Page 18 of Older Cowboy

“It was… nice.”

“Nice? Like describe what you did.”

Erika did, explaining how Cody regaled her with jokes and stories. How time seemed to pass in an instant.

“Looking at you going all dreamy-eyed.”

She frowned at Callie. “I’m not dreamy-eyed.”

“You most certainly are. And I’m so proud of you for getting out of that cocoon you’ve encased yourself in.” The office manager almost seemed smug.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you’ve been keeping yourself in this tight little cocoon, a gloomy one if you don’t mind me being honest. It’s so great to see you break free of it and fly.”

Erika considered this. Was that what she’d done last night? Break free? But what could she be breaking free of? The concept of acting disloyal to Blake smacked her across the face, and she felt horrible. Guilty, even.

Dismay and regret dogged her for the rest of the day.

CHAPTEREIGHT

The factthat Erika had agreed, even before their date’s end, to go out with him again to dinner lit Cody up inside. Everything had gone so well that he spent his entire Tuesday feeling like a man who’d been completely reborn, fresh and new.

But then came Wednesday, and her text message.

Erika: I’m sorry but I need to cancel. I have plans I forgot about.

Plans. An unwelcome twinge of jealousy ratcheted through his stomach before he chastised himself. He had no business feeling that way. He didn’t even know what her plans were. Besides, they were very early on in building their connection. This was no biggie.

Cody: No problem. What day works for you?

The three dots of an ellipsis that told him she was typing appeared on his screen, only to vanish. This happened three more times before she actually responded.

Erika: Can I get back to you?

All that waiting for this? Oh, well.

Cody: Of course.

What else could he say? But he was being silly. They could reschedule. He felt sure they would.

Only they didn’t. Mainly because she never returned his text. He sent her another handful of messages asking when she’d like to meet up again but received only crickets. Cody reviewed their date from beginning to end, searching for anything that might’ve gone wrong or felt off. Something that he’d originally missed.

Yet he came up with nothing.

Stumped and a bit demoralized, he threw himself into his work on the Duncan Ranch, hoping Erika would call or text, but a month had now passed, and he’d heard nothing from her. That night when he got home, he left a message not on Erika’s phone, but on his brother Boone’s voicemail.

He knew going in to not expect a call back any time soon since his little bro was a professional NHL hockey player up in Edmonton, Canada, and the season had just started. Still, he knew Boone would get back to him as soon as he could.

Cody next called his best bud up in Minneapolis, Patrick O’Connell. His friend went by Pat, but Cody had always referred to him as Paddy, mostly just to get on his nerves. His buddy immediately picked up, and Cody experienced a great upswell of relief.

“Cody, you miscreant, how the heck are you?”

Just hearing that voice had him feeling better.

“I’m still kicking. You?”

“Kicking and screaming whenever the occasion calls for it. How’re you liking ranch life?”

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