Chapter 19 Cody
“Are you nervous?” my manager Victor asks me.
I shake my head no. I’m not. Regardless of the outcome of Harper’s paternity test, I know that what Mae and I have restarted is solid. We’ll find a way to make it work and even more importantly, no matter what happens, if this kid is mine, I’ll be there for them. I’ll be in their life for good.
The past few weeks Mae and I have spent every free moment together, catching up on missed years while Elsie was in Florida with her parents, and then when she returned, finding each other during lunch breaks and dinner date nights as I prepare for my upcoming headlining tour.
It’s something I’ve been looking forward to doing since I entered the country music scene two years ago, but now that Mae has reentered my life like an unexpected fireball of passion and stability, I’m not looking forward to being away from Nashville as much as I thought I would be.
Especially since Mae told her parents about our relationship and her father has been surprisingly accepting of it.
Mae’s senior publicist, Leah, steps into the room with an envelope in hand, offering me a polite smile.
I hate that Mae couldn’t be here for this, but she had a prior commitment with a client in Las Vegas—where she splits her time more often than not.
Still, she asked me to call her as soon as Leah and I finalized the Instagram post in response to whatever Harper is about to share.
Leah and Harper’s publicist have worked together to draft two versions of the pregnancy announcement.
Both posts will express Harper’s excitement over the news, but one will request privacy, while the other will confirm me as the father.
The only thing holding us back now is figuring out which version is about to go live.
Leah slides the envelope across the table. “Here you go, Cody,” she says, her voice calm and steady.
I take it, tearing it open without hesitation. Closing my eyes for a brief moment, I inhale deeply, bracing myself for whatever truth is written inside.
An unexpected pregnancy wouldn’t be the end of the world—not for me.
Wilder went through this exact situation eight years ago, and his daughter, Willow, turned out to be the greatest blessing in his life.
But still… I can’t shake the feeling that I’m just getting started, that I’m finally stepping into my own.
A kid? Now? With a woman that I don’t love. I’m not ready for that.
But readiness doesn’t matter. The answer is in my hands.
My eyes scan the page as I look at the percentage match between my DNA and Harper’s baby’s.
PROBABILITY OF PATERNITY: 0
“Shit...” I exhale, letting my head drop into my hands. I slide the paper over to Victor, who gives it a quick once-over, claps me on the back, and then hands it across the table to Leah.
“Alright, so we’ll go with option number two on the post. I’ll call Harper’s publicist and confirm she’s received the results as well.
We’ll time it so that her pregnancy announcement is released at the same time as your post,” Leah says, standing up and clearing the table all business with no further questions.
Option number two for my post is a congratulations to my former tourmate on her new pregnancy and wishing her the best.
Victor squeezes my bicep. “Hey Cody, you going to be alright?”
I lift my head and smile with a nod. “I’m ready for this tour now, boss,” I say grinning as he laughs.
“Go home and rest up, because we leave for your Atlanta opener tomorrow night.”
We say our goodbyes and head back out to the parking lot of Sterling Sports PR where I instantly call Mae through the Bluetooth in my car.
“Hey baby.”
“Hey Cody, how’d everything go?” she asks, her voice relaxed, completely unbothered.
And that’s the one thing I’ve always known, no matter how much chaos swirled around.
Mae would be there. Unwavering. I’m grateful for that—whether I was the father or not, I know the results wouldn’t change how she feels about me or what we’re building together.
She’s just that solid. That understanding.
And I’m not letting her slip away again.
“I’m not the father,” I respond.
She lets out a breath. “I’ll see you tonight when I land in Nashville?”
“Come home soon.”
***
Later that night, Harper released her pregnancy announcement post on Instagram perfectly synced with the post that Leah had timed for mine. I re-read over the words I agreed to one last time.
Harper’s post: “I’ve been keeping a secret! Baby Lane is coming on tour with me this summer! For privacy purposes, I’ll be keeping the father’s identity a secret while we enjoy this time together. Thank you to everyone for the well-wishes!”
Cody’s post: “Big congratulations to my friend and fellow tour mate Harper Lane on her new baby! I know there will be speculation about last summer, so I wanted to address it upfront. While fatherhood is something I look forward to someday off in the future, right now, my focus is on the summer tour. See y’all on the road soon! ”