Someday still scared him.Maybe it always would.
But she wasn’t going anywhere.
She knew, without a doubt, he’d figure that out soon enough.
14
For the next two weeks, Cody vacillated between heaven and hell.
Fern loved him.
She’d said it.She’d whispered it into his hair, pressed it into his skin with her lips, texted it in the quiet hours when she thought he might need to hear it most.
Every time that bone-deep part of him quavered in believing that he was worthy of her, he made sure to say it back, and every time it meant something more.
I love you.I care so much.
I love you.I’m afraid, but you being there makes it better.
I love you.I’m yours for as long as forever lasts.
It helped, but it still didn’t feel like enough.Not because she wasn’t enough, or him, but maybe because after all he’d put her through, he needed something bigger than words.Some blunt-force miracle to crack open every last doubt.
Hell, even the secret of them being together felt more wrong than right.
What was it she’d told him last year?That so many times in her life had felt like a battle.He wanted to change that, yet he couldn’t fix the unfixable.He had Parkinson’s.That was a battle she’d vowed to fight at his side.
But there had to be something else…
When the end of June rolled around, a wild idea took root in his brain.Big enough to make a point.Foolish enough it felt exactly right.
Because if he was going to stake his claim on destiny, he needed to do it where everyone could see.
Canada Day hit, and all his plans nearly went up in smoke when he barely made it to the old community hall on time.He arrived after lunch, and the bachelor auction had already begun when he slipped in the back door, heart hammering as he snuck onto the back of the stage.
The heat was oppressive, the thin light of a single overhead bulb barely breaching the darkness.The curtain was closed for some reason, and the scent of masculine sweat and nerves blended on the air.
From behind the curtain, Chance’s voice rang out, pitched smooth and professional.“Come now.Do I have any other bids?”
Cody edged past a cluster of bachelors perched on folding chairs, all looking as if they’d rather be anywhere else.“What the hell is going on?Why are you sitting here in the dark?”he asked quietly.
One of them, a skinny cowboy he half-knew from the feed store, lifted a shoulder.“Curtain’s stuck.Mr.Fields is grabbing us when it’s our turn.”
Before Cody could reply, a roar went up on the other side of the curtain.Voices overlapped.Laughter, a smattering of applause, a high, clear shout that sounded suspiciously likeI love you!
Cody made a move toward the curtain to see what was happening when Jose Sanchez, the stock manager from the seed and feed, slapped a hand onto his forearm and squeezed so tight Cody winced.
“Can’t—breathe,” Jose rasped, eyes wide and glassy.
“Shit.”Cody dropped to his knees.“You have an inhaler?An EpiPen?”
Jose shook his head frantically.“No allergies—just…oh, damn?—”
Not allergies.Panic attack then.
Cody had seen it a dozen times.Usually in kids forced too close to a horse or an arena full of screaming strangers.He didn’t think twice.He braced a steady hand on Jose’s shoulder.
“Hey.You’re okay.Look at me.”
