Page 25 of Can't Get Over You
“He’s having hip replacement surgery. He’ll be gone for six weeks.”Or longer.
Fuck.
“What does that mean for Cody?” she asked.
They entered the main room, where a few people were dancing. Several groups gathered around three of the pool tables, and one couple was getting hot and heavy on the fourth one. A pair of blue jeans pooled around ankles, a white ass thrusting, and a pair of sky-high heels were right there on display for the whole club to watch.
Finlay’s features froze in a mask of horror. “Cody lives here?” Her gaze took a quick tour around the warehouse, noting the curls of smoke from cigarettes and weed, the fight that was about to break out at the bar, and the woman straddling the guy on the couch. “Where is he? I need to see him.”
Through the kitchen window, they could see children of all ages racing around in the snow. “Maybe outside.” When he grew up here, his dad tried to protect him from this lifestyle. And, of course, they’d had Ava.
But who did Cody have? He went tight thinking about an innocent kid running wild in this place. “Carlo wants to make me a temporary guardian while he’s recovering.”
Hope sprang to life in her eyes. “And what did you say?”
“I didn’t say anything. No court’s going to give me legal rights to a kid I don’t know.”
“Well, that’s not true. Carlo’s the grandfather, so they’ll listen to his request.”
“Carlo doesn’t know me.”
“Well, I do. Your brothers do. I’m sure we could find a hundred people who’d speak well of you.”
“I’m not looking for people to testify on my behalf.” She didn’t get it. “I don’twantto do this.” She watched him withconcern. “And after the shit I put you through back in high school, why do you have such a high opinion of me?”
“You mean prom?”
He nodded.
“Yeah, well, I have my theory about what happened that night.”
“And what’s that?”
“I kept torturing myself by looking at the picture your friend posted on social media.”
“Oh, the one the cops used to find us?” Now, he could laugh at it. “They weren’t exactly known for their genius IQs.”
“It took me a few days to see the bow tie you were wearing.”
How the hell had she seen that? “You could hardly see me in that photo. Besides, I’d shaved. No way could you tell it was me.”
“The other guys were laughing, but you were behind them, looking pissed off. Your white shirt stood out in the darkness.” She tipped her head, her warm amber eyes studying him. “You were coming to get me, weren’t you? When the guys called, you were on your way?”
All he could do was nod. It was such a relief for her to know the truth.
“I wish you’d told me. I get that you had to leave town, but why did you let me believe you’d been playing me? That was mean, Jude.”
It was. “Because I needed to cut ties with this town.”
“There’s nothing wrong with the town. The only ties you needed to cut were with your friends.”
His breath hitched. “Yeah, well, the biggest tie’s been cut.”
She touched his arm. “I’m sorry about Marco.”
“Yeah.” Instead of offering comfort, the warmth of her hand stirred something deep inside. Something he didn’t want to analyze too closely. “At least he died exactly how he wanted.”
“How’s that?”
