“Hopefully you can fall back asleep. I won’t be back until after lunch.”
She nods. “Have fun.”
“Yup.” I grab my stuff and head for the door.
“Wait, Cody.”
I glance back. “Hmm?”
“Can you leave your number or something?”
“Oh damn. Yeah. Sorry.” I laugh, setting my stuff down on the counter again. I dig through the kitchen drawer, find a stack of sticky notes, and scribble down my number. I add my mom’s too, the only other I know by heart.
“There you go, miss.”
She smirks. “Thanks. Here’s mine.” She pulls the top page off the stack and jots down her number before handing it over.
“Thanks.” I fold it in half and slide it into my coat pocket, already knowing I want to punch it into my phone the second I get to my truck.
* * *
My boots crunch on the field when I step out of my truck, the cold air hitting me across my face, my coffee steaming up in front of me.
Dad and Jesse are here with the group of hunters already. The dogs impatiently wait in their crates in the bed of my truck. I let them out and they sprint to take a lap before heading toward everyone else.
Jesse sees me first. “You made it. How’s Karissa doing?”
“Better.”
“Good. She gonna stay awhile, or…?”
“I think so. I feel bad she’s on the couch, though.”
Dad jumps in from just a few feet away; I didn’t even think he could hear me. “You’re making a pregnant woman sleep on the couch?”
“She wanted it!” I say in defense, holding up my hands.
“Party foul,” Jesse mutters, shaking his head.
Dad looks like he’s about to slap me upside the head.
“She told me it was better for her pelvis or something. Trust me, I tried.”
“Unless she’s just trying not to make it weird…” Jesse says, eyebrows raised.
“You’re gonna get back there tonight and make her take the bed, got it?” Dad warns, pointing a finger at me like I’m seventeen again.
“Yes, sir…” I mutter, trying not to laugh.
Jesse’s standing behind him, making faces and silently trying to get me to crack, just like we used to when we were kids. Someone would be getting yelled at while the others did everything possible to make it worse. Mason was always the easiest to break. Hands down.
Jesse pats me over the shoulder after Dad walks away. “If she eats anything like Ella did when she was pregnant, might wanna stock up on icing.”
I crack a laugh. “Noted.”
* * *
When I get back to my place, it’s almost four. I spot Karissa at the table, her laptop lighting her face up in front of her. She looks tired; her shoulders are slouched, eyes a little heavy, hair pulled into a partial bun like she gave up halfway through trying.
