“He called you?”
I’m aware I’m stating the obvious, but I’m so taken aback my mind can’t do anything smarter.
Why would he call her? She’s obviously unhinged. He used me to get rid of her and now... what? He changed his mind?
“Yeah, he told me to come over tonight. He didn’t say what time, though. I’ve been waiting for an hour.”
My chest tightens, an unpleasant feeling sinking its claws into my bones—jealousy.
I have zero right to feel that. Cody and I are nothing more than friendly neighbors. Though we’ve not said anything other than politeheys I despise since the night Noah stayed with him, sofriendly isprobably no longer true.
“Why don’t you call him and check when he’ll be back?” I ask. A small voice in my head whispers that she might be lying.
“No, it’s okay. I think he’s out with his brothers, and he doesn’t like being disturbed. I don’t mind waiting.”
Still unsure what to think, I decide it’s none of my business. I shouldn’t be nosy. Closing the door behind me, I drop my bags next to it, slip my heels off and sigh in relief.
I need to grab a shower just in case I get a last-minute invitation. I won’t, but what’s the harm in being prepared?
Mikaela’s organizing one of her famous pool parties. I haven’t been invited this time, but a small part of me blindly hopes she’ll change her mind after a few drinks.
She’s been throwing those parties since her sweet sixteenth. No boys, just girls gossiping, dancing, and drinking. The party used to take place at her parents’ house, but once their son—Toby—eloped a few months ago and had a baby, they moved to Europe, leaving Mikaela under Toby’s care.
And that’s where the party is —at his and his wife’s house... the wife who so happens to be Mia’s older sister, Aisha.
Sometimes it really sucks that the Newport ecosystem is so small, and everyone knows each other. Aisha would drown me in the pool if I showed up, and I’m sick and tired of the silence my condo offers.
Showered and dressed, I sit at the breakfast bar with a glass of wine, drinking it like water to unlock my tense muscles.
After another moment of considering Ana, I decide a looney stalker warrants a heads-up. If she’s here because he told her to come, no harm done, but if she’s here to ambush him, Cody would probably want to know.
Me: Ana’s waiting for you and wondering where you are because you told her to come over and you’re not at home.
Nope... I sound jealous, so I try again.
Me: It’s not nice setting up a fuck session and
I don’t finish typing that one. It’s worse than the first. Taking a deep breath to calm down and suffocate the jealous monster inside me, I send something simpler.
Me: Ana’s here.
A few moments pass beforedeliveredchanges toreadunder my message, and the three dots start dancing. They don’t dance for long because next thing I know, he’s calling.
My chest erupts in tingles, then a hot flush sweeps me from head to toe, my heart picking up pace.
If Ana’s right, Cody’s with his brothers. Why is he calling instead of texting? I swipe my shaking thumb across the screen.
“Did she do anything to you?” he asks, his anger tainted with a twinge of worry that has my heart singing.
“No, she just said you told her to come over.”
He releases a deep breath and butterflies take off in my stomach because that breath sounds a lot like relief. “I didn’t,” he says forcefully, like he’s making sure I believe him. “Fuck, she’s really asking for that restraining order.”
“What’s going on?” I hear one of his brothers in the background, Theo, if I’m not mistaken. “Who’s that?”
“My neighbor,” Cody grinds out. “Letting me know my psycho stalker is at my door again.”
And just as he says it, there’s a loud bang on my door.
