Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

The glare in his eyes was like a sharp sting as he watched Corley's back retreating. Bam! He slammed his fist against the steering wheel.

Oh, how he wanted to jump out, grab the guy by his collar, and give him a real thrashing.

But then he hesitated-

What right did he have to lash out?

An ex-boyfriend who couldn't let go?

Or a once-upon-a-time best buddy?

He let out a bitter chuckle, realizing he could only stand there in silence, watching them disappear upstairs.

...

With the delivery done, Corley was about to leave.

Roseanne came from the living room with a glass of water, offering it to him. "Thanks, man, have a drink before you go."

Corley looked up at her, his voice hoarse, "Sure."

Roseanne started tidying the place, planning to sort everything properly the next day.

Just then, a loud crash echoed as the wind picked up, slamming the balcony door she had forgotten to close earlier.

Remembering the plants on the balcony, she worried that if the wind knocked them off, someone might get hurt.

So, she paused what she was doing and hurried to move the plants inside.

One of the pots was particularly heavy, and after several attempts, she couldn't budge it.

At that moment, a pair of hands reached over, gripping the base, and effortlessly lifted it up.

it," Corley

sigh of relief. "Thanks,

she withdrew her hands, they accidentally brushed against Corley's, but she didn't think

but he showed

pointed awkwardly at the other

I look like a moving

bro. You said it

at a loss

Brother, my ass!

him, when it came

was just tending to the plants, she hadn't thought much of it,

to fetch the watering can when

t belongs to swich

Roseanne asked, "Here?"

face."

out a tissue and stepping forward to help her wipe

retrieving a small mirror from a drawer and using a tissue to clean her

it so complicated? This is

the turmoil in his eyes, and chuckled softly. "If there's nothing else, I'll head

said,

end of the

Murray hadn't left.

sitting in his car for half an hour, anxiously watching the building's

played

he fought the urge to

Corley stay the

and his heart ached

on the brink of

tension in his heart eased; relief flooded in, albeit