Page 39 of Accidentally Joining His Cult

Hope you’re having fun, call me later if you want—but no pressure!

I’m still laughingas I hit the call button at the top of my screen, and he answers on the first ring. “Totally casual,” I tease.

“Yup! That’s me,” he agrees before snickering. “Sorry, texting is so hard when I can’t tell if I’m annoying someone. I like to see people’s expressions so I can gauge if I’m being too much.”

“Cody, I don’t think it’s possible for you to annoy me,” I admit sincerely. “Or anyone, for that matter, but if it’s easier for you, I’m happy to video call or at least call whenever we’re both available if that’s your preference.”

“That sounds great,” he agrees. I can hear the smile in his words and the relief in his tone. I hate that he ever worries about what others think of him. Especially when, from what I’ve seen, everyone who meets him adores him.

“So tell me more about your family!” he eagerly prompts, as if he really wants to know all of the mundane details. And not because we’re “The Caldwells,” but because they’re important to me.

I know I shouldn’t risk further heartbreak by sharing these parts of myself with Cody—not when I’m just starting to admit the power he has over me. The thought of saying goodbye for real feels like it might actually break me.

But I want him to have these parts of me.

Even though my head is arguing against it, my heart wants him to have all of me.

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

Cody

Beck and I have been talking nonstop. We’re both super busy, but we still manage to find time to text: good mornings, updates about our daily plans, and sending funny memes throughout the day. If we’re alone, even when working, we tend to have the other on the phone or video call—both of us prefer the company.

Even though Beck might seem like the loner type if you don’t know him, I’ve realized that he initiates contact just as often as I do. My chest always feels a little lighter when I see his name lighting up my screen, and it makes me happy to know that I’m not bothering him with my constant texts and calls.

The Werewolves killed it in the first round of the playoffs, advancing in only four games. I was able to watch all of the games even with my busy schedule—I wanted to know what I’m talking about when Beck and I caught up. Their captain was on fire and scored at least two points in each game, not counting his assists. I might have been out of the loop with hockey stats recently, but even I know how great that is.

Great for the city of Chicago and its hockey fans, but not so great for me.

Does it make me a bad person to admit that a small, selfish part of me was hoping they’d have lost right away so I could see Beck sooner? I want his team to do well, but the playoffs can last months, and I’m not very patient.

These past three weeks have felt endless.

But, I just got some news that has me grinning like an idiot as I hit the video call button under Beck’s name. I’m so excited that I catch myself muttering, “pick up, pick up, pick up” under my breath until his handsome face fills my screen.

“Hey, sexy,” he says in greeting. We’ve been very flirty while talking these last few weeks, but neither of us has brought up our hookups or explicitly said that we want it to happen again.

“Guess whaaat?” I sing, bouncing in my seat at my desk.

“You just quit your job and decided to become my houseboy?” he asks playfully, and it's so far from what I was expecting that I freeze.

“Yourwhat?”

“Nothing,” he laughs. “Just getting frustrated by the situation and wishing I could see you.”

“That’s why I called!” I’m back to bouncing in my seat. “I just got my schedule for the next month and I’ll be back in Chicago in two weeks!”

“Thank fuck,” he exhales, sounding as relieved as I feel. “I was starting to worry that I’d have to hire you again just to see you before June.”

“Lucky for you, someone at your company must have given a good recommendation because another company reached out specifically requesting to havemecome do the same seminar for them.

“It’s a quick trip because I was already scheduled earlier in the week in South Carolina, so I won’t get in until late Thursday night and need to travel back to Montana on Sunday. I’ll be pretty booked during the work day, and I do have to run another program on Saturday, but in the evenings, I’m all yours!” The smile on my face feels permanent as I think about what we might get up to during my visit.

“I can’t wait.” He looks amused by my enthusiasm, but his smile matches mine. “I have to run to a meeting about the logistics of streaming the away games in the stadium to a full crowd during the rest of the playoffs, but I didn’t want to ignore your call.”

“I’m glad I caught you. I’ll send over the details of my trip, and we can figure out a plan! Have fun at your meeting.” I blow him a kiss and he laughs a “goodbye” before we hang up.

I send over all of the details before getting back to my work for the day, feeling a renewed sense of energy now that I know when I’ll see Beck again.

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