Page 58 of Take Me to the Valley

Iloved waking up and having Calista in my arms. No more hiding from anyone. It felt so free. Skye seemed to accept it with no problems.

Though she had some questions this morning like can she still come in if she has a bad dream. Yes, we told her. Can she still come in my bedroom? Yes, but she has to knock first. Can she still use my bathtub? Yes. Can she still use Calista’s hair and makeup? We agreed with a yes. Though I wasn’t thrilled with the makeup.

It was so much easier to say no when I only had one person giving me puppy dog eyes. Now that the two of them can gang up against me, I’m hopeless. I have to give in. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

After we got Skye off to school today, Calista said she was going to go check on Kaylee. So I decided now was the time to talk toCody. I don’t want this hanging over our heads any longer than it has to be, and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for my girls.

That thought makes me smile. My girls. The two people in the whole world who own a part of my heart. I think Calista owned that part of my heart a lot longer than either of us realized. Being able to admit it to her now is the most freeing feeling.

Stopping at Cody’s house first, I hope to catch him before he heads to the distillery for the day. Less people to witness if he attacks me because I completely deserve it.

Thankfully, his truck is in the driveway, so I knock. He opens the door and frowns at me. He looks like he hasn’t slept. His hair is messy and there are dark circles under his eyes.

“Can I come in? I think we need to talk,” I say.

Cody doesn’t say anything, just stands to the side and holds the door open for me. Once inside, I go right to the living room before sitting on the couch.

“If you weren’t injured, I’d punch you right now,” Cody says, standing in the doorway.

“And I’d have let you. This isn’t a fling. I’ve liked her since we were in high school. But with the age gap and you, I never said anything. Yet seeing her again after all this time? It was brutal.” I take a quick glance at Cody and he seems to be listening.

As I keep talking, he moves to sit in the recliner facing me.

“Nothing happened prior to her staying with me. We talked, she did Skye’s hair, but that was it. Once she moved in, it kept building. We both fought it long and hard which isn’t easy when you are in such close quarters. Until we gave in and kissed. That first kiss? It rocked our worlds. After that, I think I knew then it would be a forever kind of thing.

Even though we planned to end it when she left, I couldn’t. So last night, Skye and I went and asked her to marry me. She said yes and then you walked in.” I leave everything on the table.

He doesn’t say anything, so I go on.

“Skye loves her, and I don’t think I realized until Calista was staying with us how much Skye has wanted a mother figure. When I asked how she felt about me marrying Calista, you should have seen the smile on her face. I haven’t seen one so big from her since we took her to Branson,” I tell him.

Cody looks up, studying me. Even though it makes me feel uncomfortable, as a cop I know I need to ride the silence out. Before I let him speak, there is one more thing I want to say.

“I love her. And I plan to marry her. Having you on our side would make things easier. But don’t ask me to choose because I won’t.”

Having said what I wanted to, I’m perfectly content to sit in the silence and wait for him to speak.

“Well, at least your story matches hers,” he says.

I sit there shocked. “What do you mean?”

“She came over her last night madder than a wasp in a coke can. Then she proceeded to lay into me and tell me what happened. I’ve been up all-night thinking about it,” Cody says.

I’m stunned. She didn’t tell me she was here.

Picking up my phone, I shoot her a text.

Me:Why didn’t you tell me you went and talked to Cody last night?

Thankfully, her answer is quick.

Calista:You didn’t let me get a word out before we went upstairs…

Well shit, if it isn’t true. Maybe I should have let her speak before I let my anger and worry take over. But what a damn good night it was.

“Listen, I want you both happy,” Cody says. “But that doesn’t mean I’m happy about all this. And for a while, I reserve the right to be pissed at how I found out. Let me make some things very clear. I’m on her side. Despite what I might tell her. You hurt her and I will murder you and smile in my mug shot,” he says, glaring at me.

“I don’t doubt it,” I say.

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