Page 34 of Covert Affair

I plop myself down on a barstool at the counter, dive into the shrimp chow mein and unlock my phone, totally preparing myself for the onslaught of chaos that I’m sure to find.

There’s a few messages and missed calls from Jane asking me to check in when I can but there’s nothing pressing.

Social media and news headlines are a different story.

It looks like Waylon’s PR team of dirty and underhanded dogs are doing all they can to smear my name and reputation to anyone that will listen while simultaneously trying to bury any of his wrong doing. How the hell they’re getting away with it is baffling. But I don’t think I’m actually surprised. I knew his reach knew no ends.

Some of my fans are raging back, defending me and cheering me on for being courageous enough to walk away. Others are siding with Waylon - a man they think they know and piling on with their pitchforks — disappointed in me because I’m supposed to be a role model to their daughters and granddaughters, etc. Accusing me of vile things nearly as bad as the truth.

I wish I was strong enough to say that it doesn’t bother me, because I know the truth. But that’s a complete lie. I’m devastated, embarrassed and even though it's not for the reasons they think, I feel like I’ve let a lot of people down because I didn’t walk away sooner.

Suddenly, my appetite is gone and I feel like I’m about to break down again.

I close up the container of Chinese food and stick it in the fridge instead of wasting it. The plastic fork that I used is tossed in the trash and before I head back down the hall to the bedroom, I take a minute to grab a throw blanket off the back of Cody’s couch and drape it across him.

He startles awake and winces from the harsh lights all over the place.

Whoops!I probably should have thought about killing some of the lights when I came out here.

“I didn’t mean to wake you,” I whisper.

Cody gives me a sleepy little smile. “S’okay. Are you good? Do you need anything?” His voice is gravely and deeper than normal.

“I’m okay. Was just going to go return some phone calls, or try to.”

He nods. “Did you eat?”

“I had a few bites. Thank you for thinking of me.”

“Of course,” he says over a yawn. “I think I might take myself to bed.”

“It is about that time,” I agree, leaving him there so I can retreat before I ask him to stay with me again.

“Stace,” he calls out before I even reach the hallway.

“Yeah,” I answer, but don’t turn around.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I think I’ll be fine.”

“K. G’night.”

“Night, Cody.”

16

CODY

From the minuteI saw Stacey in that hotel room again, I knew I would have moved heaven and earth for her if she asked. Hell, I still would this morning. But last night? Last night was…a lot. I swore to myself that I wouldn’t touch her, at all. The minute I heard her scream, I knew I couldn’t pretend she wasn’t here. I couldn’t ignore the hurt and defeat on her face after being questioned by the FBI. Ineededto do something. Anything.

Seeing her broken down and vulnerable did things to me that I hate to admit. I thought my brother’s hero complex—especially when it came to Molly—was bad. I’m pretty sure he’s got nothing on me right now.

When she asked me to stay with her? What the fuck was I supposed to do? Tell her no? Wasn’t going to happen. Instead I wrapped my arms around her and held her tight so she’d know that I was still there.

Sure, I left the minute she fell asleep…well almost. I may or may not have fallen asleep for a few minutes myself because she felt so fucking perfect. Like she belonged in my arms. But I separated myself. And in return, left my head spinning even more than it already was.

I’m beginning to think I was a Goddamn fool when I just left things be with her after that night in my cabin. Maybe I should have called her. Kept in touch. Maybe we would have ended up together…before now…and she would have never had to deal with all this bullshit with Waylon on Franklin, whoever the hell he really is.

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