Chapter 8

Cody

Cody couldn't get Julie out of his head. He'd actually had a great time at dinner, and that had honestly never happened before, not like that. He'd had nice dinners, but not where he'd actually been able to be himself. There was sarcasm, happiness, and intellectual conversation, and it was all with the same woman. That wasn't something that had ever come his way before. Julie was smart, and she knew what she was talking about. The things she'd taken notes on were awesome, and the things she'd mentioned to improve on his ideas were spot on. He'd taken mental notes like crazy, and as soon as he got home, he fired up his laptop and got to work. A huge part of him wanted to text her to make sure she'd gotten home, but he didn't do it. She'd made it clear they were meeting over business, and he'd never once before checked on anyone he'd had a business dinner with.

By the time he finally put his laptop away and had gone to bed, Cody's mind hadn't settled any. He was still thinking about her, her cocky mouth, and her damn brain. What was wrong with him, he wondered? She was Gavin Lucas' daughter, a total daddy's girl, and she was most likely just trying to get information for him. That was exactly what he was supposed to be doing as well, trying to get information on her dad, but that wasn't what he'd done, and it surely wasn't what he was thinking about either. Why had she given him pointers? Was it to help him, or was it to throw him off his game? Why would she ever want to help him? She wouldn't, that was for sure. It was to throw him off his game. It had to be, and it was fucking working.

As soon as his eyes opened the next day, which was late since he hadn't been able to fall asleep, she was still on his mind. He wasn't even out of bed before he had his phone in his hand and had tapped call on her name.

“Pussy,” he said to himself, as he waited for her to pick up.

When his call went to voicemail, he called again. It was bullshit. She'd kept him up all night, and he knew that she'd probably gotten the best sleep ever. What the fuck, he thought. Then he heard her voice and the smile behind her words, and the part of him that had felt bad for not telling her he knew who her father was began feeling something completely different.

“Have a little patience. Give a girl a minute. Are you always this pushy?”

Cody felt the blood in his veins begin to boil.

“Only when it comes to something I really want,” he answered, with a rough tone in his voice. “I don't bother with the rest, so I guess the answer would be yes, I am always this pushy.”

“Good to know,” she said, in a shaky tone, and he couldn't help the satisfied feeling that ran through him.

“How was your night?” he asked.

“Kind of strange actually,” she replied.

That wasn't the answer he'd expected, and it left him wondering what exactly she meant.

“How's that?” he asked. “You meet your friend at the club again?”

“No,” she answered. “That was a one time thing. It was just family stuff. Oh, and I got a job.”

“You got a job?” he asked, with confusion he couldn't hide filling his tone.

Of course she had a job, working with her dad. He just wasn't sure when she was leaving to do it.

“Yep,” she said. “I'm now a teacher.”

“A teacher?” he asked, with shock in his words.

“A teacher,” she repeated. “They offered me a teaching position at the college for the summer, and I took it.”

“This happened last night?” Cody asked.

“They offered it to me the day before, but I told them I had to think about it,” she answered.

“And?” he asked, wanting more than she had given him.

“And I made the decision after I got home from dinner last night,” she said.

How the hell had she decided that after their dinner, he wondered? It didn't make sense. She'd gone on and on about coding, yet she'd gone home and accepted a teaching job.

“Congratulations!” he said, unsure of anything else to say. “Is that what you want?”

“It is for now,” she answered.

“And in the fall?” he asked.

“As long as the teaching thing works out, I might continue on with it for a bit longer,” she said, and he was shocked yet again.

What had her avoiding her father and her asshole uncle, he wondered? Normally, she was running home.

“Really?” he asked.

“Yes,” she answered. “My sister is staying too. She works as a nurse at the hospital. We're twins.”

“So, there are two of you?” he asked, with laughter in his tone. “How did your parents do it?”

“Not funny,” she said. “I was a joy growing up.”

“I bet,” he said. “Please tell me you're at least teaching coding.”

“Oh, I am,” she said. “I'm actually excited about it.”

“You should be,” he said. “I think you'll be an awesome teacher.”

“Really?” she asked.

“For sure,” he answered. “Just from being around you last night, I can definitely see it. When I left, you had me so damn excited that I went home and worked for hours. You're going to teach, but you're going to encourage as well. A lot of times, that's what people need the most. They need to know someone believes they can do it. You're going to give them that.”

“Thank you,” she said, which totally floored him.

“For what?” he asked.

“Just thank you,” she said, letting him know she wasn't willing to explain herself. “Not everyone has the attitude you have. It's nice.”

“So, what are you doing today?” he asked.

“I'm not exactly sure,” she answered. “I was thinking about working on a new program, but other than that, nothing. I pick up the books for my classes tomorrow. I guess I'll be pretty busy planning after that. I want to make sure each person that leaves my class feels like they've learned the most they possibly could.”

“Hopefully they don't just stare at you like they all did me,” he said, with a laugh.

“I didn't stare at you,” she said.

“You're different,” he said, before he could stop himself. Then he quickly tried to change the subject. “What's the new program?”

“Oh, I don't think so,” she said. “It's the one I'm going to use to kick your ass.”

“Is that so?” he asked.

“Oh, it is, but don't worry,” she said. “Yours won't be the only ass I'll be kicking.”

What the fuck was that supposed to mean, he wondered? Who else was she thinking about competing with?

“You want to get together today?” he asked, knowing that he wanted to see her again and hoping to get more information out of her, not just about her father either.

“I'll think about it,” she said.

Think about it, he thought. What the fuck? Women never put him off until later, not ever.

“Are you always this way?” he asked, ready to knock on her door, throw her over his shoulder, and show her just who was in charge.

“Never,” she answered. “There's just something about you that brings it out.”

“Oh yeah?” he asked.

“Yeah,” she answered.

“I'm not sure if I should feel honored or offended,” he said.

“I would go for offended,” she said, with a laugh. “I've got to go. My sister just called me from the other room. I need to make sure she doesn't need anything.”

He heard a nervous tone fill her words.

“Talk to you later,” he said.

She hung up quickly, and he couldn't help but wonder why she needed to check on her sister. Was she sick? Was something wrong? He'd already known that Gavin Lucas had twin girls. One was following in his footsteps. The other was not. He also had two sons. One of them was young, and the other had joined the service and had been hurt only a month before, but he was okay. Was that why she hurried off the phone for her sister? Was that why she wasn't going home? Was she afraid something was going to happen? Cody couldn't help the sadness that filled him from just thinking about Julie worrying so much. He couldn't help but want to make sure she was okay.

Cody: Is everything okay?

It wasn't long before he heard the buzz of his phone.

Julie: Yes.

Cody: So, did you decide yet?

Julie: On what?

Cody: If you're willing to get together today?

Julie: So pushy.

Cody: Better get used to it. I'll be there in an hour to get you. Text me your address.

Julie: I never said yes.

Cody: Address?

When she didn't send a message, he sent another.

Cody: Are you really going to make me get my laptop out and look it up?

A minute later, a message came through with her address and an emoji of a person sticking their tongue out.

Cody: Thank you! That wasn't so hard, was it? See you in an hour.

Cody hurried out of bed and down the hall to shower. He knew better than to meet up with her again, but no matter what he told himself, it didn't help. He wanted to know more about Julie Lucas, and there was only one way to do that. Knowing there was a chance he'd learn more about her father too was just an added bonus.