Free Fighting For You by Megan Noelle

man ever shed another tear over me—it would not be due to hurt.  I would never let that happen again.
    “I understand,” I whimpered out.  Corey nodded and released my face from his grasp.  Immediately, I ached for him. Before I realized what I was doing, I wrapped my arms around his waist and buried my face into his chest and breathed deep as sobs raked through my chest.  He hesitated for a minute before folding me within him.  I let his strength hold me up, the way it had since I first met him.
    I inhaled deeply, steadying my breathing so I could speak once again.
    “I’m not going anywhere this time.  I promise you, I’m here for good.”

Chapter Seven
     
    I left the kitchen and made a bee line for the bathroom.  I made quick work of drying my eyes, doing my best to make sure I didn’t go out there looking as red and splotchy as I did when I went in.  I squeezed my eyes shut to force out the last of the tears, willing back my self-control.  My hands pressed against the counter of the sink, my reflection staring back at me.  For the first time, I felt that I was seeing myself for the person I truly was - scarred, broken and terrified.  But what scared me most in that moment was that I had lost Corey.  That all my pushing finally paid off and in the worst way possible. 
    “Please! Don’t let him move on,” I pleaded with the mirror, as if some magical Mary Poppins would pop up and make it all better. 
    Only I could do that.  Hopefully.
    Right now I needed a big hug, but here was only one pair of arms I craved. I knew I couldn’t just hold onto him forever, despite the fact that was all I wanted.  I knew I could go to Gabby, but this was not the place because, knowing her, she would immediately snap into protective friend mode. 
    So, for now, I needed to suck it up and act like the stable woman I so frequently wasn’t.  I finally got my courage up to leave the bathroom and, once I did, I saw the food sitting at the booth.  Alex and Gabby chatted animatedly and Corey was behind the bar, mixing drinks for a couple new customers.  His eyes immediately found me and I knew that because I was staring like a fool. 
    Without missing a beat of drink mixing he mouthed, Are you okay?.  I nodded and gave my most reassuring smile.  The door opened and I registered someone else entering the bar, but it wasn’t until I heard a familiar voice that I turned to see who it was.
    “Well, well well! Look who has returned!” Standing at the door with a big goofy grin on his clean-shaven face was Sanders, Corey’s right hand man and a brother figure to both Corey and me.  When Corey and I were going through some of our worst moment’s the last time I was here, it was Sanders that kept me sane. 
    I didn’t realize just how much I missed him until then.  Before I knew it, my legs were carrying me as fast as possible until I slammed into him.  We stumbled back a step, but he held on tight, laughing against the side of my head.
    “Well, I missed you too, Dani!”
    I nodded into his shoulder as response.  That seemed to tell him that I needed him more than I could verbalize.  His arms wound a little tighter around my back and he leaned his lips closer to my ear.
    “Are you doing okay, Hun?” Once more I nodded. This time he pulled back to get a better look at my face to see how badly I was lying. 
    “I’m okay,” I reassured us both.
    “You have been very missed,” Sanders said, making sure to shoot his eyes in Corey’s direction so there was no question about what he meant.
    “I’m missed you guys too,” I whispered back.
    “Are you just passing through town?”
    “No, I moved home.” Sanders smiled and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead.
    “Welcome back.  Can I grab you something to drink?”
    I shook my head. “No, thanks. I have something.  I’m here with my friend Gabby for lunch.” Sanders released me from his grasp and waved towards my table.
    “Alright. Let me know if you