Page 49 of Cop-Off

CHAPTER NINETEEN

It had been one week and two days since Cat had buried her father. In those nine days, Libby’s presence had been replaced by Cody. Her best friend had to fly back a couple of days after the funeral. She had a big project to complete at work. Although it was hard to say goodbye, it was easier knowing she had Cody by her side. At least for a little while longer.

Truth be told, he had been beyond amazing. Every night he came back to her hotel and slept beside her. No funny business. He just held her, occasionally pressing kisses into her hair. He’d hold her hand every now and again, too. And whenever she felt close to falling, he would wrap his arms around her.

On top of the much appreciated emotional support, he’d taken care of things she had no idea he’d even known about. He’d settled up all the outstanding payments for the funeral and gone with Jack to clear out her father’s room at the home.

He’d even started helping her mum pack up the house, as two days ago, her mother had announced she was moving. She was going to live with her sister for a while, claiming she needed a change of scenery.

Her aunt lived in Eastbourne, less than an hour away. Cody had already hired movers. Jack and him had also taken over all the logistics of the move which included putting her family home on the market, leaving Cat to literally do nothing. Everything was being handled. It was a strange feeling to be rendered useless. But at the same time, it had given her space to think.

Now that her mum was moving and Jack was in London, there was nothing left for her in Brighton. Her mother had not-so-subtly announced that she didn’t need looking after several times. And only yesterday she’d pulled Cat aside and all but demanded she go back to Woodvalley.

That wasn’t fair on Cody, though. All her guilt had been redirected his way over the past couple of days. She couldn’t stop thinking about how she’d broken up with him. With anote. She’d written him a letter and left in the middle of the night, for God’s sake. And when he’d shown up at her father’s funeral, having flown halfway across the world for her, she’d practically shouted in his face that they were over, and she was never going back.

She didn’t even understand what he was still doing here. It was clearer than ever that she didn’t deserve him or what he was doing for her.

Currently, she was alone in Cody’s hotel room, the one that he’d kept despite spending every night with her. They’d stopped by to pick up some of his clothes, but he’d had a call from Jack and had disappeared ten minutes ago, promising to be back within the hour. Turns out the negativity creeped in much easier when he wasn’t around.

I need a drink.

Good idea. The mini bar would be her friend today. She hadn’t had a drop of alcohol since she’d been home, but she couldn’t think of a better time to start drinking.

“Hello, Jack Daniels, my old friend. Or should I sayfriends.” Pulling three mini whiskey bottles out of the fridge she went back to the bed and sunk back into the cushions.

Whiskey warmed her insides as she took swig after swig until all the bottles were empty. Waiting for the melancholy to wash over her, she closed her eyes. But all she saw was Cody. The perfect man who she loved with every fibre of her being. If only she hadn’t fucked up what they had so royally.

Her head was spinning by the time the door creaked open. Cody appeared beside the bed, his serious eyes turning her insides out and at the same time making her want to bang her head against the wall.

“Are you drunk, kitten?”

How did you know? I didn’t even say anything yet.

“No, you didn’t. But the three empty whiskey bottles next to you speak volumes.”

Damnit, she was drunker than she thought. Her thoughts couldn’t be trusted anymore. Her mouth and her brain were not cooperating.

“I’m sorry I fucked up.” She crawled up onto her knees, stumbling slightly as she moved toward the edge of the bed.

Why is the bed moving?

“You should be with someone like Libby or Rachel or—I know! Daisy, the girl from the diner? Someone like her who’s pretty and sweet and kind. Who doesn’t make sex jokes. Or swears all the time. Someone who’ll be a good mum to Dylan but will look after you, too. Like make you dinner every night. Wash your clothes. Clean the house. Someone who’s got her shit together.”

Her hands reached out and grabbed his hard chest as she fell forward.

Seriously, why is the bed moving?

When she felt the hard ridges of muscle, she actually moaned. Out loud and everything. Her fingers were on the move. Exploring. Well up for a ridge-finding mission. But they didn’t get very far. Cody snagged her wrists, forcing her to look up. When she did, she proceeded to give him her best pout.

“Kitten,” he warned. “Goddamn, I wish you were sober. But fuck it, you’re gonna hear it anyway. I don’t want some weird-ass Stepford wife who cooks and cleans and babysits my kid. I wantyou. Dylan wantsyou. You hear me? All of you. The sex jokes. The sweetness. The swearing. All of it. You’re fucking perfect.”

Her head was shaking, the spinning growing more intense. “You’re the perfect one.” She pushed at his hard stomach. “You are!”

She felt his body shake as he chuckled, grasping her wrists once again. “I’m not perfect, sweetheart. Maybe neither of us are. But that’s okay. You’re perfect for me. That’s all that matters.”

Her head dropped into him. Even in her frazzled state, his words were flipping switches in her brain. He still wanted her. He’d never given up on them. She had to make this right... when she woke up.

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