Page 62 of Love Story
Andi studied the street. The neighborhood was destroyed. Several houses had floated away. It was a miracle Cara Grace and her family had survived at all. Everyone had been evacuated from the area except the mother and her three children.
Somehow they had been forgotten.
Andi and Cody were both wet, and now that she no longer had Cody to keep her warm, Andi began to shiver again. “Those kids could’ve drowned.”
“Definitely.” Cody reached for her hand once more. “Let’s get you back to your room. You need dry clothes.”
Neither of them said a word as they walked back to his car and Cody climbed behind the wheel. The quiet between them remained the entire drive back to Andi’s hotel. As long as his hand held hers, there were no words needed.
Cody waited in the lobby as she headed up to her room. Once there, Andi checked on her puppy. He was sleepy, and he barely moved as she patted his silky ear. The events of the last few hours hit her all over again and she moved slowly to the window.What’s happening, God? Why is he here?
She loved everything about this morning. Working beside Cody, watching his tender strength, pretending they were a couple. Just for today. The moments with him were everything she had dreamed.
Hewas everything she had dreamed.
As if in response, scenes from their past filled her mind. The times Cody had grown distant and silent. Nights when he seemed a million miles away. She stood a little straighter. She couldn’t do this again. Couldn’t let herself be swept away. No matter how wonderful this morning had been.
They still needed to talk.
With new determination, Andi changed into fresh jeans and her own sweatshirt, and then she returned to him. He watched her as she approached and as she handed him his hoodie. “Thanks for this.” Her smile felt slightly awkward. “I needed it.”
“Hey...” He looked more deeply into her eyes. “Andi? Something’s wrong.”
She took a slow breath. “Do you have a few minutes?”
Panic fell over his face. He must’ve changed into a fresh pair of jeans from his car because he was dry now, too. He slid his hands into his pockets. “Sure. Where do you wanna go?”
“Back to the park.” She didn’t want to break down here. All of her co-workers were staying at this hotel. She met his eyes again. “If that’s okay.”
“Of course.”
As they drove to the park Andi thought about the animal shelter and how she would need to go back to the hotel and get her puppy. Then she would meet up with Caleb and they could pick up where they’d left off with the frightened cats and dogs.
Anything to keep from thinking of Cody and the way it had felt being with him today, working with him, wrapped in his arms. No, she couldn’t think about any of that. Because the talk they were about to have would be one they’d both remember forever. Andi was sure of it. And after today Cody wouldn’t be there to help her.
He wouldn’t be there at all.
19
Cody took his time driving to the park.
Something had changed with Andi. He could feel it. The drive took only a few minutes, and Cody had no idea what to say, no idea what had gone wrong in such a short time. Back at the rescue site, Andi had warmed up to him. The two seemed to have found the love they’d lost. But after she changed clothes, she returned to the lobby closed off. Like the morning had never happened.
They walked in silence to a bench near the swings. This time Cody didn’t take her hand. He could tell she didn’t want that.
They sat down. He broke the tension first. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No...” Andi seemed to steel herself to whatever pain she must’ve been feeling. “It’s not you.” She stared at her hands, folded in her lap. “It’s me.”
“Don’t do this, Andi.” He could read her tone. She was giving up on them. She already had.
“Cody.”
“Please...” He tried to talk above the sound of his pounding heart. “I still love you... I never stopped.” This couldn’t end badly. Not after the morning they’d just shared.
“I know.” Andi seemed to dismiss the importance of that. “It’s just... Cody.” She turned to face him. “I can’t love you again.” Her eyes welled up. “The possibility of...”
Cody knew what she was going to say. “The possibility of me hurting you one more time? Is that what this is about?” He slid closer to her. “Andi, I’ll never hurt you. Never again. I never meant to in the first place.”
