Page 19 of The Singer and the Silent Type

“I think I’m becoming addicted to being in your arms,” I whispered.

I was already drifting off, then felt his fingertips brush my hair back, tucking it behind my ear as he kissed my temple. “I’m already falling for you so hard, Lorena. Now that I know you’re my girl, I’m never letting you go.”

Smiling slightly, I nodded, murmuring “Mmm hmm,” but couldn’t even form words anymore.

Several times in the night I woke up with Cody’s strong arms around me, feeling like the luckiest, safest, most treasured woman in the world.

When I woke up and saw daylight streaming in, I glanced at the clock to confirm that it was actually morning, then reached for Cody. He wasn’t there.

Looking around my bedroom, I saw that his clothes were gone. Throwing on a giant old t-shirt that I used as a nightgown sometimes, I went out to the kitchen, looking around. Cody wasn’t there either.

He had mentioned that he often worked very early mornings, so I searched the house looking for a note. There was nothing on the kitchen table, the refrigerator, or the front door. I couldn’t think of any other logical place someone would leave a message. There was a notepad and pen right beside the front door that really couldn’t be missed.

I went back to my room to grab my phone to see if he had sent me a text, and then saw his phone on the far bedside table. What on earth makes a man leave so fast that he forgets his phone?

Slumping into the kitchen to make myself a cup of coffee, I noticed that the machine was already brewing. He must have filled it and set the timer for me. I opened the cabinet to grab a mug, and the door swung smoothly. The loose hinge had been tightened.

Sitting down with my coffee, I tried to make sense of this weird behavior. Cody was such a straight-up guy. A bit old-fashioned. Almost formal. I couldn’t imagine him leaving without saying goodbye, unless something terrible had happened.

Could I have talked in my sleep? Or was spending the night too much, too fast?

Whenever he was with me, he seemed like he was all in – that our relationship meant a lot to him. He must have known that I would be upset at his disappearance. Was that his point? I shook my head.

The coffee was ready, so I poured a cup, sitting down with my phone to check the weather. I also checked the Sunset Ridge community group for general news, and to see what people were saying about the rodeo.

It seemed that people were mainly talking about the rodeo events, broken records and personal bests. But there were also many people chatting about how much they enjoyed Bobby Decker’s band, and the newest “Well-Behaved Outlaw”.

Many people were expressing sympathy to Bobby’s wife for missing the show, but lots of people were commenting on how much they enjoyed my singing. Some people, mostly regulars I recognized from the tavern, couldn’t believe that a girl who seemed so quiet could, as little old Mr. Jenson said, “belt it to the high heavens.”

I could have cried from happiness, but then the tears became real as I realized the first person I wanted to share that with was Cody.

I spent a few hours scrubbing the house, and working on a few little fix-it projects. After a few hours, I realized I should check my phone just to see if maybe he’d somehow called me from someone else’s phone. The only message I had was from Alice, saying that she had to work early, so she’d be picking me up at three.

That was a great relief, since puttering around the house wasn’t making me mellow today, it was driving me nuts. As I got ready for work, I decided I would take Cody’s phone to the tavern, since he would likely look for me there.

The screen lit up as I lifted it, showing fragments of the last several texts he’d received flashing in a quick blur across the screen, from someone with the last name either “James” or “Jones”.

...promise me you won’t go too far...

...been around a bit, so you know how they take it...

...heavier ones always ride better – used to the rough...

What the heck was that about? I couldn’t see who sent the messages without unlocking his phone, and I couldn’t even call the bits of the messages back.

My blood ran cold. There was no way for me to know if those messages were sent by Verity Jones, or Esther Jones, telling Cody that I was the town slut. They likely thought it was their duty to warn him, and didn’t want him to end up with an out-of-towner. No matter how long I lived here, that was how they were going to see me.

I didn’t think Cody was the type of guy to listen to horrible gossip like that, but this made it abundantly clear that I really didn’t know him very well yet. Falling across my bed in tears, I could still smell him on the pillow, making me cry harder.

It served me right for getting my hopes up so high, so fast. He was a wonderful man, and probably allowed himself a little fling now and then. There was no way that he could be so passionate about me so fast. It was likely part of his method of picking up women. Since he seemed so quiet, he could easily get away with it.

I wasn’t sure if I actually believed that line of thought, but I couldn’t think of any other reason why he wouldn’t leave a note or message. He must be dumping me already.

Forcing myself to get up and fix my makeup, I changed my outfit, wanting to wear something that made me look slimmer after that message about my being heavy. A nice dark blue dress toned down my breasts, and skimmed nicely over my round hips, making my curves look more womanly, almost elegant.

Slipping a light blue rhinestone flower clip into my hair, I held my head high as I threw Cody’s phone into my purse. I figured he would show up at The Last Barrel tonight. Or at least, he would know to look for me there.

If I could handle stage fright, I could handle this, I told myself as I heard Alice coming up the long driveway. Locking the front door, I pasted a smile on. There was no way I was going to let anyone see that Cody had upset me.

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