Tears well in my eyes but I refuse to let him hear it in my voice. “Okay, well, remember what I said I wasn’t gonna do?”
“Mm-hmm,” Wes hums, a slight irritation to the sound.
“So…I’m gonna go. Have fun with the guys. Tell them I said hi,” I say as steady as I can.
“I will. Don’t be a stranger though.”
I manage a playful laugh before hanging up. A single tear falls down my face, but I brush it away.
When I get home, I notice that my parents aren’t even home. They must’ve gone out for dinner or something. Who knows. Either way, I’m relieved I don’t have to answer to anyone, at least not right now. I can have some time to breathe. To let my emotions run and then I’ll bottle them up later.
I haven’t even gotten upstairs yet when I hear a truck pull up out front. I look, anticipating my parents, but it’s Cody’s jacked-up black truck. He is thelastperson I want to see tonight.
I grab a couple of snacks from the cabinet and glass of water. I didn’t eat much all day.
In enters Cody, carrying a large cardboard box of frozen meat that I’m guessing he picked up from the butcher today.Orhe’s cleaning out his freezer.
“Where you think Mom wants this?” he asks.
Judging by the amount of it, I know that it won’t be here in the kitchen freezer.
“The garage?” I say with a little more attitude than I meant.
“What’s your problem?”
“Nothing. It’s just sorta an obvious answer, don’t you think?”
“Okay? Well, then I guess I’m just a dumbass, my bad.” he retorts, dropping the box on the counter. The thud makes me jump.
I sigh and head for the stairs.
“Wait. Why are you even home?” Cody stops me. “Isn’t it your anniversary or whatever?”
“Yeah. I just got home.”
He looks at the time. “It’s not even eight o’clock.”
“So? I didn’t wanna drive home late.” I shrug, taking a bite of a pretzel in attempt to hide my white lie.
He shifts his feet, standing taller. His tattooed arms cross over each other and his chest puffs out. He studies me and I can’t even look at his eyes. His gaze is too strong, as if he can see right through me.
“Were you anxious?” he asks. This time his tone isn’t intimidating or harsh. It’s gentle.
Cody and I have such a weird relationship.
One day we’re yelling at each other, the next we’re acting like nothing ever happened. And then there are moments like this where his whole demeanor shifts into something you rarely ever see. His heart is usually locked up so tight you’d need bolt cutters to open it.
I shake my head as I stare at the ground, the tips of my toes brushing across the hardwood floor. Heat rushes to my face, tears building in behind my eyes, and I press into my eyelids hard and fast.
“What happened?” he asks.
“Nothinghappened.” My voice cracks.
“Something did.”
“No.” I don’t want to cry, but if he keeps asking, I won’t stand a chance. It’s like heknowswhat went down.
“Addison. Tell me what he did.” His voice hardens. And when I don’t answer, his hand smacks the counter. “Addison!”
