The Heart System

Chapter 778: Chapter 778

Cora opened the door halfway, leaving just enough space for herself. I stood in the apartment hallway with my arms crossed, staring at her. She knew I was angry, and good. She deserved to know because she knew exactly how messed up this whole thing was. Kicking her own sister out of the house because she had something going on with me was beyond stupid.

Without saying a word, I pushed the door open with my palm and walked inside. Cora stood there for a second before quietly closing the door behind me.

Knowing Cora, I had every reason to be careful around her. She was the same girl who had kidnapped Charlotte and nearly bitten her nipple off. She wasn’t exactly stable, and I knew that better than anyone. Even then, none of that excused what she had done to Esme. Throwing her own sister out of the house crossed a line.

"I’ll ask again," I said, turning toward her. "Why? Why, Cora. Just tell me, please."

"I... I told you," she replied quietly. "I wanted her to move on. I told her to move on and find someone else, but she kept insisting she was happy with you."

"Then you should be happy for your sister too, Cora. You don’t throw her out of the house because of it."

"The first few times," she said, raising her voice a little, "I was okay with it because everything was still new, and I wanted someone I trusted around. You. But now... no. She needs to find another man."

I sighed and rubbed the back of my head before looking at her again.

"When something bothers you, you talk about it. You don’t make a rash decision that hurts the person you love most. She’s your sister, Cora."

"Sister or not, I’m trying to prepare her for life."

"By throwing her out of the house?" I asked. "Great plan. You’re in denial, Cora."

"I’m not."

"You are." I shook my head. "Just meet with Esme, apologize to her, and the three of us will sit down and fix this mess together. That’s all I’m asking."

"Evan..."

I stayed quiet and waited. I already knew she wasn’t going to finish whatever she wanted to say. After a few seconds, she simply lowered her head and leaned against the door with a tired sigh. Guess she finally accepted.

"I know you don’t want to share me," I said. "But Esme is happy, Cora. When she’s happy, you should be happy for her. And when both of you are happy, I’m happy too."

"Evan..."

I walked over and rested both hands on her shoulders. She lowered her eyes, her cheeks turning slightly red. I pulled her into a hug, and after a brief hesitation, she hugged me back. Her breathing slowly settled, and I simply stood there with her. I wasn’t going to pretend I understood what was going through her head because I didn’t. Cora had always been difficult to understand.

"I’ll call you," I said as I stepped back. "Then we’ll meet. You, Esme, and me. We’ll sort this out together."

She gave a small nod. "Okay."

"Take care of yourself, and don’t do anything reckless."

"I know. I won’t."

I left the apartment, walked down the stairs, and stepped outside. Night had already settled over the city, and the parking lot was lit only by the yellow glow of a few old streetlights. I headed toward my car, unlocked it with the key fob, and let out a long breath. Today had been exhausting, and somehow I had a feeling it still wasn’t over.

My phone started ringing before I could get inside.

I pulled it out of my pocket, saw Esme’s name on the screen, and answered the call.

"Hey, Esme."

"Um... h-hey," Esme began, her voice small. "Can you... drop by, maybe?"

"Sure. Something happened?"

"No. Just... um... please?"

"Okay. I’ll be there in thirty."

"Thank you... bye."

I shook my head, hung up, and started the car. The second I tossed the phone onto the passenger seat, it rang again. Assuming it was Esme calling back, I answered without looking, and immediately realized I was wrong. Delilah’s name was on the screen. A small spike of nerves hit me as I wondered if Ivy had somehow found out.

"Delilah?"

"Oh my god, Evan," she said the moment I picked up. "It was close. Sooo close."

"I know, right? But it got the blood pumping, can’t lie."

"Y-yeah... wow. Yes. I haven’t felt this excited in so long," she admitted. "Am I... a pervert or something?"

"Well, if that’s the case, I’m a pervert too. Because I kinda... well, liked it. We should do it again sometime."

"Uh-uh. Right." She let out a short chuckle. "No. That’s a hard no. What if she’d found us?"

"Well... I mean, that’s why it was exciting, no?"

I put the phone on speaker, pulled out of the parking lot, and started driving. A light drizzle was falling. We’d been incredibly lucky with the weather near New Year’s Eve for the beach trip, but this city’s weather was as unstable as its people, one day snow, the next the sunniest day anyone had ever seen.

"Ah," she exhaled. "Oh, I forgot why I called you. Where did you put the blanket? I have to throw it in the machine when she goes to sleep."

"Under the couch," I said. "In the living room."

"Okay. The double couch?"

"Yep."

"Okay... fuck, Evan. We should put a towel on the bed before we fuck again."

I grinned as I stopped at a red light. "So there IS a next time. Mrs. Komb, Mrs. Komb. What a pervert you are. I swear..."

"There is no next time!"

"But you just said it."

"I... uh." She exhaled in that annoyed way that still somehow sounded like she was smiling. "Bye, Mr. Marlowe. Next time make sure you finish deep inside so I don’t ooze with your cum."

"So there IS a next time."

"Shuuuuut uuuup."

Huh. That dramatic "shut up" reminded me of Ivy. Guess she really was her mother’s daughter. And I was the lucky bastard currently fucking both of them. But... man. Sooner or later we were going to get caught, and when that happened all hell would break loose. I had no idea what I’d do when the time came. Probably just dig a hole and hide under it.

"Right, right. Sure," I said, still smiling. "Take care, Delilah. And do let me know the next time Ivy goes out."

"Why is that, I wonder?"

"So I can rearrange your guts, Mrs. Komb."

"Oh my god. You are such an animal. I knew the day I caught you sniffing my panties that you were a pervert."

"I wasn’t!"

"Uh-uh. What did you do with the dirty panties I gave you back at college, then? I’d bet you jerked off every day just sniffing my scent."

"Nope," I lied.

Yeah. Lied.

"Uh-uh. Of course. Of course."

"Shuuuuut uuuup," I mirrored her.

We both chuckled. Then Delilah let out a long, soft exhale.

"Anyway, I have to go. Take care, Evan. I love you."

"I love you too. Bye."

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