for support whenever the trail was a little uneven.
“This was a great idea.” Cody no longer felt guilty for enjoying Cheyenne’s company. They were together nearly every day, and after going through her recovery after the accident, they were as close as most married couples. Cody understood that … and he knew one day soon he’d have to examine his feelings, figure out if he was ready to take things to the next level with her.
A few times they let Tara and the boys get far enough ahead that they felt like they were alone. Once Cody stopped at a more secluded exhibit. He and Chey leaned against the railing, their arms touching, and watched what was easily the biggest hippopotamus Cody had ever seen.
“Looks relaxing, wallowing around in the mud all day,” Cheyenne laughed. “I think I’d get bored, though.”
“You would.” He turned and faced her, struck by how completely she had recovered. No one could’ve guessed the ordeal she’d been through earlier that year. His eyes held hers and like a number of times before, the rest of the world faded way, leaving just the two of them and a sense of desire that seemed to catch them both by surprise. “You look beautiful … have I told you that lately?”
“Not enough.”
For a few seconds Cody wanted to pull her close and kiss her, explore whether his feelings were real. But that wasn’t his style, not since his rebellious high school days. If he cared enough about Chey to kiss her, then he cared enough to wait until she was officially his girlfriend.
“You’re thinking something …” She squinted, her eyes soft and vulnerable. “Tell me.”
“Hmmm.” He put his hand alongside her face and looked deeper, to the beautiful soul within her. “About us, I guess … where this is going.”
She didn’t say anything, but her eyes told him she felt the same way. Had they found forever … or something that was only just for now? “I don’t have any answers.” Her words were simple and profound, and they took him by surprise. He had thought she was looking for a relationship with him. But she didn’t know whether she wanted that any more than he did.
“I can say this … I care for you very much, Chey. I think about you every day.”
Her smile lightened the moment. “I’m glad.” She stepped away from him and took his hand. “Come on … they’ll be looking for us.”
They met up with the others, and the day turned into one of their favorites of the summer. The subject of the two of them as a couple didn’t come up again until they were seated around Tara’s dinner table. She had made sloppy joes the night before, and had plenty of leftovers. Marcos and DeMetri couldn’t have been happier. “No one’s ever cooked like this for me.” DeMetri was downing his second sloppy joe. He stopped mid-bite and shot a quick look at Cody. “I mean, you try and all, Coach. But this is something else!”
Tara glowed under their compliments, and Cody imagined how she must feel. Art had been her only child, and after he was killed at war she loved opening her house to his buddies. But this would’ve been the first time she’d had teenagers in her home — the first time since Art was this age.
At one point Tara cleared a few dishes and disappeared into the kitchen, leaving the boys and Cody and Cheyenne at the table. Marcos was more outspoken than DeMetri, more of a jokester. He leaned back in his chair and sized up Cody and Cheyenne. “Okay,” he waved his finger at them. “What’s the story with you two?” He raised his brow at Cody. “I’d say it’s time to make this little love affair official.” He elbowed DeMetri. “Right, bro?”
“Right.” DeMetri gave Cody an exaggerated look of innocence, as if to say this idea hadn’t been his. But now that the matter had been broached … “You do spend a lot of time together.” He gave a happy shrug. “Just saying.”
Cheyenne giggled and hung her head for a minute, obviously embarrassed. Cody cleared his throat and gave the boys a look that was half teasing. “You’ll be the first to know, boys … whenever we have anything official to announce.”
“Which better be soon, Coach.” Marcos raised his hands and let them fall back to the table. “I mean, come on. A girl can only hang around waiting for so long. That’s what