Page 91 of Spurred On

“You’re a messy eater,” he said.

“You know I am.”

And they both laughed.

Cody’s stomach churned.

Maybe he shouldn’t have stayed. Maybe he shouldn’t have eaten their delicious offerings. It would be awkward if he barfed Tex Mex all over the restaurant owners’ boots.

Then again, maybe not . . .

Still, it was more than he could take, watching Sidney flirt with Ben and Ben flirt back. It felt like he was watching them through a long tunnel that just expanded and expanded, moving him further and further away. Moving her away.

He was losing her. He knew it.

He tried to remind himself of Cade’s advice. That if he truly loved her he would want her to be happy. And he did.

But he wanted to be happy too.

When Sidney grabbed Ben’s knee as she recounted one of their many dinners together in Dallas, the skin on his nape prickled. Sweat popped out on his brow.

He cleared his throat and said, “Excuse me,” as he stood. When six heads turned questioningly in his direction, he nodded to the restrooms across the hall from the waiting room.

He needed to escape. If only for a moment. To reclaim his aplomb.

To his dismay, Ben hopped up and followed him. “I need to go too,” he said.

Great.

Just what he wanted.

Company.

In the john.

He ignored Ben’s presence as they walked to the men’s room and did their business and washed their hands, but as they were about to leave to join the others, Ben stopped him.

“Hey, Cody.”

Irritation prickled through him. “What?” he tried not to snarl.

“Thanks for being here for Sidney.”

He wanted to howl. How dare Ben thank him for that? How dare Ben have the right to thank him for that?

“I couldn’t leave her all alone.”

“We all appreciate it.”

He shot Ben a scorching glance. “We all?”

“The family. You know. All of us.”

“Family?”

He lifted a shoulder. “She’s practically our sister.”

Fury howled through Cody’s brain. “She’s not your sister.”