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“Thanks. Anyway, after that it was fine. But Cody was quiet. Why?”
Should I tell him? I sighed. “He’s been off this week. We had a good time Tuesday handing out candy at the store. He was supposed to come help on Wednesday, but bailed and went to see his mom, and since then? It’s one- or two-word responses when I text.”
“Oof. You want me to pester him?”
“No.” I growled. “I don’t need people solving my problems for me. I’m a big girl. I just thought I’d ask. Forget I said anything.”
“Okay. Sorry. Just trying to help.”
“Yeah, well, when I want help, I’ll ask.” I blew out a breath. “Look. Let me think about the living situation a little, okay? If the two of you want more space, it doesn’t make sense for you to buy another place when you already own this one. I can figure something out. Can you give me to the end of the year though?”
“Yeah. Of course. Or longer. We can make it work with the three of us for a little while. I just don’t feel like it’d be ideal for anyone.”
My chuckle ended in a sigh. He was probably right. But I sure didn’t want to live in that apartment complex across town. “I’ll see what I can do. Love you.”
“Back atcha. Sorry to cause problems.”
“That’s what big brothers do.” I smirked and hit End before he could reply. I sagged in my chair and stared, unseeing, at the kitchen. How had I gone from possibly hiring an associate to figuring out what kind of rent I could afford on my own place in such a short period of time?
Of course, I still really needed the help at the store.
Which meant I was going to have to find a way to handle both.
This weekend, Cody and I were going to have a talk. I needed to know what was up with him.
And I needed his help solving my dilemmas.
Basically, I just needed him. Hopefully, he knew how much.
23
CODY
Ipulled into my garage and started the door closing before I’d even cut the engine. Tired didn’t even seem close to the word I’d use to describe how I felt. But I didn’t know what else to go with. Weary? Exhausted?
Heartsick?
I blew out a breath and got out of the car, hooking the strap of my messenger bag with two fingers and dragging it along with me. Last week had started out so well. Then Mom called and it was like everything else was swallowed by the noise of catastrophe rushing by.
How could my dad do this?
I pushed open the door into the house and went inside. I dropped my bag on the little table I’d found to hold all the junk that came in from the car and kicked my shoes under it, then I padded upstairs.
Of course, I knew how Dad did it. He stopped thinking with his brain and started thinking with something a lot lower. Mom had chided me for it when I’d expressed that opinion, but it didn’t mean I was wrong.
It also meant Dad was completely out of touch with his faith.
That was, perhaps, even more distressing.
I’d always looked up to him as an example of what a Godly man should be. Sure, there were times when he might be harsher or stricter than I wanted—but those times were also usually when I really needed someone to kick some sense into me. Teenage boys weren’t exactly known for good decision-making all the time, and I’d been a pretty typical teen. Mostly good and levelheaded. But sometimes completely out in left field. Between Dad and the youth pastor, I’d gotten back on track with life. And with God.
But if Dad could fall away so dramatically? Where did that leave my prospects? Was I some kind of ticking time bomb waiting for a trigger to turn me from loving, devoted, Godly husband into someone who had the audacity to expect his son to embrace a woman named Jasmine?
A woman whose age I still didn’t know.
I snorted and pulled open the fridge. If she was older than me, I was going to be shocked.
Why was there no food? Oh, I had ingredients. Things I’d obviously purchased when life made sense and I was doing my best to maintain some semblance of healthy eating. I wasn’t a gourmet, but I didn’t starve. And I’d never poisoned anyone. Mom had made sure I could make staples that went beyond the microwave and reheating something frozen. She’d even taught me a basic alfredo, although more often than not it broke when I made it. I’d have to get her to show me again. If nothing else, it would be reason to spend time over there.
