Page 27 of Property of Max
I press my back against the wall, sliding down until I’m half sitting on the floor. My hand is shaking so bad I can barely keep the phone to my ear.
“It’s going viral, Cody,” I whisper. “Everybody’s gonna see it. I’ll never get another job. And Bree’s school…” My voice cracks, splintering. “If her dad finds out, he’ll fight for custody. He’s got money. I don’t.”
“First off, you’re the victim in this,” Cody snaps, his voice fierce, leaving no room for argument. “You’re not the one at fault. And second, there’s no way in hell the Shadows had anything to do with this. I’d bet my soul on it. Someone probably pulled the footage from the security feed and is using it to squeeze Gumphrey.”
“He thinks it was me,” I whisper, my throat tight. “He said as much in his message.”
“Forward it to me. And the video.”
My fingers hesitate, trembling over the screen, but I do as he says.
A few seconds later, I hear the moment he presses play. My stomach lurches, bile clawing at my throat. Even through the phone, hearing Gumphrey’s voice makes my skin crawl.
“That motherfucking, cock-sucking, small-dicked, blackmailing prick.”
Despite myself, a choked laugh slips out. “Colorful.”
“Don’t you downplay this, Lila.” His voice is rough with fury. “Seeing it with my own eyes is worse than hearing it. And you don’t look like you wanted it. You look fucking terrified. Exhausted. Anyone with half a brain can see that.”
Tears sting my eyes again, but this time it’s relief that he said it.
“I’ll be there in ten minutes,” Cody says. “I know the nurse is with Micah until five, so tell her you’ll be out for a bit.”
“Where am I going?” I ask, already heading for the bathroom to wash my face, even though no amount of scrubbing will erase the shame.
“To get answers,” he growls. Then, softer: “Love you.”
“Love you, back,” I whisper, ending the call. We never say goodbye. It’s too final.
***
“I should be back long before Bree gets home,” I tell the nurse, forcing steadiness into my voice.
“Even if you’re not, don’t worry about it,” she says gently, her smile soft. “I love watching the way those two are together. You don’t let his disability keep him from living his best life. I wish more families were like yours.”
The words hit me right in the chest. I never feel like I’m doing enough, never feel like I measure up. But hearing her say that? It almost undoes me.
I pull her into a quick hug before my eyes can betray me. “Just…don’t let him talk you into a game of chess,” I whisper against her ear. “I don’t know how, but he always cheats.”
She laughs as she pulls back, shaking her head. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
The sound of an engine rolling up the driveway pulls my gaze to the window. My heart stutters when I spot Cody’s truck pulling in, sunlight flashing against the windshield.
“Love you, Bubby!” I call toward the living room before slipping out the door. I already told him that I was going to be gone for a few hours. There was a mischievous gleam in his eyes that tells me he’s absolutely going to rope his nurse into a game of chess while I’m gone. I almost laugh through my tears. I love that kid so much it hurts.
“I’ll never understand why you bought a truck this big,” I say as I haul myself into Cody’s lifted beast of a ride.
He gasps in mock offense. “Excuse me? Just because I’m gay doesn’t mean I can’t be manly. This thing getsplentyof attention. Very wanted attention, thank you.”
I huff out a laugh despite myself. “Uh-huh. Sure, it does. So… where are we going? The bakery? Not sure I can handle being surrounded by that many cupcakes without eating them all.”
“Job hunting’s postponed till tomorrow,” he says, eyes gleaming.
My stomach twists. “Then where are we going?”
He throws me a sideways grin. “To reintroduce you to an old buddy.”
“Cody…” I groan. “Jack, Bones, whatever he goes by now, he doesn’t even remember me.”
