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“I believe you,” Summer said, looking him right in the eye. Her gaze went past him to the bed. “I’m just incredibly hurtyouwould do this to me,” she addressed Natalie. “And to the person you so obviously love.”
Cody, as always, didn’t acknowledge that land mine, just steered clear of it.
“You’re going to break his heart,” Natalie said matter-of-factly, like it was inevitable.
Cody didn’t believe that for a second. Not when they had the possibility of forever, and they both wanted it this much.
Summer frowned. “He’ll forgive you for this, because he loves you, too. Just not the way you want him to. I’m sorry you think I took him from you. But he was never yours in that way.”
“He could be. I’m the one who’s always been here. I’ll always be here. You’ll be running a corporate empire.”
“That’s enough, Natalie,” Nate said. “You should not be in here. Like that.”
“I’m an adult. I can do whatever I want.” The childish tone didn’t exactly reinforce Natalie’s statement.
“Then think like one,” Summer admonished. “Our dad runs a business and has a very successful marriage with your mother. Am I not capable of the same thing? Just because I have responsibilities doesn’t mean my relationship with Cody isn’t important. I spent the whole day working my ass off to get done what needed to be done so I could get back here to him. I don’t know why you keepinsisting that I’m leaving and I’ll hurt him when I’ve done everything I can to show him how much I care. I know you see it; that’s why you’re so afraid of losing him. But you won’t. You just don’t get to have him the way you want. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t care about you, it just means that you have different feelings for each other. And you need to respect that. And my place in his life.”
Astounded by her words and how she tried not to hurt Natalie’s feelings, Cody took Summer’s hand, feeling the slight hesitation before she squeezed his hand back. “I couldn’t have said it better.” He’d have said it with a lot more expletives and anger. Starting withWhat the fuck were you thinking?Because he never saw this coming.
“Apologize,” Nate instructed Natalie.
Cody couldn’t see Natalie’s face; he didn’t dare turn around when she wasn’t dressed properly, and he feared his anger would take over and he’d say something he’d regret.
How Summer managed to keep her head, he didn’t know. But he did know her hurt and anger ran deep and they weren’t done hashing this out.
“I won’t apologize for the way I feel or for trying to show Cody that there’s someone here who will always put him first, and it’s not her.”
Miranda went to the bed. “That’s enough. Put your nightshirt on. Out. Now.”
Cody turned, keeping his back to Natalie as she climbed out of the bed and walked behind him and out the door with her mom.
Nate hung back. “Cody.”
Cody met the man who’d helped raise him eye to eye.
“We’ll talk to her.” Nate glanced at Summer, then back to him. “I’m sorry she put you in this position. I really don’t know what else to say.”
“Summer already said it. I’ll forgive her. But I need some time. Right now... I’m just angry and hurt she’d think I’d ever cross this line or cheat on my girlfriend. Her sister,” he snapped, and raked his fingers through his hair. “Just go. I need a minute.” His emotions were too raw and wild inside him.
Even worse, Summer stood there like a statue, her cheeks tear-streaked and pale.
Nate turned to her. “Honey...”
“I’m fine.” The words came out too fast to be believed. The choked tone didn’t help, either.
“I’ve got her,” Cody assured Nate, though he wasn’t sure how true that statement was at the moment.
Just as Nate left, Brooke and David showed up at the door, carrying a tray with a bottle of wine, two glasses, and some food.
“We thought you might be hungry after your long day, Summer.”
She nodded, but didn’t say anything.
Cody had never seen her so closed up.
He went to his sister and took the tray. “Thank you for thinking of it. You should check on Alex, make sure all the noise didn’t wake him up.”
Brooke took the hint and turned to leave with David.
