She felt cold. “Apartment?” she murmured.
“Can’t exactly commute to Dallas daily.” Jerry laughed. “Just have him call me, will you?”
Annabeth stared at the words she’d written. Ryder—Job in Dallas—One bedroom apartment—leaving tomorrow? Call Jerry Johannssen ASAP. The black words were stark against the white page. “Yes. This job, this is a permanent position?”
“I sure as hell hope so.” Jerry laughed. “Thank you kindly.” And the phone went dead.
Annabeth set the phone on the marble counter. We need to talk. She was an idiot. A complete idiot. Of course he was making plans—she’d told him to. She’d let him know, every chance possible, that he was free to do whatever he wanted because she didn’t need him.
She sat on the bench, her heart and stomach and head racing and churning and aching.
The way he looked at her tonight...it was goodbye.
Cody came bouncing back into the kitchen. “You o-okay?”
She pasted on a smile. “Great. Hungry.”
“Me, too.” Cody wrapped his arms around her neck and pressed a few kisses against her cheek. She hugged him to her, burying her face in his hair and taking comfort in his sweet scent.
“Something smells good.” Renata swept into the kitchen.
“There’s plenty.” Annabeth put the heaping bowl of spaghetti down on top of the table. “How was your day?”
Renata shook her hand, dismissing it. “It’s hard being a young person in an older community.”
Teddy entered at that point. “Who’s old?”
Renata smiled. “Not you, Dad, you get it. You understand you have to embrace new things, like technology, to advertise and draw new tourists.”
“I’m hip,” Teddy said, making everyone laugh.
“What did I miss?” Ryder asked, all wet hair and dashing smiles.
“Grandpa T-Teddy’s f-funny,” Cody said.
Annabeth placed the salad on the table and sat, trying not to react when Ryder sat beside her.
“Smells amazing,” he said, serving himself a heaping helping.
“And it’s your f-favorite,” Cody added, nudging Annabeth with a smile.
She felt the heat in her cheeks, but refused to look at anything but the salad on her plate.
“Annabeth, that’s not near enough food for you now,” Teddy scolded. “Cody, get your ma a big glass of milk, too.”
Cody hopped up.
Annabeth glanced at Ryder.
“Dad—” Ryder sighed.
“What? She needs to be eating more—a lot more.” Teddy frowned, then went wide-eyed. “Oops.”
Annabeth smiled. She couldn’t help it.
Renata was staring at her, eyebrows arched and waiting.
Cody, oblivious, placed a huge glass of milk on the table. “Here you go.”