Page 86 of The Deadbeat Next Door

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Carrie

I rolled up the drive to Bart’s house and tried to calm my frayed nerves. Why had Cody invited us to dinner? And what was he doing here at Bart’s if Bart hadn’t sold him the property? A quiet hope flared inside me, but I tamped it down and reminded myself that it wouldn’t do any good to get my hopes up.

There were cars parked all along the driveway and any hope I’d had that Cody had changed his mind, that he might want to date me for real this time with no ulterior motive, fizzled and died. I got out of the car, wrapping my sweater tight around myself. It was a chilly April evening and I couldn’t help wishing I was home, tucked on the couch with the kids, watching a movie. Kayla wrapped an arm around my waist. “It’ll be great,” she whispered. “Just wait.”

“What? Do you know what’s going on?”

“Carrie!” May burst out of the house and raced across the lawn to me. “You’re finally here.” She threw her arms around me in an enthusiastic hug.

She released me only to grab my hand. “Come on,” she said. “We don’t have much time, let’s get you inside.”

“Wait. What about my parents and the kids?”

“I’ll visit with them,” Cody’s mother said, stepping up next to me and laying a hand on my arm. “You just go on with May.”

May dragged me into the house and up the stairs to a small room with water stains on the walls. Dilly stood in the center of the room, a frown on her perfectly made-up face and a dress bag in her right hand. “May,” I said. “What is going on?”

“It’s just a party,” May said. “And we’ve gotten you the best party dress.”

I pulled my hand free from hers and stared at her in silence. She was up to something and I had a bad, bad feeling I wasn’t going to like it.

“It’s not a party,” Dilly said. “It’s your wedding.”

“Dilly!” May said on a gasp. “You weren’t supposed to tell her.”

I spun to face Dilly. “It’s my what?” This couldn’t be real, it had to be some sort of nightmare where my most cherished wish and dream was twisted to a horrible mockery of what it should have been. Just like my fake engagement.

Dilly’s frown deepened. “He really does care for you, Carrie. As ridiculous as this is, and believe me I’ve told him it’s ridiculous many times, he thought this would prove to you that he’s serious, that he’s fully committed.”

“Right.” I spun back to May. “Or he’s run out of ideas for getting the property from Bart and this is his last-ditch effort. Nice of him to invite all of you to gang up on me.”

“Carrie, wait,” May said. But I was already past her and running as fast as I could. It had been a tough week and now Cody, who clearly didn’t think he’d hurt me enough, was going to make sure my heart was well and truly shattered. I raced back out to the front of the house, but the kids and my parents were already gone. Since I hadn’t seen or heard them in the house, I figured they must be out back. I raced around the house and was greeted with the most beautiful scene I’d ever beheld.

Fairy lights were strung on and between the numerous trees in the backyard and a white gazebo sat in the center covered in flowers. There were small white tables, also adorned with flowers, and Cody’s family, my parents, Harrison and Frankie were seated at the tables. Norma Jane and Betty even sat together at one table, though they were glaring at each other.

Cody, in a suit and tie that fitted him like it had been made for him, stood in the center of the gazebo with a woman in priest’s robes. Cody turned his head and looked at me as though he’d sensed my presence, and his smile took my breath away. This was perfect. It was better than anything I’d ever imagined. He was better than anyone I’d ever imagined. And it was all a sham. None of it was real. He’d never been mine and he never would be, not really. The realization cut through me like I’d been hit with an atomic bomb and I couldn’t stop the sob that escaped me. Cody’s smile fell and then he was out of the gazebo and running toward me. I wanted to run from him, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t leave my parents and the kids.

“Kayla,” I said, my voice as firm and as loud as I could manage, which wasn’t very much of either. “Mom, Dad, get the kids. We’re leaving.”

Jenny, sweet Jenny, heard me and jumped out of her seat. “No, you’re getting married to Mr. Cody. He’s going to be our daddy.”

My vision went red and a fury like I’d never felt before rushed through me. How dare he get the kids’ hopes up? How dare he tell them he was going to be their daddy without asking me first? Who the fuck did he think he was?

Cody got close enough for me to reach and my hand flew out before I’d realized what I was going to do. It connected with his cheek with a loud smack and left a red mark behind. Gasps from the guests had my own face warming with embarrassment. I’d never hit anyone until I’d met Cody. He made me crazy. He made me into the worst version of myself. My anger returned when Cody’s expression changed to a smirk. “Feel better?” he asked. “Can we get married now?”

“Are you crazy?” I asked. “Are you certifiably insane?” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mom and Dad ushering the kids away. I turned to watch them go. Jenny was in Kayla’s arms, sobbing. Shit, I’d just smacked her favorite person. I was going to win the award for worst guardian ever. If I didn’t lose my shot altogether as a result of this fiasco.

“I just want to marry you.” Sincerity and fondness shone in his eyes, along with some other emotion I couldn’t recognize but that made my chest ache with longing. I wanted so badly for this to be real. “Does that make me crazy?” He smiled, like he thought this was an easily resolved situation and my anger was somehow cute.

“I already told you I won’t marry you to help you convince Bart to sell you his property. You’re going to have to find some other local to play house with.”

Finally, Cody’s smirk vanished and he frowned. “You think I’m doing this to get the property?”

I felt like smacking him again. “Why else would you be doing it? You certainly don’t love me.”

He took a step toward me and I took a step back. I needed to get away from him. I just needed to run. “Carrie. You’re wrong. I—”

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