Smith and Tilly didn’t have a problem with her concoctions. Tilly gobbled up anything she made. Smith complimented her so much during meals she worried she’d start believing her own “godly abilities with a spatula.” And of course, she capped off dinners by spending the nights at his place, either at his request or her own.
His complaint that he couldn’t sleep in her tiny bed made sense. And she rationalized that she saved time and energy by staying over. Heck, they conserved water by showering together. She found it all too easy to make excuses not to leave. After they made love, they cuddled. She’d never met a man more insistent on physical affection that had nothing to do with sex and everything to do with caring.
They talked too, about everything and anything. Smith really did know his comics. She’d learned more about the Punisher and John Constantine than she’d cared to and realized that her boyfriend was really a big comic nerd. The contrast of tough guy to geek made her love him even more. Especially because she understood why his fictional heroes continued to be so important to him.
Like her, Smith didn’t have many friends. Yet the more he talked about how annoying Cash was or how autocratic Reid could be, the more she heard that longing to accept the idea of family in his life.
Thoughts of family made her homesick. She missed her parents, her friends. Erin knew she needed to go out and meet people, but she had no idea where to start. Naomi, maybe? But Erin only knew Naomi through Smith. Would that be presumptuous to call Naomi out of the blue and ask her to grab a coffee some time?
Her phone pinged, and she looked at the message, expecting Smith telling her when he’d be home.
But it was Cody, again wanting to talk. Though Smith had told her to take her time, Erin didn’t like putting off the inevitable. She wanted to move forward with Smith, despite her fears she’d moved too fast and was on the road to another heartache. Maybe if she knew what it was about her that Cody hadn’t been able to accept, she could fix it so Smith never had that issue with her.
No matter how much Smith insisted Cody had been wrong—and she knew cheating hadn’t been her fault—something had pushed the man to another woman. That had hurt. If Smith found someone better, she didn’t know what she’d do. Cody hadn’t mattered the way Smith did, and she needed to be sure she wouldn’t be the cause of him leaving.
She texted Cody back.“I’m ready to hear you out.”
“Finally.”He texted her the name of a coffee shop in Queen Anne, one Rupert had showed her over a week ago.“Can you meet me there in an hour?”
“Yes.”
Nervous and a little freaked out that she’d finally get to confront Cody for being such a jerk, she left Smith a note and locked up, then went home to pick the right outfit for the occasion, the one that saidscrew you, you could have had all this, but you blew it.
Erin settled on jeans and a form-fitting amber sweater that brought out the golden glints in her eyes. She brushed her hair until it shone and wore her favorite gold hoops—a gift from her sister, not the earrings Cody had once given her. Though they were pretty, she’d exchanged everything he’d once given her to a nice consignment shop in Greenwood not far away for credit. Cody had to be good for something, after all.
A short drive in the late afternoon had her arriving in time to find a parking spot. A miracle. She left her vehicle, praying it lasted another 179000 miles before she had to budget for a new car, and walked the short distance to the coffee house.
She found Cody sitting inside, looking dapper as usual. To her bemusement, she settled down at the familiarity, no longer so anxious.
He smiled and stood when she approached. Always the gentleman. Until he wasn’t. “Hope you don’t mind. I ordered you a cappuccino and a French macaron.”
Her favorites. “Thank you.” She sat, draping her jacket over the back of the seat, her purse by her side. She clasped her hands together on the table and waited.
And so it began. Polite chitchat. Manners and ladylike behavior. Wait on Cody to say what he wanted, when he wanted. Ugh. Erin was so done being what others expected her to be. With Smith she just acted the way she wanted.
She took a sip of coffee to fortify herself. “Explain.” Ha! She hadn’t said please.
Cody studied her. “You look as beautiful as always.”
She had to fight the urge to thank him for the compliment. “Cody, I came because I want to put you and our relationship behind me.” He looked startled at her blunt speak. She took heart from that and continued, her pulse racing as she threw her all into the confrontation. “Tell me why you couldn’t have mentioned a girlfriend before. Why you didn’t just break it off with me when I was in Colby. That’s all I want to know.”
He sighed. “I’m so sorry for how it went down, Erin.”
But not sorry he’d cheated? “Went down? It’s not a crime drama. You dumped me after I’d spent a fortune to move myself out here. Why?”
He cringed. “Not one of my finer moments. Look, you’re so sweet and nice all the time. You took care of me, made me laugh, made me happy. But I never felt good enough for you. It was hard trying to measure up.”
She blinked. “Wait. So, it’smyfault you cheated on me and lied?” Her voice rose. People glanced at them, but she didn’t care. “That is the saddest excuse I’ve ever heard.”
A redhead with two toddlers glared at Cody. “You tell him, honey.” She walked out, muttering under her breath.
Cody flushed, hating to be the center of attention. Normally Erin would be right there with him. But she’d been hurt and betrayed by someone she’d once loved. She hadn’t seen his flaws back then. Would she be able to see Smith’s now?
“Erin, please, keep your voice down.” He looked around nervously.
“Why? Afraid your girlfriend might walk in and wonder why you’re with me? Or is she in the back waiting to take you to another work meeting before dinner?” Okay, that was plain bitchy, and she knew it. But somewhere Erin had started to let herself go with the conversation. She bit into the macaron. Raspberry flavored. Yum.
“Fine, I had that coming.” He guzzled his coffee. “I didn’t want to hurt you by breaking it off. I thought if I made up some outlandish dictate you’d walk away. I honestly had no idea you’d come out here.” He looked puzzled. “I mean, who does that?” His look turned to one of fascination. Not a good sign.
