Chapter 10: A Glimmer of Hope

Dana’s thumb caressed her phone's racked screen. The faint line running across the corner catching the edge of her nail as she reread Corey’s message for the fifth time:

"I’ve been out of the country for a while now, running some errands for my boss. It’s a really long story that I don’t want to bore you with. I couldn’t tell you because I was too stupid to face you after what you saw at my apartment.

I’m sorry for hurting you. I hope you can forgive me. And it’s okay if you don’t.

I still have a lot to work on in my soul, and really, you deserve better. I was thinking we could probably meet up when you're comfortable.

Once again, I am deeply sorry, Dana."

Her heart felt heavy, each word pressed down harder than the last.

She fell back on her bed, tossing the phone onto the pillow beside her, and covered her face with her hands. “What am I supposed to do with this?” she mumbled into her palms.

It didn’t make sense. Corey was out of the country? For weeks? Then who had been driving his car? Who had picked up his siblings?

Her mind raced as she tried to recall every detail from that moment—his hat, his posture, the way he moved—but the harder she thought, the more her memory blurred. She hadn’t actually seen his face. Not clearly, anyway. Just the hat that looked like Corey’s and the familiar shape of his shoulders.

Was I just seeing what I wanted to see?

Dana let out a long groan. She grabs her pillow and holds it against her face. The pain wasn't just about Corey ghosting her and showing up all of a sudden; sure it's the foundation of her current troubles, however, it also felt like everything in her life was getting out of her control.

She sat up abruptly and grabbed her phone. She typed out a quick response: "Let’s meet tomorrow. 8 PM. Yankee Park.”

Simple. Direct. No explanation needed. If he wanted to talk, they’d talk.

A knock on the door startled her. She looked up to see Riley leaning against the frame, holding a bowl and a fork in one hand.

“You’re going to stay in bed all day again?” Riley asked, arching an eyebrow. “Because I made lasagna, and you know you can’t say no to carbs.”

Dana shook her head. “I’m not hungry.”

“Don’t care.” Riley stepped inside anyway, sitting cross-legged on Dana's bed. The smell of lasagna wafted through the room; it looked rich and cheesy. Riley took a bite and chewed dramatically. “You’re not missing this. It’s magic. I should open a restaurant.”

Dana gave her a halfhearted look. “Since when do you cook?”

“Wow.” Riley pointed her fork at her. “The insult. The absolute nerve. Just because you’re mopey doesn’t mean you get to question my culinary skills.”

Dana managed to give a faint smile. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

Riley scooped up another forkful of lasagna, then gestured to Dana’s phone with her free hand. “What’s going on there? You looked like you were trying to psych yourself up for something.”

Dana hesitated, then handed over the phone. Riley read the message from Corey, her eyebrows furrowing as she scrolled. “So, he’s been out of the country this whole time? Convenient excuse.”

“He apologized,” Dana said softly.

“He also said you deserve better and he has some work to do on his soul.” Riley shot her a look. “I mean, come on. What is that? Is this supposed to make you feel better or just confuse you more?”

Dana shrugged. “I don’t know. He says he was too ashamed to talk to me or tell me where he was.”

“Or maybe he’s lying.” Riley set the bowl on the nightstand and turned toward Dana fully. “Look, I know you don’t want to hear this, but something about Corey feels… off. And I’m not just saying that because he ghosted you. I mean, if he’s telling the truth, why couldn’t he just call? Or explain himself sooner?”

Dana sighed, leaning her head back against the headboard. “I don’t know, Riley. I really don’t. But… I have to hear him out. Even if it’s just for closure.”

Riley folded her arms, watching Dana carefully. “I get that. Closure is fine. But don’t let him worm his way back in if he doesn’t deserve it. You’ve been through enough.”

Dana reached for the lasagna; she suddenly craved the distraction. “Maybe you’re right. But I still have to meet him. After all this time, I need to hear what he has to say in person.”

Riley let out a long sigh. “Fine. Just promise me you won’t fall for his puppy-dog eyes again. The last thing I want is to see you crying into another pint of ice cream.”

Dana smiled faintly, taking a bite of lasagna. “Okay, deal. I've barely eaten any icecream for the past few days, though.”

Riley shot her a doubtful look.

"And by the way, are you sure you made this?”

