AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I watched Whitney struggle with the change of subject, but she got there. “That’s the plan. I still don’t believe he has a pool in there and found a way to keep the whole store from being muggy as all get-out.”
“He promises he does.” I was with Whitney, though. Skeptical. Although I’d looked up a few of the private swimming lessons places Wes had mentioned at one point as his model, and the websites all showed indoor pools that didn’t look steamy and miserable in the stands. Maybe technology had improved since they built the rec center—the last indoor pool I’d visited.
“I guess we’ll find out Friday.” Whitney shook her head. “Did you ever start that Little Free Library?”
“No. I could never quite work out the logistics of it. Instead, I let people know I’d have a small used book section starting in the new year. I buy back used books, they get a punch card for future discounts. Everyone wins.” It wasn’t exactly as amazing as I initially planned, but it made more sense than anything else I’d come up with. And this way, if I had too many copies of something or a book was in terrible shape, I could say no. Did it pain me to know some books were going to get tossed? Yes. But I couldn’t save everything and everyone.
“Smart. Well, I’ve started a bag for some of the kid books Beckett is outgrowing. I’ll be your first customer.”
“You don’t want to save them for the baby?”
Whitney frowned. “Given how long it’s taking? Not really. I’m trying to adjust my mindset to only having Beckett.”
I reached out and gently squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. Maybe I’ll be wrong. I’m certainly praying for that. But I also am trying to be content where we are. Because if this is how God wants it? Then that’s how I want things to be.”
I got that. I was trying to be in that same space when it came to my own life. Particularly things with Cody. I hadn’t lied when I told Whitney things were good. They were. But it felt a little like we were in a holding pattern now—where before the whole situation with his dad, it had seemed like we were on a path toward marriage. A future.
We’d talked about it in the early fall. Now, whenever I tried to nudge the conversation that direction, Cody didn’t follow. It could be that I was being too subtle. Or maybe, as much as he loved me and I loved him, this was the place we needed to be for a while.
29
CODY
My cheeks hurt. Three hours of smiling at people as they’d arrived, as they milled around during the cocktail time, and then as we’d chatted at our smaller dinner tables had given my face muscles more of a workout than I’d known was possible.
Now, finally, it was time for the speeches and donation pleas. And then, thank the Lord, it would be over.
Mr. Ballentine stood from his table, looked over at me with a nod, and made his way to the podium I’d had put on a platform at the front of the main seating area.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you so much for coming tonight to our Christmas gala. I’d like to begin by thanking Cody Miller for putting the whole thing together. He got this project dropped in his lap at the beginning of September, with very little notice, and I have to say I don’t think anyone would have known if I hadn’t just spilled the beans.”
Polite chuckles floated around the room. I fought not to squirm in my seat. As much as I appreciated Mr. Ballentine’s approval, I didn’t love getting called out in front of such a huge crowd.
“Cody, stand up so we can give you a round of applause.”
Megan reached over and squeezed my hand. “Go on. You deserve it.”
Her words meant more than any amount of applause. But still, it didn’t do to disregard your boss when he asked you to do something, so I stood, did a quick turn and wave as the clapping roared around me, then sat.
“Was that terrible?” Megan had leaned close. Her breath tickled my ear, shooting little sparks of awareness through me.
“Pretty much, yes.”
She laughed and took my hand under the table.
I fought to concentrate as Mr. Ballentine droned on. In all fairness to him, there wasn’t much that would have captured my attention from Megan in her stunning burgundy gown. I’d kept her in my sights all evening—thankfully, she’d seemed content to stay nearby—and I would have sacrificed every dollar I had for five minutes alone with her.
Austin, seated on my left, nudged my foot.
I glanced over.
He nodded at his sister and waggled his eyebrows before mouthing, “Tonight?”
Nerves did the cancan in my stomach. I gave a slight nod, but I wasn’t completely sure I could follow through. I had the ring in my pocket. I’d honestly been surprised it wasn’t obvious, but the lines of the tuxedo were generous enough that it didn’t show. I hadn’t been able to keep it in the box, obviously, and that had caused its own set of problems. Half the night, I’d been trying to find reasons to check that it was still there. The other half I’d been convinced it wasn’t and wondered how—or if—I’d be able to find it when the event was over.
Everyone around began to clap again. I’d missed Mr. Ballentine’s speech. Oops. It was unlikely that he’d said anything I didn’t already know, but hopefully I hadn’t looked as distracted as I was.
