27. Macy

Chapter 27

Macy

"What was going on today?" I ask as I scoop some food onto my plate.

"What part?" Cord lets out a humorless chuckle. "It's been a hell of a day, baby."

"Well, let's start at the beginning. What happened on the field?"

Cord goes on to tell me about Leo, Smithy, and Danny. I listen carefully, loving how he isn't afraid to stand up for other people. He has such a massive heart and I adore that quality.

"Smithy came to find Liliana and there was some tension. I let them use my office while I came to watch you guys practice, but I'm not sure what was going on."

"I figured it had to do with her," Cord says softly. "He's so protective of her, but he doesn't want to take that leap." He shakes his head.

"Sounds like someone else I know," I tease, aiming a grin at him .

"Nah, baby. I wasn't afraid of taking the leap with you. Not the first time and not this time, I just had to convince you to jump with me each time."

"That's true," I whisper, the truth of that statement hitting me hard. He's always gone after me, even when I pushed him away.

"I talked to your dad and Liam today," Cord says slowly. I can tell he's picking his words carefully and it puts me on high alert.

My spine stiffens and I suck in a deep breath. This is going to hurt and I'm not sure I'm ready for it. But that's the thing about life, it doesn't wait for you to be ready for the pain, it throws pain at you whenever it wants to. Sometimes when you least expect it. Sometimes when you can handle it, and sometimes when you can't. The pain of life doesn't take sympathy on anyone.

"Just pull off the Band-Aid, Cord. I'm not as fragile as you think I am." I wince as soon as the words are out of my mouth.

Cord has never treated me like I'm fragile. He's acted like I'm one of the strongest people he knows and is someone I can lean on when I need him, but he's never acted like I need him to survive. Though… I think I might.

"We both know that's a lie, but I'll let it slide because you're hurting." He pins me with a look. "He had already spoken to Liam and basically he wants a relationship with the two of you and Liam's kids."

"Is Liam allowing that?" I blink at him .

If anyone deserves to hate our father, it's Liam. He's the one that was physically hurt and almost died. I was just a bystander.

"Honestly, I didn't ask because I don't care. Even if Liam does, that doesn't mean you have to. But Liam said Micheal seems like the dad he was before your mom left. Liam seems to have hope he's changed."

"What did my dad say?" I whisper.

"He wants to see you and talk to you, but he knows you're hurting. He didn't mean to blindside you, but he didn't know how else to get in contact with you, Liam wouldn't tell him anything." He blows out a long breath and takes my hand in his. "I told him everything is on your terms or not at all. He understands and didn't fight it."

"Really?" I lift my gaze to meet Cords.

"Yeah, baby. He knows he fucked up and he's working on getting back to the person he used to be."

I nod my head, absorbing the information he's giving me. I feel like he's leaving something out though. Something he's hiding.

"What are you hiding? You're hesitating."

"I'm not hiding anything, but you might get mad at me."

"For what?" My tone is firm and leaves no room for bullshit. I'm already emotionally drained this week, I can't take much more.

"I hired a private investigator…"

"One? Just one?" I arch a brow, knowing this man far too well.

"No," he groans and winces. "I hired three. "

"Cord!"

"I know! Ok? But this is you we're talking about! I'm not letting him anywhere near you if I think there's even a sliver of a chance of him hurting you. What else was I supposed to do? I know you're going to be pissed and I literally spent all night praying you won't break up with me over this, but even if I knew you would, it wouldn't change what I did."

I leap off of my chair and throw myself into Cord's body. The force knocks his chair off balance and we crash to the floor, but he doesn't complain or try to get me off of him. He actually wraps his arms around me and holds me tightly so I don't get hurt when we make impact with the floor.

"Were you trying to hug me or attack me? I'm not really sure given I'm now lying on the floor," he murmurs in my ear with a slight wince to his voice. I'm sure I just hurt him, but he won't mention it.

"I'm trying to show you how much I love you."

"Your presentation could use some work." He chuckles, making me laugh right along with him.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be, but can we get up and then I'll hold you?"

"Yeah." I try to climb off of him, but every move I make has him groaning more. "I don't… know how… to do this."

"Just pull off the Band-Aid," he groans, repeating my words from earlier .

