I smiled at the thought of what might happen if my grandmother found Cody. It was a good thing she no longer had a driver’s license. The smile slipped from my face. “My stomach’s in knots over all this.”
Tuck pulled me back down into the seat next to him. “That’s understandable. But you’re not alone.”
I let my fingers twine with Tuck’s under the table. “I know I’m not.” I paused, just taking a moment to soak up the easy affection in his gaze. “I wish you could stay tonight,” I whispered.
“I wish I could, too. Fuck, do I wish that.”
I rubbedat my eyes as I lifted my cup off the counter and took another sip of my green tea. This shift felt like it would never end. My nightmares were back, and my sleep was paying the price. It wasn’t until the dreams returned that I realized they’d left in the first place. Since Tuck and I had gotten together, my night terrors had been nearly nonexistent. Until last night.
The dream had started innocently enough. Noah and I playing tag in the field behind our guest house. As he ran, escaping my grasp, Cody showed up. He threw Noah over his shoulder and ran for his car. I chased after them, but the harder I pushed my muscles, the slower I went. And just as I reached the fence, Bryce appeared, long, gleaming knife in hand.
I’d woken in a cold sweat. After taking a shower so long the hot water had run out, I didn’t chance sleep a second time.
I jolted at the jingling of the bell over the door. It was a miracle I could even hear it over the sound of the old men bickering with each other over their bridge game. I forced a smile as I lifted my gaze to greet the customer. The grin fell from my lips, as did my desire to issue a greeting.
Cody stood across from me with a bouquet of flowers and a gift bag in his hand. “Just hear me out before you kick me to the curb.”
I ground my teeth together. “You have sixty seconds.”
“I’m sorry about yesterday. I mean, I’m sorry for a lot more than that, but let’s start with yesterday.” He set the bag and the flowers down on the counter. “I don’t always handle it well when other people know what a mess I’ve made of my life, and I didn’t know that guy who was here, and things just spiraled.”
I said nothing. I understood where Cody was coming from, but there was so much more water covering that bridge.
“The flowers are an apology to you for yesterday. And the bag is stuff for Noah. You don’t even have to tell him it’s from me.”
“I won’t.” The comment slipped from my lips before I could curtail my inner bitch. I took a deep breath. “I’m not saying that because I’m evil. I’m saying it because I have no idea how long you’re planning to stick around, and I won’t subject my son to having someone in his life who’s just going to abandon him all over again.”
Cody’s jaw clenched. “I’m here for as long as it takes.”
I threw my hands up. “And then what? You go back to wherever it is you live now?”
“Well, I was thinking about maybe moving to Sutter Lake. See if I could find work here.”
My brow arched. “Really?”
“Really. I’m serious about being a part of Noah’s life.” His eyes locked with mine, a familiar look in them. “And yours.”
My blood began to boil. “Oh, no, you don’t. The only way I factor into this equation is as Noah’s mother. Other than that. I don’t exist for you.”
A muscle ticked in Cody’s jaw. The one that meant he was two seconds away from losing his shit. “Don’t you think Noah deserves a chance to have a two-parent home? Most single moms would kill for that opportunity.”
“You need to leave. Listening to the bullshit falling out of your mouth is pissing me off.”
“Everything okay over here, Jensen?” I hadn’t even noticed that the bridge game had stopped and that Arthur now stood, holding the cane he used for stability in snowy weather like he might use it as a weapon.
“Everything’s fine, Arthur. This gentleman was just leaving.” I gave Cody a pointed look.
His shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry. That didn’t come out right. But I’ll call you, and we can talk at a more appropriate time.”
I shook my head as Cody left. Theappropriate timewould be a quarter till never.
Arthur shuffled closer to the counter. “Who was that guy?”
I rubbed my temples. “One of my many mistakes come back to haunt me.”
19
Tuck
