Page 15 of Fought and Freed

“I’m not going all alpha on him.” Cody touched the skin under my eyes, which felt hot from crying. “I’m just worried about you. You’ve been through a lot in the past two months. But if you trust him, I’ll try to trust him, too.”

“I do.” Maddy rested her head back on his shoulder. “How’s your dad and Jace’s doing?”

“He’s doing good.” Cody chuckled. “He sent his brothers home after Thanksgiving. He could only take them hovering for so long. Dad’s healing well, and next week, he starts physical therapy. He wants to get back to work.”

He let out a long breath. “Jace’s dad is worse than mine with getting back to work. He only stayed home for a week before he had Jace drive him to work.”

“I’m glad they’re both all right and doing better.” Maddy pulled back to look at Cody. “What do you think is going on with Ryder?”

“I honestly don’t know.” He thumped his hand on the steering wheel. “He didn’t want to come up for Christmas, which I thought was strange. He’s been coming and going at weird hours of the day and night. When I pushed him for answers, he got angry and told me to keep out of his business.”

Grant coming out of the house halted any further discussion, and Maddy climbed off Cody to sit back in the seat.

Grant opened the door to the truck and climbed in. “All signed out. I have to be back before nine.”

Cody started up the truck. “What do you two want to eat?”

Grant and Maddy exchanged glances before they looked at Cody and, at the same time, said, “Burgers.”

“We had to eat healthy for the last month,” Maddy explained. “I want a greasy cheeseburger and fries.”

Cody pulled out onto the street. “I know the perfect place.”

He drove them to a burger place not too far away from Pathways. Maddy grabbed her phone and turned it on, glad to have it working again.

Before they walked toward the restaurant, Maddy’s phone rang, and she saw it was Skylar.

“Go on in,” she told Cody and Grant. “I’m going to take this out here.”

With nods, they headed inside, and Maddy answered the phone.

“Baby girl, how does it feel to be free?” Jace asked.

“Good.” Her chest tightened. “I miss you all so much. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”

“We can’t wait to see you, too,” Skylar said.

“We’re sorry we weren’t there when you got out,” Jace added.

“I understand why you weren’t.” Tears threatened again, but Maddy fought them back. “I wouldn’t want you to drive down here just for a few hours, then drive back.”

“We figured you’d say that,” Skylar said. “I think it works out perfectly. Ryder and Cody can have you to themselves tonight. That way, Jace and I won’t feel guilty about monopolizing all your time when we get home.”

“I’m fine with that.” She glanced into the restaurant, but Cody and Grant had already moved away from the hostess counter. “Ryder might not be, though. He’s not here.”

Surprise filled Skylar’s voice. “He’s not?”

“Nope.” Maddy picked at the hem of her shirt. “Cody was late picking me up because he waited around for him.”

“Huh,” Jace said. “That’s weird.”

“Cody said he’s been acting off. I guess I’ll find out when I get home later tonight.” Maddy hugged one arm over her stomach. “Cody’s taking Grant and me to our meeting tonight.”

“Grant’s still with you?” Skylar demanded.

She huffed with exasperation. “Yes, Skylar. He’s my recovery buddy, and he has no one to help him.”

He sighed. “You have such a big heart, Maddy.”

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