Chapter 22

Cody

Cody did his best to take Jessie's advice, but his patience only went so far. She'd told him to give Julie time. That seemed to be all he had. He couldn't sleep, and when he tried to work, he couldn't focus. The man was a mess. He'd picked his phone up more in that weekend than ever before, even more than when he had a huge deadline and was constantly contacting his team.

By the time Monday rolled around, he was barely making it. He'd checked in both days with Jessie. She'd told him that between her tears, Julie had spent the whole weekend working. When he called her Monday, she told him that Jason had shown up early that morning. Cody was pissed. He should have been the one with her. It was supposed to be him. That's what he told Jessie, but she stuck with her original advice. Julie needed time, and he needed to give it to her.

When his lunch arrived, he still hadn't gotten a damn thing done, and he was more pissed than ever. What was Jason doing there? Why had he flown in? Was it to be her best friend, or was it more than that? Shit! Cody couldn't take it anymore. He picked up his phone and sent her a message.

Cody: I'm trying to give you space, but I can't do it. I miss you so damn bad, Julie. It's not what you think. Please talk to me. Just one conversation. Please. I'm not too proud to beg.

He checked his phone so many times, but nothing came. For the rest of that week, he checked in with Jessie each day. Julie was crying less, and she was starting to talk. Jason had gone home the day he'd gotten there, but he'd been calling every day since. Julie was spending her time at school, and when she was home, she was working every spare moment. He asked if she was eating? He said he wanted to come by, but Jessie said no. He wasn't sleeping, and neither was Julie. It was taking all he had to stay away, but he couldn't let the days pass with nothing. Each morning, he sent her a message as soon as he woke up, and each night, he sent one too. Then he'd stare up at the ceiling until morning came again. Was he a pussy? Hell yeah he was, but he didn't care. She was his woman, and he wanted her with him, not with that Jason fucker.

The second week went much like the first. He was still checking in with Jessie. Julie was getting better and better, but she still hadn't answered one of his messages, and he couldn't take it. He started sending them through the day as well, hoping she'd finally answer, even if it was just to tell him to leave her alone, but she didn't. He was losing his mind, and his work was suffering.

By the time the weekend rolled around again, he was worse than ever. Then he got a text from Jessie, and he was pissed. Jason had sent Julie flowers. What the fuck was that about, Cody wondered? He'd not heard about the guy in months. Then all of a sudden, he was everywhere. Jessie assured Cody that everything would work out, that they would figure it out, but Cody wasn't buying it, so he began sending more messages Julie's way. Some were about his work. Others were asking about hers. The rest were about the two of them. He tried to let her know that he hadn't been out to get her. He explained that yes, he'd shown up at that bar thinking about her father that first time. Then he went on to explain that the next time they spoke, it was all about her. He told her how amazing and beautiful she was. He let her know that she was brilliant. The more messages he sent, the sadder he felt. Not once did she answer him. The only thing saving him from pounding down her door was the fact that Jessie told him she'd read every single message.

The third week started, and he didn't let up. He was sending her messages about dumb, everyday things. He'd even sent her pictures of the meetings he was sitting in. None of it was enough, and by the time Thursday got there, he was done. It was Thanksgiving, and she was staying home with Jessie and Jackie. From what Jessie had told him, neither of them had talked to their father, and he knew it had to be bothering Julie not to be going home to her family. Enough was enough, he told himself. He was going to see her. He'd sit outside her door all day if that was what it took, but he was going to talk to her, and he hoped with everything in him that she would eventually let him in.