Free I'm Doin' Me by Anna Black

address. She told the driver her street, but not her house number.
    â€œHold on,” Kory said and went into her purse. He pulled out her license and gave the driver the address. She rested in his arms and dozed off. When they arrived, he woke her. “Tiff, wake up.” He shook her.
    â€œHuh?” Her head popped up.
    â€œWe are here,” he said.
    â€œOh, Kory, thank you,” she said taking her purse and shoes. She was a little more sober after her nap.
    â€œNo problem.”
    â€œYou should come in,” she suggested.
    â€œNaw, I’m going to go home.”
    â€œKory, that’s nonsense. It’s late. I’ll put on a pot of coffee. In the morning, we can cab it back to our cars.” He gave in and they went inside. She turned on the light. “Please make yourself at home. I am going to put on a pot and shower really quick, okay?”
    He nodded and sat on the sofa. When he looked at his phone, he saw that he had five missed calls from Tressa.
    â€œWhere the hell have you been and why did you not answer my calls?” she asked when he called her back.
    â€œCalm down, Reesy. I was out with Vi and we were having drinks. I just got in and saw I missed your calls.”
    â€œDon’t lie to me.”
    â€œReesy, where else would I be?”
    â€œKory, if you are lying to me, I swear this wedding is off!” she yelled.
    â€œReesy, I’ve had a few drinks, I’m tired, and I can’t do this with you tonight. Either you trust me or you don’t.”
    â€œOkay, I will see you tomorrow evening. We won’t be back until close to dinner.”
    â€œOkay,” he said.
    â€œOkay, Kory, I love you,” she said.
    â€œI love you too,” he said before hanging up.
    A little later, Tiffany came out in cotton PJs and her face scrubbed clean. Kory sat up when she approached.
    â€œHow do you take your coffee?” she asked.
    â€œOne cream, two sugars,” he said.
    She went to pour both of them a cup. She handed him his and took a seat at the other end of the sofa.
    â€œI’m sorry,” she said.
    â€œFor what?”
    â€œFor drinking too much and making you lie to your fiancée.”
    He laughed a little. He hadn’t known she’d heard him call Tressa. “You don’t have to apologize, Tiff. I didn’t lie for me. I lied for you,” he said.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œI have no problems with telling Reesy the truth. I can handle her and my relationship. I just know how important your career and your show is to you, and I don’t want to do anything to hinder that. You are talented and you are passionate about what you are doing, and I do hope Mr. Green contracts your show. It will be a hit.”
    She smiled and he smiled back at her. Her smile was beautiful. He saw the teenager he had a thing for back in the day and he had to admit that there was more to it than there should have been.
    â€œThank you, Kory. And thank you for thinking of my career. I would never want to put you in a situation where you have to lie to her about hanging out with me, so after tonight, maybe we shouldn’t hang anymore. I mean, I can understand why Tressa feels the way she feels, because if we were engaged, I wouldn’t want you hanging with her.”
    â€œNo, we can’t stop being friends, Tiff. Now that you are back in my life, I don’t want to not ever see you again.”
    â€œHuh?” she asked.
    â€œI just don’t think that us not being friends is the right answer, that’s all,” he said, realizing he should not have said “back in his life.”
    â€œI don’t want to cause problems for you, Kory.”
    He put his coffee down and moved to her end. “You won’t,” he said. He hated that he wanted to kiss her. He looked at her beautiful face and caressed her cheek. “Listen, Tiff, it’s been great seeing you again and hanging out with you. I