His smile, if it had been a smile, quickly disappeared. “What do you want, Jude?”
My jaw clenched, hurt running through me all over again as my brain reminded me of the last time we’d been in the same room. “To talk to you. Properly. Not to have you make stupidfucking decisions for both of us based on what you think is best for my life.”
“We already talked.”
“No,youtalked. And then you left before I could respond.” Taking a chance, I stepped forwards, the toe of my trainer crossing his threshold. “Can I come in? Please?”
“For fuck’s sake, Jude. Why can’t you leave me alone?” he muttered, which fucking hurt, but he stepped aside to let me in. Was I a masochist for doing this?
No. When I glanced at his downturned mouth and the misery that was so clear in his eyes, despite his efforts to hide it by looking everywhere but at me, I knew I was making the right decision. I was even more sure when I entered his living space, seeing the empty takeaway containers piled on the coffee table and kitchen island, the pillows dumped haphazardly on the floor, the glimpse of his unmade bed through the partially open door. And the TV currently showing a replay of his last game, which was the most damning evidence of all.
“Okay. Pack a bag.”
He stared at me, his mouth falling open. “What?”
“Pack a bag. Enough for at least two nights. We’re leaving.”
“The fuck, Jude? We’re not going anywhere.”
I folded my arms across my chest, staring him down. “Yes, we fucking are. You can come with me, or I walk out of this door, and you won’t ever see me again. Your choice.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Try me,” I snarled, and the venom in my voice took me aback as well as him. I’d originally planned to call his bluff if he said no, but honestly, I was at my limit. Either he came with me now, or I’d go, as much as it would hurt us both.
Okay. That wasn’t true. I’d try again. But I hoped I didn’t have to. Steeling myself, I hardened my gaze. “I mean it, Cody. If you don’t come with me, I’m leaving.”
He stared at me for a long moment. “Where?” he finally asked.
I exhaled, hiding my shaking hands by shoving them into my pockets. “It’s a surprise.”
“I don’t like surprises.”
“You’ll like this one.” My voice grew softer as I moved closer to him, my shoulder nudging against his. “Come on. You know you can trust me.”
There was another long pause, and then he let out a defeated sigh. “Fine.”
When he disappeared, I cleared up the empty takeaway containers and picked up the pillows from the floor before turning off the TV. By the time he emerged with a duffel bag slung over his shoulder, his apartment was more or less back to normal.
“Are you gonna tell me where we’re going?” he muttered.
I stepped up to him, pausing for a second to gauge his mood before I brushed a kiss across his cheek. “Nope. Still a surprise. Come on. You’re driving.”
21
Jude
Cody’s fingers flexed on the steering wheel, his jaw set as we wound our way through some of the most stunning scenery I’d ever seen in real life. Everywhere I looked was like something out of a postcard, all mountains and forests and bright blue skies.
“I always wanted to see the Rockies,” I murmured as we reached the turnoff for Lake Louise. The scenery along our route had been impressive enough, but the sight in front of us made my jaw drop. “Fuuuck. Look at that. It’s even more amazing than I imagined.”
“Yeah… Wow.” The hard line of Cody’s jaw softened as he took in the vista through the windscreen, like I hoped it would.
Lake Louise was spread out before us, the water a turquoise colour that I hadn’t even dreamed existed in real life, surrounded by towering peaks. How could anyone hold on to their anger, their frustration, their hurt, when they were faced with such awe-inspiring sights? Okay, I was aware it wasn’t a cure-all, but getting away from the city and immersing ourselves in nature was the only thing I could think of that might take Cody’s mind off everything else.
“Wow,” I echoed. It didn’t seem real. “Are we really here?”
“Yeah.” His lips kicked up at the corners as I directed him to the right, to the road that led to the parking area for the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel. “You should know. You brought us here.”
