She groaned, rolling her neck. “Can we talk about that in the morning? I’m exhausted.”
I stood, reaching for her hand to help her up. “Let’s go to bed.” I was still too wired to sleep, but I’d be satisfied just to hold her while she fell asleep. I suspected I’d be tortured by thoughts of her bruised and battered face in my nightmares, but that was just one more thing in a long list that I had to work through.
But for this girl? Anything.
ChapterSixteen
Codie
After breakfast the next morning, Mav talked me into going house-hunting with him. He claimed he didn’t want to go back to his crappy little shoebox apartment when he returned from his tour. I couldn’t blame him. We’d passed by there to pick up some of his stuff, and it didn’t look like the kind of place a platinum-selling artist would want to live.
Apparently, he knew a singer who sold real estate on the side to pay the bills, so he texted him and he sent Mav some listings. We were meeting him at the first house.
“It’s still crazy to me,” I said, shifting to face him when he cut the engine on his pick-up truck. “That you’re in a position to buy a house like this.” I smiled when he smirked, pulling his black ballcap lower to conceal his light blue eyes. “You’ve really made it, babe. And I couldn’t be prouder of you.”
I knew he hadn’t heard that too many times in his life, and still had a hard time accepting compliments because he’d grown up being told he was worthless. But I intended to be the voice whispering in his ear from now on, encouraging him, loving him, supporting him, and gradually helping to erase all the doubt, ridicule, and criticism.
He brought our joined hands to his lips, kissing the back of my wrist where I had a bluebird tattoo. I got it the night I’d heard Mav was making his debut at the famous local bar, though I’d never told a single soul the reason. I’d just wanted to do something special to commemorate the occasion and acknowledge the fact someone I’d once loved was making their dreams come true.
The fact that Mav had been so open and vulnerable with me, prompted me to swallow my fear and whisper, “That tattoo is for you, you know.”
He frowned before turning my wrist over to look at it. “This one?”
“Yeah. I got it the night I heard you were debuting at the Bluebird. I knew then you were well on your way.”
“Codie…” His voice was husky when he said my name and he had to clear his throat before he spoke again. “Seriously? Why the hell didn’t you come? I would’ve given anything to have you there that night.”
I shook my head. “I’d heard you were still drinking. I couldn’t do that to myself.” I withdrew my hand from his, prompting him to look me in the eye. “At the time, it felt kind of commemorative. I was marking an important chapter in my life, honoring someone who’d once meant a lot to me, and the fact you were making your dreams come true.”
“Wow.” He bit his lip. “You still seemed pretty pissed when we met up at that meeting. I would never have believed you still cared enough to mark your body with a reminder of me, of us.”
“Then you couldn’t read between the lines that night. I was pissed at myself that night because I still felt… so much for you.”
He swore softly when a guy in a late-model Jeep Grand Cherokee pulled up beside us and waved. “Travis has always had shitty timing.”
I laughed before reaching for the door handle. “Come on, Mr. Moneybags. Let’s tour this McMansion of yours.”
He groaned as he got out of the truck. I knew it would be a long time before Mav got comfortable earning seven figures a year. And in the meantime, I’d have fun busting his chops about it.
“Codie!” Travis said, as soon as he spotted me. “No way! What the hell are you doing with this loser?”
We shared a laugh before Travis scooped me off my feet and swung me around in a low circle.
“Good to see you, Trav. You haven’t been sneaking around behind my back, have you?” I plucked at his rolled-up shirt sleeves to see if he had any fresh ink, while Mav stood back, glaring at us.
“Are you kidding, girl?” He glanced at Mav before dropping a quick kiss on my lips. “I’ll be faithful to you until my dying day.”
“Alright, Travis,” Mav said, stepping forward. “I see your lips on hers again and I will kick your ass.” He pointed at him. “Consider yourself warned.”
Travis grinned before grabbing Mav’s hand and pulling him into a back-slapping hug. “How did I not know you guys were a thing? I feel like I’ve known you both forever.”
Mav’s gaze slid to mine before he curled his arm around my waist. “We dated back in high school, but just re-connected recently. I take it he’s a client?” he asked me.
I smiled, winking at Travis. “A client and friend.”
“Very good friend,” Travis said, letting his eyes travel over my bare legs.
I was wearing short black shorts and a black halter top with black wedges. I couldn’t have chosen a more perfect outfit for our little dupe.
