Cody nodded once.
“Just don’t ignore your gut,” he said. “And don’t ignore me if something feels off.”
“I won’t,” I promised.
And I meant it.
I really did.
Because I trusted him.
Because I respected him.
Because he had never steered me wrong.
But even standing there—
Hearing everything he said—
Feeling the weight of it settle in my chest—
There was something else there too.
Something louder.
The way Izzy made me feel.
The way everything felt different when he was around.
Alive.
And I chose to believe I could balance both.
That I could hold onto everything Cody gave me—
Andstill have whatever this was with Izzy.
I thought I was strong enough for that.
Smart enough.
I thought listening was enough.
I didn’t realize—
Understanding something…
and actually, walking away from it—
are two completely different things.
I can feel the shift before I even see it.
The shop isn’t Cody’s anymore.
It’s mine.
I remember standing there the first time the keys sat in my hand, staring at the space like it wasn’t real yet. Like if I blinked too hard, it would disappear and I’d be right back at square one, trying to prove I deserved a shot.
