Cody There are a few cars mostly beaten-up ones parked outside the rink, Man I haven’t been here for years. The old place looks a bit run down and could do with a facelift. I step out of my vehicle and go through the glass doors encased in a timber frame. It even smells the same, like lemons and cleaning products. “Well look here, will you?” It’s Mr Stretson the old janitor, shit he must be knocking on eight or something, how can he still possibly be working. “Mr Cody Brannigan. Boy, you did good bringing us that Cup home. ‘Bout time Minnesota got their shit together.” I chuckle and shake his outstretched hand. “Hey, Mr Stretson it sure is good to see you. Thought you’d be retired by now.” “Not me, Boy. Gotta keep on working keep everything going and up here.” He taps a couple of fingers to his head. “Besides the good wife and I would drive each other insane if I was at home all day ever day. There’s only so much of me she can cope with. I only come in on the weekend for a couple o
ImogenI am wringing my hands with nerves alongside having butterflies bursting in my stomach with excitement. In just thirty minutes the first critiques, bloggers you name it will be arriving and the guests then after. I have allowed a thirty-minute gap between guests arriving and the people who can make or break me. I want them to have the experience on their own initially and to sample the dishes, how my staff perform and the ambience of the restaurant.“Nervous?” Autumn asks me. She looks stunning in her gold shimmery cocktail dress, it hangs to her ankles with a high slit on the right-hand side, the bodice is fitted, against her tan skin she looks like something out of a Bond movie. Her hair is piled on top of her head in a kind of 1940’s style and she is pure elegance. When Calli arrives he is going to be bedazzled that is for sure.“Yes, both excited and nervous. I want tonight to be over.”“Hey, don’t say that. No, you don’t. You have worked damn hard for this Imogen; you need
“These are for you darlin’. Happy opening night. I am so damn proud of you, my heart is literally going to jump out of my chest.” He stands up from the stool he was sitting on at the island and moves towards me, I take the dozen deep red roses from him. My breath hitches, the way he looks in his black tuxedo, his crisp white shirt and sapphire cufflinks, is too much for a girl to handle. He is one HOT package. His hair looks as if it’s had a trim and he is clean shaven showing off his strong jaw line. Cody’s head bows to mine as he lifts my chin with his fingers. I inhale his masculine scent; he smells of his signature cologne cinnamon and lemons. “I missed you.” He whispers and gently places his lips on mine. It’s so soft and tender that my breath catches. Emotions swirl around my body like never before and I feel my legs going weak beneath me. How is it that one person can do this to me? Not that I’m complaining. “I only saw you this morning.” “Still too long to be away from you,
Cody I clench and unclench my fists, the woman looks like a wild animal. How dare she come here and disrupt Imogen’s evening, how dare she even claim that I am her husband to be? The paps are having a field day who somehow have cottoned on to the fact that I am here. I bet Luna has tipped them off. Thankfully, the bloggers and the local press left the restaurant earlier, Immi certainly doesn’t need crap like this hitting the local papers. I see Immi looking as if she is close to tears, Atlas has a protective arm around her and is glancing at me with that look in his eyes, the one that says do something about it, Bro. “What are you doing here, Luna?” I ask trying not to lose control of myself, that definitely won’t look good all-over social media. “And to correct everyone and yourself, I am not your husband to be. I never will be, so forget that idea. What on earth has possessed you? You may be carrying my child but that is where it ends.” I am seething, I can barely control the ange
Imogen My heart has dropped out of my body, it feels like it is dragging on the floor. Why did this have to happen tonight of all nights? Now my folks are hovering around me and Autumn as if I am about to break, like I am some kind of China doll. Yes, seeing and hearing Luna has hurt me to the core, I feel like I can’t even catch my breath and my blood pressure is pounding in my ears. The restaurant feels too busy, it sounds too noisy, all the elation of earlier has been ripped away because of Luna. I feel for her, however. Weird right, I mean I hate her, but I do feel empathy for her at the same time. Being pregnant and single must be a huge thing to take on, I couldn’t even imagine how she must feel. But she won’t be alone, what I mean is that Cody will be supporting her til the kid is eighteen. She will receive regular income from him, with that kind of money she can have all the home support she needs. It’s unlikely a girl like Luna will get a proper job in any case. Luna, you se
Cody It’s been a week and I feel like I am losing my mind, my heart is hanging down by my feet. Every fibre of my body and mind misses Immi. Her sweet lips, her legs wrapped around me, her smile, the way she soothes me and makes me feel like I am a whole man. A better man. I feel as if my entire life is crumbling. AGAIN. The house around me feels empty, desolate. “You need to get out of this funk, Bro. It’s not good for you and what about packing your shit up for Dallas?” Atlas had asked yesterday when he came over to check on me. “I’m on it.” I told him. Only of course I’m not on anything. I have been moping around all week, barely changing out of my sweats or my old college T-shirt. Showering has been an effort and all I have done is eat total crap, which left me feeling guilty since Immi was the one brought in originally to sort my nutrition and diet out and now, I’ve been feeding myself with takeaway pizza and ice cream, purely so I don’t have to leave the house. The paps haven
Imogen“I hope you’re not moping around, Immi.” Autumn says sternly over the phone. This has been another one of those longest weeks in history. The restaurant has thankfully been busy every night, many of the local folk have come in to support me, my mom is rushed off her feet with baking all the deserts, and she is loving it. Even Kitten seems to have grown. He’s been missing Cody just as much as I have.The other morning, I caught him sitting by the front door, his tiny face tilted upward, it broke my heart. I cuddle him into my lap as Autumn talks.“I’ve been busy with the restaurant, at night I am so exhausted, I literally just fall asleep with Kitten. If moping had time, I’d be there with it but right now the restaurant is consuming me. I guess it’s on the map, I just hope it doesn’t trail off in a week or two, you know once the novelty has worn off.” I sigh. Kitten purrs against my chest, I bend down and kiss his tiny button nose.“Good. Listen, Cody flies to Dallas next week d
CodyAnother two weeks have passed, it is moving day, and my heart literally feels like it is having palpitations, I can’t catch my breath and I know I am having massive anxiety. Not having seen Imogen I have sent her another message.Darlin’ I have to fly in three hours, can I come by the restaurant to see you. I’ll be gone for four weeks; we have a friendly game in Vegas in a week’s time followed by another friendly in Jackson. Then I can come back for Thanksgiving for a few days. I miss you darlin’ like no tomorrow, my heart can’t take it.Do I send it or delete it? If Immi wanted to see me, she’d have told me by now. My sister, Holly has told me that she saw Immi last week at the restaurant when she and her husband went out for dinner and that even though Immi was smiling and greeting customers and mingling, she had a strained, almost forced smile on her face. According to Holly, Imogen looked like she had lost some weight.“Sir, we’re ready for the last boxes can you sign here pl