“Know what? I know things weren’t great between you. I know you were doing shit you shouldn’t have been doing. We tried to convince Cass to send you to therapy, but he wouldn’t and neither would you. Then you ran away, and that was it. We thought you were dead. We had TJ running all sorts of searches trying to find you, even if it was to bring you home to bury you.” Carter pointed his finger at Cody. “Four long fucking years,Cody. Four fucking years thinking the worst. You think you can come here and say shit like that to me?”
“He’d booked me into a conversion camp, Carter. That wonderful caring brother of yours. Yeah, him. The only thing he cared about was the fact I was gay.”
“Cass is capable of doing many things, but he wouldn’t do that.”
“He did. That night I ran away, and TJ chased after me? It was then I found out I had two weeks before I had to go. I thought staying at TJ’s would help, but it didn’t, so I left. For a year I fucked up my life doing everything I could to end the fucking misery I was in, and all it did was blow up in my face.” Cody stopped to breathe. “I only came back for one reason, and it wasn’t you or him.” Cody pointed at Cass’ house, then turned and walked away. “I’ll see you around.”
“Cody!” Carter snapped, grabbing his arm and spinning him around again. “I didn’t know. I didn’t. There is no way in hell I’d have let him send you off to some camp if I’d have known what the camp was really for. He told me it was to help you overcome the issues you had. That there would be therapists who you could talk to.”
“I’m sure there were therapists. Just not the ones who help gay kids.” Cody pushed Carter’s hand off his arm. “I’m back. I’m alive. I’m sorry for what I put you and Toni and the kids through, but I couldn’t stay. I had to go.”
Cody walked away and ignored Carter when he shouted his name. He wasn’t ready to have that conversation with him yet. Maybe one day he would, but that day wasn’t today.
Chapter Eighteen
TJ
“He said what?” TJ paced in front of Cody, who sat on the couch, legs spread out in front of him. “Cass actually said that?”
Cody shrugged. “Nice sum of money, too. I would be a fool to turn it down, but I don’t need it. I have plenty.”
TJ blinked. “You have plenty of money?”
“Once I recovered, I worked on the ranch. Learned from Mama and Jed what I needed to know. They paid me and I saved it up. Almost three years of wages is sitting in the bank earning interest. I have enough to pay my way. Cass doesn’t want me around, and I think it’s because I know about him and Angelo. Not everything. I know more will have happened while I’ve been gone.”
“What do you know, and we will be going back to the conversation of Cass treating you like shit, but this is more urgent.”
TJ watched Cody wince and looked down at the floor. A heavy sigh followed and when he looked up, he muttered, “I don’t want to get involved in it.”
Shaking his head, TJ said, “I don’t think you have a choice. If they are fiddling the books, then I need to investigate. I don’t have to name you, but I need something.”
“I have a USB. I took it when I left. I don’t know how I didn’t lose it over the years, but I have it with me. I took stuff off his computer before I left. You could say it came in the mail?” Cody looked up at him, eyes wide. “Would that help?”
TJ held his breath. A USB? If he had it, that would help immensely. “Where is it?”
Cody hesitated, licked his lips, then sighed. “In my bag.” Standing, he ran a hand over his face, then suddenly grinned. “I’ve moved my things into your room. I figured you’d need the boys’ bedroom back, for when they stay over.”
TJ went to object, then stopped. “Shit. Toni.”
“Carter knows I’m staying here, and I think he knows we’re more than friends.”
“Cody!” TJ needed to get used to the change in their relationship before he spoke to Toni and the boys, and now they knew. He wasn’t ready for them to know. “I haven’t even spoken to my kids yet or Toni, and we have no idea how this is going to work. Shit. You shouldn’t have said anything.”
“You’re right. I didn’t think.” Cody reached out to him but dropped his hand. “I’m sorry. When Cass offered me money to leave and I was talking to Carter, I said I was living here, and he assumed we were in a relationship. I told him it was none of his business who I was involved with.” Cody rubbed a hand over his face. “I was angry, hurt. Seeing Cass. I didn’t think it would affect me like it did. You know, Emily walked out without saying a word to me. Not one word, and I’m her son. I made a mistake, and I apologize. I should have spoken to you first.”
TJ’s anger deflated, and he shook his head. “I can’t do anything about it now. I need to call Toni.” Grabbing his phone, he walked into the kitchen and called Toni. “Toni.”
“Carter has told me about Cass. How’s Cody?”
“He’s okay. I called about… well…you see, the thing is…”
“You and Cody. I know, and I’m okay with it. He isn’t the Cody we all knew. He’s grown up and he may be younger than you, but I think you could be good together. Why don’t you both come over tomorrow and we’ll have something to eat? You can sit and tell the boys, and Cody can meet Macy.”
“Are you really alright with this? You’re absolutely sure?” TJ nibbled his bottom lip. He had to be sure. He had kids to consider, and Toni was important to him.
“I’m about to have my second child with the man I married because you introduced us. I want you to be as happy as we are, and if Cody makes you happy, then good. You deserve it. Let me know when you’re working, and we can work around that, and TJ?”
TJ paused, held his breath. “Yeah?”
