Chapter 12
Chapter twelve
Warner – Changes
I shut the trunk on the last of the stuff and looked around for Vince and Joey. Vince was putting the last of Joey’s things in the car, and Joey was walking this way from the bathroom. “Daddy Warner. Daddy Warner.” He waved his hand over his head.
“What’s going on, Joey?”
“I talked to Cody.” He waved his phone in the air. “You need to call him again.”
“He’s ready to talk?”
“Yes. I helped him decide to talk to you, but he’s afraid you’re mad at him.”
Mad? Mad had morphed into a heavy sadness that I couldn’t shake. “I’m not mad.”
“I didn’t think so. That’s what I told him, and Cody said if you’re not mad, to call him. So…” he made a shooing motion.
Pulling my phone out, I turned and walked into a more wooded area, away from other campers, and called him.
“Daddy?”
“Cody, baby? Are you okay?”
“Yes. I mean, physically. I haven’t wrecked the car or anything.”
“Thankfully. But that’s not nice to be gone so long with someone else’s car.”
“I know. Tell Royce I’m sorry. I needed space. The pressure was too much.”
“Pressure? From what?” We were on vacation, having a good time, I hadn’t put any kind of pressure on him.
“The whole moving-in thing. I’ve acted like I’m ignoring it, but I’m not. At all.”
I should have known. Hell, I’d felt the tension between us, but I’d hoped it would wait.
Normally, Cody is all about having fun, especially outdoors, but this whole trip, he had been just a bit off.
I didn’t think it was as bad as this—driving him away.
“That’s not something you have to think about right now. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I know and that’s what we said, but it’s still bothering me. Like really bothering me.” The sadness in his voice nearly broke my heart.
“We’re all heading to Key West. I’d like it very much if you’d meet us there. Then we can talk about this more. I want you to be comfortable. If you don’t want to move in, it’s okay.”
“It’s not. Something is wrong with me.”
“There is not. You’re just not ready, and that’s fine. It’ll wait until you are.”
“What if I’m never ready? That’s not fair to you? Hell, I don’t know what I want for the rest of my life. I don’t even know what I want next week. Do I stick with this career? Go back to school? Do I want kids? I don’t even know if I want a dog.”
“Cody, breathe. You don’t have to decide any of that today.”
There was silence on the phone, and I feared he wasn’t hearing me. Finally, he says. “I don’t know what to do, but I have to make a decision before I can go on.”
“Let me come get you.”
“No. Don’t put anyone else out. I need to be alone. Don’t follow me. Please.”
“Cody?”
“No. I mean it. Don’t.” He hung up. He was not in his right mind, and I was more worried than ever. He was overthinking, overemotional, and I should have been over all of his craziness, but I wasn’t. I only wanted him to be alright.
I waved to Vince. “I’ll be back. I need to talk to Royce.”
Joey looked worried as I walked away. He was hoping I’d make it all better, but it was out of my hands.
“Hey, Warner.” Royce waved as I walked up.
“I talked to Cody. He’s not ready to come back.”
“Oh.”
“Please don’t call the cops on him. If anything happens with the car, I’ll pay for it.”
Royce snorted. “I’m not worried about the car.” He kicked at the ground. “I’m worried about Cody. Is he really okay?”
“Physically, yes.”
“I understand. I’m not calling the cops. Don’t worry.” He clapped my shoulder. “But we do have to get this rodeo rolling.”
“We do. Thank you.”
I texted Cody the campground address in Key West as I went back to the car.
I was so relieved that Cody wasn’t hurt or worse, and I wanted to smother him with love, but that wouldn't go over well either, because Cody would probably run away again if I overwhelmed him. If he even decided to show up.
We were about to be locked in on a long, three-hour drive to Key West. Vince and Joey grabbed breakfast sandwiches for us from the food service area.
We still had just enough time to eat and get on the road.
I was in for a long day of missing Cody and the constant presence of his stream of commentary, his sweet little voice, his complete enthusiasm for whatever he was involved in.
I thought I would have to skip the rest of the trip and go find him.
I needed him back, but I had no idea where he was.
Not to mention, Cody said he wanted space, and as hard as it was, I had to give it to him.
Ultimately, I couldn’t make him do what I wanted, but if this was the beginning of the end, I didn’t think my heart could take it.
I’d been hurt like this before, and it took years for me to even consider dating again.
In fact, when I met Cody, I wasn’t dating.
I’d hang out at Afterglow and sometimes hook up with a willing body, but it wasn’t anything more than that.
Cody had been completely different. He’d changed everything for me.
His exuberance on the dance floor struck me first, and then his beauty.
He literally jumped into my arms on the dancefloor.
His eyes grew wide with surprise and maybe a bit of uncertainty, but I smiled and said hello, though I was pretty sure he couldn’t hear me over the loud music.
I didn’t let him go, though. We danced through two more songs before I grabbed his hand and led him to a table.
It was a little quieter there but still loud.
I yelled in his ear that we should go outside to talk, and I was half-surprised when he vigorously nodded.
He followed me out, and the rest was history.
I fell hard for the sweet little, who was now poised to shatter me, and all I could do was keep driving forward.