“Yeah, it is.” Day one it had been an eleven on the scale. Today it was probably a ten, so marginally better, but still, resisting the lure of alcohol was the hardest thing I’d ever done. With the exception of setting Codie free. “But today, I’m managing. And you being here has a lot to do with that, so thank you.”
“You know I’m always here for you, Mav. Whether we’re in the same city or not.”
“I know, and I appreciate that.” More than he would ever know.
“So, you haven’t talked to Codie since that concert?”
“Uh—”
His eyes lit up as he pointed at me. “You sonofabitch, you have. I thought you said there was nothing between y’all.”
I raked a hand through my hair. “We’ve talked.” I didn’t want to get Noah’s hopes up, because when we’d been dating he’d loved Codie almost as much as I had. “She’s actually coming to the show tomorrow night.”
“Seriously? Dude, that’s amazing. I can’t wait to see her again.”
“Yeah, she’ll be happy to see you too.”
He chuckled before taking a sip of his drink. “So, what? Is she following you across the country, or what?”
I rolled my eyes. “Hardly. They had to bail on the last show a few songs into Trey’s set because her friend got a migraine and had to head back to the hotel. She’s a huge fan of Trey’s and I thought it’d be nice to give her another shot to see him live.”
He grinned. “Uh huh. And your act of generosity had nothing to do with you wanting to see Codie again, right?”
I smirked. “I didn’t say that. I’ll never turn down a chance to see that girl.”
“You do realize when you talk about her you still get that same stupid look on your face, don’t you?”
I didn’t even try to feign ignorance. Just the mention of Codie’s name made my heart race, and I knew it had to be written all over my face. “No doubt.”
“So, what are you gonna do about it?”
“Nothing I can do. She’s made it clear she doesn’t want to go back, and I can’t erase the past from her memory, so that doesn’t give me many options, does it?”
“I don’t know about that. You just have to get creative.”
We waited for the waitress to set our food down, without making eye contact with me, before she rushed off. Ugh. I’d never get used to shooting women down. It sucked, but I knew in my business it would become a daily occurrence, as more people knew my name.
“How would you suggest I get creative?” I dug into my burger as I prepared to hear him out. I’d already made peace with Codie writing me off. I couldn’t blame her, but if my brother had a strategy to earn me that second chance I’d trade my right arm for, I was willing to listen. And try just about anything.
“Codie knew the guy you used to be, and let’s be honest, he was a hot mess.”
“Truth.”
“But this guy,” he said, gesturing towards me, “Is anything but.”
“I don’t know about that, man.” Now I just felt like a hot mess with a real job and money.
“Hear me out.”
“Like I have a choice,” I said, biting into a fry.
“She’s changed, right?”
“You have no idea.” I loved the girl Codie used to be. But I was obsessed with the woman. She was every-freaking-thing I’d ever wanted and never believed I could have.
“So, if she’s capable of changing, why not you?”
I shrugged. Maybe he had a point.
