Chapter Thirty-Five
Caine
I can’t help but smile as I watch Mikayla and her brother riding beside me. Jack had no issues getting on a horse. I gave them both a riding lesson this morning and laughed every time the two of them argued.
There’s a lightness to Mikayla when her brother is around. I want to believe part of her joy is also that she and I are in a better place. It definitely has a lot to do with Jack, and I get it. She’s happy, and that’s all that matters to me.
“I need to head back,” I tell them. “I still have work I need to do today.”
Sawyer asked if I could spend some time with him and train. With Jason gone, he’s been more reserved and quieter.
It doesn’t help Sawyer that Jason isn’t allowed the use of the phone yet. I told Sawyer I’d work with him, and I plan to keep that promise.
We ride back to the barn, Mikayla getting Trance up to a gallop.
“Jesus,” Jack says from beside me.
“What?” I ask, mesmerized by my girlfriend’s ass as she brings Trance to a trot. Such a beauty. I just love seeing her ass bounce.
“It’s Cody,” Jack says, pointing to a blonde kid pacing in front of the barn.
“Why is he here?” Mikayla asks once Jack and I catch up to her.
I dismount before her because I know something she doesn’t. And just as I predicted, her legs hit the ground, and her knees buckle. I pull her back against me to keep her from falling.
“How did you know?” she asks, her voice soft.
“I have been doing this for a while,” I chuckle.
“Is there a hot chick around that wants to hold me when my legs buckle?” asks Jack while he dismounts. He pretends to look around.
“Micky,” says the guy standing behind us.
Mikayla and I turn around. The young man looks crestfallen, his eyes darting from me to Mikayla, a crease between his brows.
“Cody, what are you doing here?” Mikayla asks; she’s clearly annoyed.
The man-child who stands before me is a rumpled mess. He looks like absolute shit. His shirt, which is a standard cotton T-shirt, is wrinkled; his pants have stains. And his blonde hair looks both greasy and dry. I don’t even know how that’s possible. It’s literally sticking up every which way.
I tilt my head and frown. This guy’s a mess. I’m not worried about Mikayla. I’m not even jealous. But I am curious.
“Micky, please,” Cody begs, walking toward her, reaching out for her. “I’m going crazy! I’m just so sorry! It’s killing me.” He grabs fistfuls of his hair and pulls. That explains the spiky nest on his head.
Mikayla presses her back against me, stepping away from Cody. That’s when he seems to register my existence as something important.
“Who—What?” Cody sputters, his face scrunches up and his arms lift.
“I’m Caine, Mick’s boyfriend.” I extend my hand out to him.
His eyes immediately dart to Mikayla. “You’re already seeing someone?” he asks, his brows drawn. He isn’t being rude, in fact, his voice drops. He sounds defeated.
“Cody, why are you here?” Mikayla asks again, not answering his question.
“I miss you. I need to explain. I need… fuck! I’m so sorry! I fucked up,” he states before running his fingers through his hair. “Your mom called me crying—said I ruined your relationship with her. I…” He stops speaking and shuts his eyes. His lips quiver.
“Cody, you didn’t help my relationship with my mother, but you are hardly to blame for the state of our relationship. She can’t put that on you,” Mikayla says, raising her hand to stop him from continuing. Her voice is firm and kind.
“But she…”
“Our mom is such a bitch!” Jack utters from beside me. “Cody, you’re a dick, and you cheated on Mikayla so don’t take this as me defending you, but our mom is responsible for her actions, not you,” he adds without any hesitation.
I look at my watch and note that I have an hour before Sawyer’s lesson.
“Why don’t we go home and talk about this in private?” I suggest.
I take Mikayla’s hand and begin to walk away. I’m relieved that Cody follows. The guy looks ready to fall over. I can’t really tell if he’s here because he thinks he can win her back or if he’s just a mess because of what he did. But either way, this needs to be done in private.
Once inside, we all walk to the living room and sit down. Cody takes the single chair beside Jack, and Mikayla sits beside me on the sofa.
“Cody, why are you here?” Mikayla asks for the third time.
Cody’s eyes dart to me. I lean back, my arm draped over the back of the couch, and Mikayla naturally leans into me. I can see from his face why he’s here. I actually feel bad for the guy.
