Page 99 of Talk Birdie to Me

But here instead of somewhere else.

Here was turning out to have a lot of advantages.

And Lauren was right. He could always take vacations and travel to new places while he kept a home base here and got to make some significant improvements to the zoo.

“It looks great,” he said.

“Is it great enough for you to be the one overseeing it?”

Cody shrugged. “Maybe.”

“That’s a heck of a long way from the shut-down I got on the idea a couple weeks ago. I’ll take it.”

“I said maybe,” he reminded her.

Lauren tilted her head. “Speaking of that maybe. How’s Geena doing?”

“Geena’s doing great.”

She was surprisingly handling the whole kidnapping and held-at-gunpoint thing really well. Cody wasn’t sure if that was just how she got through stuff or if it was shock that might wear off eventually. Either way, Cody planned to be there for her.

“And how are you and Geena doing?”

Cody’s insides squirmed a bit. He did plan to be there for her. But for how long had been the question of the last few days.

He was pretty sure he knew the answer, and he was completely at peace with it. He’d pulled his applications from all three zoos, and he deleted the dating app from his phone. Cody really was planning to be all in with Geena.

But that didn’t mean part of him wasn’t still a little apprehensive about the decision.

“We’re doing fine,” he said. “I’m having dinner with her parents tomorrow.”

“Dinner with her parents? That’s huge!”

“Not as big as you think. I’m sure they just want to thank me for helping Geena stay safe, although she pretty much saved herself with James.”

“Still, meeting the parents is kind of a big deal.”

“Speaking of dinners,” Cody said, changing the subject. “Sorry I bailed on our Friday night thing.”

“Not a problem. You were dealing with a lot,” Lauren said. “Melody and I went out instead.”

Cody smiled. “Melody, huh?”

“I told you, things are great with us. Getting better every day.”

Cody loved the way that smile looked on Lauren. He was happy for her, and he was glad he was going to see his friend’s relationship continue to grow.

“But that’s enough about me,” she said. “Circling back. You’ve got a new exhibit to oversee and a girlfriend you’re wild about and whose parents you’re meeting tomorrow. Can I say I told you so yet?”

Cody sighed. “Get it over with.”

“Well, for starters, I was right about you being scared. And also about Geena being worth the risk. And worth sticking around for.” She grinned, a satisfied but sincere expression on her face. “And I’m really happy for you.”

Cody took it all in, conceding that she had been right about all of that.

“Thanks,” he said. “I’ve got a call to make before the next show.”

“Geena?”

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