderful people. You mean so much to me, and I can’t stand seeing you like this.”

Vince scrubbed his face hard and groaned, “Corey…”

“I love you both so much, and I just want us to all be happy here.”