“I thought—I wanted—Micky, three years. I mean, I know I fucked up, and I’m so sorry!
I don’t know why I did it! It was stupid and heartless and cruel, and I’m disgusted with myself.
But…” Cody trails off, lifting his arm and pointing it at me.
I can feel his sorrow. The look of agony on his scrunched face makes it more than apparent. “I love you,” Cody says.
“Dude, you fucked our mom,” Jack says. His lack of compassion is astounding.
“Jack, I think Cody is aware of what he did,” Mikayla says defensively. She purses her lips as she looks at her brother.
“Sorry,” Jack says, but I hear him whisper, “not sorry,” under his breath. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself from laughing.
“Cody, I’m not angry with you,” Mikayla says.
I sincerely hope she doesn’t tell him why. The guy looks like he’s hanging on by a thread, and it won’t help if she tells him she never loved him.
“Then can we—are you? I don’t know who this guy is. Do you really have a boyfriend?” Cody asks, his voice rising.
“Cody, I’m not angry anymore, but I have moved on. I can’t be what you need.”
His brow furrows at her words. “You were my everything,” Cody says harshly.
“Then why did you do what you did?” Jack asks exactly what I’m thinking.
Cody basically collapses against the chair, his head bent back.
“It’s not an excuse. We hadn’t been together for so long.
And I couldn’t complain because I knew it was because of all the help you gave Phil, I couldn’t say anything.
It felt good to have another woman want me,” he says. “It’s not an excuse.”
“Cody, I’ve moved on. And you’re right. We hadn’t been intimate for a long time. You and I were going in different directions,” Mikayla says.
“And him?” Cody asks, raising his arm and pointing it at me.
“I’m Caine. I have a name,” I say because I’m right here.
“I’m sorry, Cody. Caine and I—I love him, Cody. You and I—we should have ended things long before what happened with my mom,” Mikayla grabs my hand and squeezes it between both of hers.
“You were all I had,” he says. His face turns a dark shade of red as he tries to hold back his tears.
“You need to figure out what you want and who you are. I can’t give that to you. No woman can,” Mikayla says softly, shaking her head.
Cody nod. “I’m sorry,” he whispers.
“You aren’t to blame for my relationship with my mom. She’s responsible for her own behavior. What you did was bring to light a symptom of a larger problem,” she tells him.
Cody’s eyes drift over to me. “I hope you deserve her. I may have fucked up, but if I hear you hurt her in any way, I’ll come back and fuck you up.”
I have to stifle the urge to laugh. This kid couldn’t kick my ass. He has gym muscles, and I don’t think he’s thrown a punch in his life. But I don’t say that or even smile. Partly because Mikayla’s nails are digging into my hand and it hurts.
“Mikayla’s home now,” I tell him instead.
“You live together?” Cody asks, his chin dropping. He then turns his attention back to Jack. “And you’re okay with this?”
“I’m pretty sure no one asked for my permission, but yes, as this isn’t the fifteen hundreds.
But I like Caine. And he’s good for Micky,” Jack says.
“I also don’t recommend coming here to kick his ass.
He’s the oldest of five and has three brothers.
I mean, Caine could put one hand behind his back and still knock you out with one punch,” Jack says.
“I’d still try. She’s had enough pain,” Cody says. “It’s the bare minimum that I can do after what I put her through.”
“While I appreciate the gesture, I feel confident you won’t need to defend my honor,” Mikayla says with a smile. She stands, and Cody seems to get the hint because he gets to his feet.
I stay seated, watching as she walks him to the door.
I open my arms when she walks back to me.
“Well, I guess Raquel was right,” she says, cuddling against me. I wrap her in my arms as Jack walks into the kitchen.
“I actually feel sorry for him,” Jack says, sauntering back over with an apple in his hand. He plops down and takes a bite. “He looks devastated.”
“It’s sad, but I hope knowing I’m not angry helps him.”
“I have to get to it. I’ll be with Sawyer if you need me.” I stand up and kiss her brow.
While I walk to the barn, I can’t help but smile. Mikayla and I still have a lot to figure out, but after that little incident, I know we’re solid.