Riley gasped, clutching her chest in mock offense. “Excuse me? You think I can’t whip up an amazing lasagna? I feel personally attacked.”

“You should,” Dana teased, her smile widening. “This is way too good to be yours.”

They went back and forth for a few moments, Riley insisting she’d slaved over the stove all day while Dana gave her skeptical looks. Finally, Riley threw her hands up. “Fine! My mom made it. Happy now?”

“I knew it,” Dana said, shaking her head. “You’re a fraud.”

“And proud of it.” Riley leaned back on her hands, watching as Dana took another bite. “Speaking of frauds… Are you going to go full detective mode on Corey this time? Or are you just going to listen and let him off easy?”

Dana set her fork down, her expression growing serious. “I don’t know. I just… I want answers. That’s it.”

“And then what?” Riley pressed. “You’re just going to forgive him? Let him waltz back into your life like nothing happened?”

Dana hesitated, her fingers brushing against the edge of her plate. “I don’t know, Riley. Why do you keep bugging me with this, though? I simply feel like I owe it to myself to hear him out, hmm? I promise I will be very careful this time."

Riley studied her for a long moment, then nodded. “Okay. I will stop here, for real this time. But if he messes with you again, I’m going to hunt him down. Just saying.”

Dana laughed. Her chest felt a little lighter for the first time in days. Riley was always a fifty percent cure to her problems, and she couldn't have asked for a better friend.

“So,” she said, changing the subject. “What’s going on with you and Tobi? Has he said anything about the party? Like, you know, how he felt about dancing with you?”

Riley rolled her eyes. “There’s nothing going on.”

“Nothing? After that slow dance and all the blushing?” Dana raised an eyebrow. “You expect me to believe that?”

Riley shrugged and stuffed her mouth with lasagna.

Oh, please,” Dana scoffed. “You two were practically glowing. I’ve never seen you smile that much in my entire life. And you’re telling me he didn’t feel anything?”

Riley hesitated, stabbing her fork into the empty bowl. “I mean, he was sweet. He always is. But it’s just Tobi being Tobi. He’s like that with everyone.”

Dana raised an eyebrow. “So, he’s sweet, thoughtful, and clearly into you, and you’re just brushing it off? Why?”

“Because it’s not serious!” Riley threw up her hands, exasperated. “It’s just a crush. That’s all it’s ever been.”

Dana wasn’t convinced. “Are you sure? Or are you just afraid he’s too good for you?”

Riley froze, her expression shifting slightly. “That’s not it.”

“Then what is it?” Dana pressed. “Because you’re sitting here telling me not to forgive Corey, but you’re doing the same thing with Tobi, pushing him away before he even has the chance to show you he’s serious.”

Riley shook her head. “It’s not like that. Tobi’s great, but I don’t see a future with him. That’s it.”

Dana leaned closer. “Or maybe you think he doesn’t see a future with you. Have you thought about that?”

Riley’s lips twitched, and for a moment, Dana thought she’d hit a nerve. But then Riley waved her off. “We’re not talking about me anymore. Tomorrow’s about you and Corey, not me and my nonexistent love life.”

Riley waved her off, reaching for the bowl again. “Besides, It’s just a crush. I’m over it.”

Dana’s jaw dropped. “Over it? Riley, you two looked like you were about to ride off into the sunset together.” she held Riley's hand playfully.

Riley shook her head. “No way. He’s not serious. And honestly, neither am I. It was just a party, Dana. It doesn’t mean anything.”

Dana wasn’t buying it. “Are you sure about that? Maybe his heart belongs to someone else, and you’re just too scared to admit it.”

Riley threw a pillow at her, laughing. “Stop. You sound like one of those cheesy romance novels you love.”

“Hey, you’re the one who danced with the guy!” Dana teased, dodging the pillow.

Riley smirked. “Whatever. Let’s just say Tobi’s… complicated. Like every other man on this planet. Let's end it there."

Dana sighed, leaning back against the pillows. “Fine. But this isn’t over. We’re talking about Tobi again later.”

Riley laughed, standing up and grabbing the empty bowl. “Good luck with that.”

Dana smiled faintly, but her mind drifted back to Corey’s message, the words still ringing in her head. She couldn’t shake it off. She had a lot o

f questions, and tomorrow, she was determined to get some answers.