Page 28 of No Place for Single Cowboys
Glenn’s smile was huge, but he wouldn’t look at her. That wasn’t good.
“Awesome.” Anxiety spiked through her. Cordy had no idea why, but something felt very off. Like Glenn was bringing a storm in behind his sunny smile. “I’m glad to hear it.”
Her boss rapped his knuckles against the bar in his usual routine. It was like he always had to say hello to it. “Yeah, things are great. Really great.” He rapped his knuckles again.
Cordy slowly set down the inventory list. The bad feeling was now a ball of ice sitting in her stomach. If the baby moved, they would kick it. “Oh? What’s up?”
“Justin is coming home.” Glenn’s entire expression lit up even more. “For good this time.”
“Oh, that’s great.” Cordy really meant that. She knew how much Glenn loved his son and missed him. No wonder Glenn was so happy. She rubbed her belly.
Then her hand slowed and stopped right over her belly button as she realized: Justin used to live in the apartment above the bar. And he used to be the main bartender at the Swing Inn.
Just like Cordy.
“When…” She licked her lips. “When is he coming home?”
“In four weeks.” Glenn looked everywhere except at her. “So, uh, he can take over for you when you leave.”
Cordy already hated where this was going. “But I’ll be coming back. It’s maternity leave,” she explained. “I take six weeks off for the baby, then I come back.”
When Glenn finally looked at her, his smile was gone. The blue of his eyes was chilly. “Yeah, but you guys don’treallycome back from those things.”
You guys?Cordy barely kept herself from snapping at him. Did he mean all women? Did he think she was lying about wanting to come back?
What did he think she would do for money once the baby was here?
“I am coming back,” she said firmly. “But I’m glad Justin can step in for me while I’m away.”
Glenn knocked his knuckles against the bar again, harder this time. “I’m also giving you your thirty-day notice.”
That bounced off Cordy’s ears. Was he… Did he say… Her stomach fell straight through the floor. “My thirty-day notice?” she croaked. “You mean for my apartment?”
“Yeah. Justin will need a place to stay.” Glenn smiled again, but it was ghastly. “And you can’t have a baby in that place. It’s not safe.”
Everything else inside her was joining her stomach on the floor. Cordy wrapped her arms around her belly instinctively, protecting the baby. Her skin was too cold, her face numb.
“Um.” She had no idea what to say. Glenn could kick her out with thirty days’ notice—it had been in the rental agreement she’d signed. But she’d never thought he’d actually do it.
I’m pregnant.That was something shecouldsay because who the hell tossed out a pregnant woman? Even Glenn had to see that was messed up, which was probably why he refused to look her in the eye.
Even as she tried to process what was happening, a small voice inside said,He’s right, that place isn’t safe for a baby.That was part of why she’d held off baby-proofing for so long—it seemed impossible.
Jaycee and Gareth had a nursery for their baby. Cordy didn’t even technically have her own bedroom. And her apartment was directly over a bar, for heaven’s sake. There would be noise all night—what if the baby couldn’t sleep?
Cordy’s arms tightened around her belly. Glenn was tossing her out of her home and making her feel like a terrible mother at theexact same time.She wanted to cry and scream all at once.
“Okay,” she managed to get out. She wasn’t even entirely sure what she meant. “I’ll… I’ll be out before then.”
Cordy knew she looked like Glenn had just smacked her across the face, but he smiled at her anyway. “Good. Great. You can find a nicer place now. And Justin has a place to go.”
He didn’t care about where she lived—Justin sliding into her apartment was all that concerned Glenn.
Oh God, she’d have to put a new flyer on the bulletin board, begging for a place to rent. The entire town would see and know she wasn’t a fit mother. She had no partner, and soon, she’d have no home.
As for her job… A creeping dread went through her. Justin was taking her job. Glenn might make some noises about keeping it for her, but she already knew he wouldn’t. Justin needed that too, so Cordy had to go.
“I’m so glad for him.” She couldn’t keep all the bitterness out of her voice. “We wouldn’t want Justin out on the street.”
