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In the morning light, sitting in the kitchen, nothing had changed. And, she feared, everything had changed.
“Are you ready to talk?” her mom asked, walking in, dressed and ready for a day Natalie didn’t really want to face.
She met her mom’s disappointed gaze. “I did what I did because I love Cody. I am not ashamed to say that or of what I did.” Humiliated she’d been caught by her parents, yes.
Her mom’s eyebrow shot up. “Really? You aren’t remorseful that you wanted Cody to cheat on his girlfriendwith you, Summer’s sister, after he was completely devastated by Amy’s betrayal and would never do that to someone else?”
Natalie went still, everything inside her going cold. Her heart clenched. That’s not what she’d meant for him to do at all. She justwanted him to pick her. “I wanted him to see that he had a better choice than someone who has a life in a different state.”
“Cody is a grown man, who knows his own mind and heart and what he wants. He chose her. But you couldn’t accept that.” Her mom’s eyes softened. “He’s much older than you. He’s in a different place in his life than you are in yours.” Her mom had pointed that out before and Natalie still didn’t care.
“That doesn’t mean it can’t work. People who are different ages do it all the time.”
“You’re right. But those people are attracted to each other. They build a relationship.”
“I have a relationship with Cody. We’re best friends. We used to spend so much time together. Untilsheshowed up.”
“If you were really Cody’s friend, you’d be happy for him.”
“She’s going to hurt him.”
“You don’t know that.” Her mom patted her hand. “It seems to me they’ve been dedicated to finding a way to be together.”
“So he’s just going to move to be with her.”
Her mom gave her a sympathetic look. “Yes. That’s what couples who are in love do.”
“He doesn’t love her.”
“You don’t want him to love her, but he does. You’ve seen them together.”
And she hated every second of it. “It won’t last.”
Her mom sighed. “Some things do. Others don’t. But do you really think throwing yourself at Cody is going to change his mind about the way he feels about her?”
“I thought, if he just gave us a try, he’d see I’m the better choice.”
“Sneaking into his bedroom, putting him on the spot without there being any signs from him that he’d welcome you there... You thought that was better than going to him and talking to him about how you feel and what you hoped could be between you.That would have been the adult move. A hard one, yes, but the one that would have ended with you two still being able to move on without the hurt you caused him and Summer, and yourself.”
Natalie deflated. “You really don’t think he could have feelings for me?”
Pity filled her mom’s eyes. “I know that’s what you hoped, but that’s not how Cody feels about you. You just didn’t want to see it. He was too kind to squash your hopes and break your heart, because he does love you, sweetheart. Just not like that.” Her mom pressed her lips tight. “And I hate to tell you this, but he won’t be the only one you want who doesn’t want you back.” She put her hand over Natalie’s. “But one day, there will be someone who loves you the way you love them. And it will feel a million times stronger and magical and special, and you’ll want to hold on to it and that person forever. I know that someone is out there for you.”
“Do you think that’s how Cody feels about Summer?”
“What do you think?”
Natalie rolled her eyes. “He’s been obsessed with her since she got here.”
“Sometimes it’s like that. You find someone that just draws you to them.”
“I thought he just felt sorry for her and it would wear off.”
“Instead, they’re making plans for their future together.”
Yes. Plans that would take Cody away from Natalie. From all of them. Maybe she’d already pushed him away. “Do you think he’s really mad at me?”
“How would you feel if Haley tried to steal your boyfriend? A man you loved, who loved you back equally. How would you feel if Haley was trying to mess that up for you when it’s all you’d ever wanted for a long time?”
