29. Chapter 29
Chapter 29
Evan
I loved waking up and having Calista in my arms. No more hiding from anyone. It felt so free. Skye seemed to accept it with no problems.
Though she had some questions this morning like can she still come in if she has a bad dream. Yes, we told her. Can she still come in my bedroom? Yes, but she has to knock first. Can she still use my bathtub? Yes. Can she still use Calista’s hair and makeup? We agreed with a yes. Though I wasn’t thrilled with the makeup.
It was so much easier to say no when I only had one person giving me puppy dog eyes. Now that the two of them can gang up against me, I’m hopeless. I have to give in. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
After we got Skye off to school today, Calista said she was going to go check on Kaylee. So I decided now was the time to talk to Cody. I don’t want this hanging over our heads any longer than it has to be, and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for my girls.
That thought makes me smile. My girls. The two people in the whole world who own a part of my heart. I think Calista owned that part of my heart a lot longer than either of us realized. Being able to admit it to her now is the most freeing feeling.
Stopping at Cody’s house first, I hope to catch him before he heads to the distillery for the day. Less people to witness if he attacks me because I completely deserve it.
Thankfully, his truck is in the driveway, so I knock. He opens the door and frowns at me. He looks like he hasn’t slept. His hair is messy and there are dark circles under his eyes.
“Can I come in? I think we need to talk,” I say.
Cody doesn’t say anything, just stands to the side and holds the door open for me. Once inside, I go right to the living room before sitting on the couch.
“If you weren’t injured, I’d punch you right now,” Cody says, standing in the doorway.
“And I’d have let you. This isn’t a fling. I’ve liked her since we were in high school. But with the age gap and you, I never said anything. Yet seeing her again after all this time? It was brutal.” I take a quick glance at Cody and he seems to be listening.
As I keep talking, he moves to sit in the recliner facing me.
“Nothing happened prior to her staying with me. We talked, she did Skye’s hair, but that was it. Once she moved in, it kept building. We both fought it long and hard which isn’t easy when you are in such close quarters. Until we gave in and kissed. That first kiss? It rocked our worlds. After that, I think I knew then it would be a forever kind of thing.
Even though we planned to end it when she left, I couldn’t. So last night, Skye and I went and asked her to marry me. She said yes and then you walked in.” I leave everything on the table.
He doesn’t say anything, so I go on.
“Skye loves her, and I don’t think I realized until Calista was staying with us how much Skye has wanted a mother figure. When I asked how she felt about me marrying Calista, you should have seen the smile on her face. I haven’t seen one so big from her since we took her to Branson,” I tell him.
Cody looks up, studying me. Even though it makes me feel uncomfortable, as a cop I know I need to ride the silence out. Before I let him speak, there is one more thing I want to say.
“I love her. And I plan to marry her. Having you on our side would make things easier. But don’t ask me to choose because I won’t.”
Having said what I wanted to, I’m perfectly content to sit in the silence and wait for him to speak.
“Well, at least your story matches hers,” he says.
I sit there shocked. “What do you mean?”
“She came over her last night madder than a wasp in a coke can. Then she proceeded to lay into me and tell me what happened. I’ve been up all-night thinking about it,” Cody says.
I’m stunned. She didn’t tell me she was here.
Picking up my phone, I shoot her a text.
Me: Why didn’t you tell me you went and talked to Cody last night?
Thankfully, her answer is quick.
Calista: You didn’t let me get a word out before we went upstairs…
Well shit, if it isn’t true. Maybe I should have let her speak before I let my anger and worry take over. But what a damn good night it was.
“Listen, I want you both happy,” Cody says. “But that doesn’t mean I’m happy about all this. And for a while, I reserve the right to be pissed at how I found out. Let me make some things very clear. I’m on her side. Despite what I might tell her. You hurt her and I will murder you and smile in my mug shot,” he says, glaring at me.
“I don’t doubt it,” I say.
“When you are healed, I still reserved the right to punch you,” he adds.