I do my best to not cause him any more pain than I've already caused, but I don't do well at that either. I hold out my hand and Cord rolls his eyes.

"If I let you help me off the ground, you'll end up falling back on top of me." He climbs to his feet much more gracefully than I did and rights the chair.

Cord holds out his hand to me and leads me over to the couch. He sits down and tugs me onto his lap, then grabs his iPad off of the end table and maneuvers through it.

"I started getting emails from the private investigators early this morning. I guess Dad called them when I got off the phone with him last night and told them to get to work right away." He lifts his shoulder in a shrug.

My love for this man and his family grows even bigger. They're always so willing to help and protect those they love. I used to get annoyed when I thought they overstepped, but now I'm realizing they can't help it. They'll do what they need to do to take care of me and I'm slowly learning to accept that's just who they are.

"Did you read them?"

"Yeah, I didn't want you to read them first in case there was some bad stuff in it." Cord tugs me a little closer and I melt against his body. There's no place I'd rather be than in his arms.

"Tell me what they say," I mumble as I rest my head against his shoulder and close my eyes .

"Basically, he was a model inmate while in prison. He kept his nose clean the entire time. When he was released, his parole officer had nothing but good things to say about him."

His deep voice soothes some of the tension in my body. I focus on that and what he found out, trying my hardest to forget the man my father was the night everything happened.

"He's been working his ass off to get a good job and get back on his feet. He was lucky to still have the house… it looks like Miranda's been paying the taxes on it since he was put in prison, so he at least had a place to go when he got out."

"That's Miranda for you." I chuckle and shake my head. "She used to visit my dad in prison. She knew it was hard for Liam to do, but she also saw how remorseful my dad was over what happened. She's sworn for years he'd come back and beg to be in our lives again. She has such a big heart. She reminds me so much of your dad."

"Those two are a little too much alike." Cord laughs. "Well, your dad's been working for the same company since he was released from prison. It's a printing company and he's worked his way up through the company. He's now the manager and people seem to love him."

"What do you think I should do?"

"Sweetheart, I think you need to do whatever you think is best." He kisses my forehead and slips his hand under the hem of my shirt so he can rub my back .

"No. Cord. Seriously." I push away from him and straddle his waist so he's forced to look at me.

"What?" His easy smile is gone and there's a pinch in his brows.

"What do you think I should do? What would you do if you were in my shoes?"

"But I'm not in your shoes, babe. I didn't live through the things you did. I can't say what I'd do."

I nod my head, but I know exactly what Cord would do. It's in his nature to be kind and give people a second chance.

"No, you'd hear him out. I know you would. You'd let him come over and give him a chance," I say softly, dropping my gaze to his chest.

"Yeah, I probably would. But that doesn't mean you need to." Cord places his knuckles under my chin and slowly raises it until I'm forced to meet his gaze. "No matter what you do, I'll support your decision and make sure everyone else respects it too."

"Will you be there if I meet with him?"

"Of course." He presses a soft kiss to my lips. "I'll always be there when you need me, all you have to do is ask."

"Thank you."

"Do you want to call him or do you want me to?" He brushes a strand of hair behind my ear before cupping my cheek.

"Could you call him?"

"Of course. But for now, how about we go up to bed and relax."

"Is relax code for something more fun?" I wiggle my eyebrows .

"Always." He grins before standing to his full height and taking me with him.

I squeal as I tighten my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist. Cord takes the stairs two at a time and races down the hallway. He tosses me on the bed, making me squeal again.

"You are so damn beautiful," he whispers as he stands at the foot of the bed and stares down at me. "How did I get so lucky to have a woman like you in my life?"

"It's that flirty grin and sexy body." I sink my teeth into my bottom lip and let my gaze trail over his body.

"Good, let me show you exactly how lucky you are to have me in your life." Cord grins before he rips his shirt over his head and lets his jeans fall into a pile on the ground.

He crawls up the bed and hovers over me. He stares into my eyes and slowly lowers his mouth down until it meets mine.

He gives me slow, lazy kisses. Ones I'll be left thinking about long into the night. Ones that will leave me feeling loved and wanted. Cherished and desired. No matter what, I can always count on Cord knowing how to make me feel better.