Page 82 of Mountain Dreams

“I acted like a jerk to you and Maddie.”

The sound of her name on Wyatt’s lips made Cody flinch, but he stayed mum, sensing he had more to say on the matter.

“She probably told you that she ran into me today.” Wyatt glanced down at the floor. “I was with someone. Her name is Sadie.”

Cody stiffened. He already knew about Sadie, but it was the first part that irked him. Why didn’t she tell me she ran into Wyatt? What else is she hiding?

“Anyway, I feel like shit for not fessing up to her in the first place and for saying the things I said about you.”

Cody assumed Wyatt was referring to the accusations he’d hurled the last time he was here, but just to be sure… “What things?”

Wyatt eyed him warily like he was bracing himself for another right hook. Cody stood still, his arms plastered to his sides and his fists clenched.

“I warned her not to get involved with you. I told her that you aren’t the type to settle down and she shouldn’t get her hopes up. I was just spouting off because it threw me for a loop that you two might be together. Are you…together?”

Cody wasn’t sure which item to address first because he was still in a state of shock at all the things Maddie had kept from him. Why hadn’t she told him any of this? He was tempted to go upstairs and demand answers right then, but Wyatt was waiting for him to say something.

“It’s none of your damn business, but as far as I’m concerned, yes, we’re together.”

Wyatt looked away and inhaled deeply before meeting his eyes again. “She deserves someone better than me.”

“I agree.”

“I’m not sure that’s you, but that’s all I’m going to say on the subject.”

“Good.”

“Mostly because you have a mean right hook, and I don’t want to be on the receiving end of it again.”

Cody chuckled at Wyatt’s expression.

“Man, I really screwed up. Not just with Maddie but with you too,” Wyatt said. “We used to be best friends.”

“Yeah,” Cody said, though he hadn’t needed the reminder.

“This changes things, but I hope we can be friends again someday.”

Cody wasn’t sure how that would work, but stranger things were known to happen. A year or even a few months from now, he and Maddie could be friends with Wyatt and Sadie. On second thought… Nah.

“Well, that’s all I came to say.”

“Okay, then.”

Wyatt started to move toward the door, but then he paused. “Is Maddie here? I should probably apologize to her too.”

Cody had half expected her to stomp downstairs during their conversation, but he was relieved she hadn’t. He’d needed to have this discussion with Wyatt alone. Things would never be the same again, but at least they’d cleared the air, and Wyatt’s face and his knuckles were still intact.

“I’ll pass it on to her,” he said, brooking no argument.

Wyatt nodded and opened the door. “Take care, man.”

“You too.”

Cody waited until he heard Wyatt’s truck start up and back down the driveway. Then he locked the door and flicked off the light, intending to go upstairs and confront Maddie.

However, the light on the other side of the room flicked on, and she stood at the bottom of the stairs, fully dressed and looking sheepish.

“We need to talk,” he said gruffly.