“We can sell tickets and make it an event,” I say, smirking. I’m okay with our conversation. I’ve said my piece and Cody knows where I stand.
“Well, you have always been family. I guess we might as well make it official. Besides, I can’t have Calista mad at me for this for too long…” he says, a slight blush on his face.
“What am I missing?” I ask.
“There might be someone, but she’s connected to Cal. With how things went over and how I reacted, I’m not at all sure how my news will go over. I guess we’ll just have to see,” he sighs.
“Well, whatever you do, don’t tell me what you don’t want her to know. I’m pretty sure I signed an oath in blood to tell her everything from now on. If I had to choose, I’d rather have you mad at me than her. For reasons we won’t talk about, since she is your sister.”
Cody tosses a throw pillow at me, but has a smile on his face.
“Well, I’m not ready to talk about it anyway,” Cody says.
“So, are we good?” I ask hesitantly.
Cody nods, “Yeah, we are good. But there was something else I wanted to talk to you about.”
“What's that?”
“Listen, I’ve talked with my brothers and Dad about this. But, not Cal, so that is a talk for you two. Since you will be family soon, this is even better timing,” he says.
“I don’t know if I’m interested or scared…” I say, several things racing through my head.
“When you told me you didn’t want Skye to worry about you, I heard your concern. And selfishly, I don’t want to worry about you either. Definitely, I know Cal won’t want too either. I know my sister. After seeing you having been shot, she won’t do well with you going back to work. If it’s what you want, she will hide it. But know, she will be a wreck,” Cody says.
My mind starts racing and whirling with what that means. I was worried enough about going back to work when it was just Skye. Now, I have to consider Calista too. Skye only has hospital images in her head, but Calista saw the worst of it. I can’t do that to her…
“Evan!” Cody yells my name, jerking me from my careening thoughts.
“Fuck,” I say, trying to take deep breaths. I realize I was on the edge of a full-blown panic attack. It’s been years since I had one, but I know what they feel like.
“You, okay?” Cody asks.
“I will be. Sorry about that.” I’m trying to get us back on track and my mind focused on something else.
“Where did your mind go just then?”
“To the fact that it’s not just Skye and me I have to worry about anymore. Calista was there and saw all of it. I can’t do that to her again.” My voice is hoarse as I imagine a similar scenario.
“Well then, I might have a solution. After the BBQ competition, the distillery business increased more than we planned. We need help full time. We’d like to keep the ranks close, and would like for you to join us,” Cody says.
“Doing what?” He has my interest, but I don’t know what he has in mind.
“A manager role. Preferably mornings. We need to open earlier and get the employees in to make more products. But you know none of us are morning people. Colt has already said he’s happy to stay later. He overshared telling me that it’s a good way to pick up woman to take home. I thought since you are up early with Skye taking her to school, you might be interested. We’ll need you for mornings. Monday through Friday and afternoon hours are flexible. Mom is happy to keep picking up Skye, but if you need to run out, I’m in by eleven most days.
We have an idea of what you do at the station, and we can offer you more. However, I’m not sure we can match the benefits. If you are interested, talk it over with Cal. We’d like to bring her in to do front of the house stuff. Growing up, she loved decorating, so it will suit her. She’ll be doing other tasks as well, but you won’t be her direct boss. Though she might have her own plans. We can talk more later,” Cody says.
My head is spinning. Before Calista, I’d have accepted on the spot. But he’s right. I need to talk to her.
“While I know I’ll have to talk to Calista, I am very interested,” I say.
We’ve said everything we’re going to say, so we stand and give each other a half hug, saying goodbye.
When I get to my car, I check my phone. Calista said she was going home about ten minutes ago, so she should get there before me. It’s not even lunchtime, so we have plenty of time before Skye gets out of school.
Me: I’m heading home now. I expect to find you naked in our bed, waiting. After I give us both the relief I know we need, I have a lot to talk to you about.
I’m halfway home when she replies with a photo of her clothes on the ground in a pile beside the bed. This woman is going to keep me on my toes.