Barry raised a brow. “Wanna talk about it?”
“Someone set her car on fire last night.”
He nodded. “They did.”
“And before that, she was attacked in the alley of this bar.”
“She was.”
“And now, she refuses to move into the spare bedroom in my apartment.”
“Key word there—yourapartment.”
Cody’s eyes narrowed. “Yeah, so? It’s for her safety.”
“Son, I may be an old man, but even I can see that woman’s been hurt, and hurt people need slow. She needs time to trust.Moving in with her boss, a man she basically just met, is not slow.”
“I’m hardly a stranger. And I told you, it’s for her safety. I wouldn’t forgive myself if something happened and I could have protected her.”
Barry leaned closer. “Then don’t drive her away by pushing so hard.”
Cody rolled his eyes as he moved to the next customer. “Hey, what can I—” He stopped when he saw the guy. “What are you doing here, Miles?”
His high school best friend swallowed, shifting on the stool uncomfortably. “Just here to get a drink. Is that okay?”
No. It sure as hell wasn’t. He was already in a dark damn mood, he didn’t want to serve the man who’d slept with his girlfriend. The man Cody had once considered a close friend.
Curse of being the only damn bar in town.
“One drink,” Cody said through gritted teeth, knowing he was showing more mercy than he should. “What do you want?”
Disappointment flashed over Miles’s face. “Any stout is fine.”
Cody grabbed a glass and pushed it against the tap.
Miles cleared his throat as he leaned forward. “Look, Cody, we were friends once. I know what happened hurt that friendship, but with you moving on with Harper, I thought maybe—”
“First of all,” Cody cut in, voice sharp, “Harper is not your business. Second, even if I were moving on with someone else, it doesn’t change what you did—or thetimingof when you did it.”
“I know, but—”
“There is nobut. Loyalty’s important to me, something you’re very aware of, Miles. And havingsexwith mygirlfriendwhile my father was dying was notloyal. It’s also not a friendship I’m interested in mending.” He pushed the beer infront of Miles and grabbed the money he left on the counter. “One beer, then you need to go and don’t come back.”
Miles scrubbed a hand over his face. “Okay, yeah. Sure.”
When Cody saw Harper slip into the kitchen, he stepped away from Miles to follow. He stopped at the open door as she moved into the storage room.
“Stop calling me!” Harper’s hushed tone just reached Cody. He inched forward. “I don’t care. I don’t want anything to do with you, Mom,orDad. All you’ve ever done is make my life hell. I’m finally free of you, and you need to let it stay that way!” She hung up and turned, her face paling when she saw Cody standing behind her. “What are you doing back here?”
“I saw you come back. I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m okay. It’s just…my family. They’re complicated.” Her voice lowered. “They’re not like yours.”
He raised his brows. “Like mine?”
“I didn’t grow up with parents who wanted the best for me or siblings who protected me.”
He reached out and gripped her hips, tugging her into him. “What did you grow up with?”
