Chapter 25 Cici
Cici
I flip the page and nibble on my bottom lip. Now, I understand why Covey was feeling overwhelmed by all of this. I'm not overwhelmed, but there are a lot of choices to make and I want to make the right ones.
The thought of getting to live here has me excited.
If things were better between Cord and me, I’d be thrilled with the thought of living next door to him.
With things the way they are now, I'm trying not to focus on that.
I need to believe we can figure this out long before the renovations are finished.
The back door opens and shuts but I don’t bother glancing up to see who it is. I can tell just by the weight of the footsteps that it’s Cord. He’s always sounded different than anyone else when he walks. It’s an odd thing to notice, but I always can tell when it’s him.
“Can we talk?” He asks softly.
“I guess that depends on what version of you I'm going to get,” I murmur, “the loving brother who always has my back or the idiot who thinks he can boss me around… To be honest, I could do without the idiot. If that’s the version I'm going to get, you can just leave before you even open your mouth.”
I tilt my head to the side and examine the cabinet sample. The pale gray is really pretty. It’s subtle, yet more eye-catching than the white. It would be gorgeous in a kitchen.
“I’ve always had your back, Cici.” There’s hurt in his tone, but he doesn’t get to be hurt. Not this time.
“No, you didn’t! You couldn’t see past your own wants and needs to realize I really liked Covey.
I love him, Cord. I went to bat against you and Dad literally the day after we started dating.
Dad apologized almost immediately… Yet it’s been almost a month and you’re just now trying to fix things.
You didn’t have my back so please don’t insult me and say you did.
You should’ve been at my side cheering me on and helping me calm Dad down.
Instead, you turned your back on me,” I whisper as a tear trickles down my cheek.
Cord doesn’t waste a second. He pulls me to my feet and into his arms. He wraps me in a tight hug and doesn’t let go.
“I’m sorry. I'm so freaking sorry I ever made you feel like that. You’re right, I should’ve seen past myself and realized you two are perfect together.
Macy keeps pointing out how this relationship has been building forever.
How you two have always gravitated towards each other and I'm an idiot for not realizing it. I just… I freaked out.”
“Understatement of the year,” I murmur under my breath.
“I told the guys to stay away from you. And when I found out someone I considered my best friend didn’t, I kind of lost it. I didn’t want some athlete taking advantage of you.”
“He’s not just some athlete, Cord.” I roll my eyes.
“He’s Covey. He’s the sweetest man in the world.
He pays attention to everything. He brings me lunch at work because he knows I get busy and forget to eat.
He gets up early, even on his days off, just to make me breakfast and eat with me before I go to work.
He says the best way to start his day is drinking coffee with me.
He’s helped me walk away from work at a decent time and I told Uncle Parker and Uncle Luke I won't let this job rule my life. I’ll work my eight hours, but after that, I'm going home to see my boyfriend.”
“Wow… I never thought I’d see the day Miss Workaholic did something like that.”
“I had no reason to. I had no one to come home to. Work was all I had, especially if the Pit Bulls were traveling.”
“He’s still going to travel,” Cord murmurs.
“Yeah, he will. But when he’s home with me, he’s home with me. His entire focus is on me and nothing else. It’s incredible.”
“I’m sorry I got angry. I'm sorry I flipped out and wouldn’t listen to anyone. Can you please forgive me so I can have my sister back? Emmett misses his aunt.”
“I do miss him,” I whisper, not wanting to tell him I saw Emmett yesterday.
“I'm tired of finding excuses to leave the house for a few hours just so Macy will invite you over to see him. I’d really rather just be there too.”
My attention snaps up to his eyes and there’s a twinkle in them. A smile tugs on the corner of his lips and he looks so proud of himself.
“You left on purpose?”
“Yeah, I knew you’d miss him and I wasn’t trying to keep the baby from you, but I was still angry.
” He lifts his shoulder in a half-hearted shrug.
“I thought about just hiding out somewhere in the house but I knew you wouldn’t come over if I was there.
I want to experience life with you, Cici.
All of it. We’ve gone through so much together and it was stupid of me to ruin all of that over you dating my friend. ”
“Dang, I still get the friend title? Okay.” Covey nods his head with a smug smile.
“I didn’t say best friend,” Cord mumbles.
“That’s because everyone knows Wyatt’s your best friend and that’s never going to change.” Covey rolls his eyes. “Though your future brother-in-law should really be your best friend. Just saying.”
“Has he proposed already?” Cord arches a brow, staring down at me.
“No.”
“Papa Powell told me I can’t yet. Apparently, I need to wait a little bit.” Covey rolls his eyes, making me giggle.
I step out of Cord’s arms and move over to my man. I love him so much. How goofy he is. How much he loves and cares for me. All of it.
“Are you having fun picking out our kitchen?” He spins me so my back is against his chest and rests his chin on my shoulder.
“Yes. I think we should go with the gray cabinets.”
“That sounds perfect.” He presses a gentle kiss to my temple.
“Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever seen either one of you this happy.” Cord shakes his head, but he isn’t upset. He’s happy for us and that means the world to me.