Happier With You | ✓

Chapter 18

**TRIGGER WARNING**

It was October, my favorite month for many reasons.

My birthday, fall, and-oh yeah-my birthday.

Cody and I were in a much better place now. We had finally learned to communicate, and we had found our peace. Things still weren't perfect, but they were ours, and I was okay with that.

I inhaled deeply as I walked down the stairs, Remi trotting beside me. "Something smells good." I hummed.

"Muffins!" Iris grinned, carefully pulling a pan from the oven.

I smiled. "One day, you need to open your own shop."

I made my way over to Ezra's playpen and watched as he crawled around. He was so stinking cute.

Iris came up beside me, watching him with the same soft expression I had.

"You girls are obsessed with him.." My stepdad chuckled from the couch. "Ezra is gonna get tired of you guys soon enough."

"Never." Sage laughed as she made a silly face at him.

I glanced at the time and grabbed my keys. "I should get going."

"Don't forget these." Iris handed me a container filled with muffins.

"You're the best." I hugged her before heading to my car.

The drive to Cody's dad's house was short, but even five minutes behind the wheel still made my stomach twist. I was getting through it, though. Slowly.

I parked and let out a breath before stepping out. As I approached the door, I hesitated, then used the key Cody had given me.

"Knocking is a thing, you know?" Cody's dad called from the kitchen, a drink in his hand.

"Sorry, I just thought you were at work, and I-"

His fist slammed against the counter, making me flinch.

"Get out of my house!" he barked.

"Dad, stop." Gigi snapped, standing up from the couch.

He turned his glare on her.

"Dad," she repeated, softer this time.

He rolled his eyes, grabbed his drink, and stomped upstairs.

I let out a slow breath.

"Sorry about that.." Gigi muttered, rubbing her temple.

"It's okay." I said, even though it really wasn't.

The yelling upstairs continued.

"He's been like this since the divorce. And now he's seeing someone, and it's gotten worse."

"Oh. I didn't know. Cody never told me."

She rolled her eyes. "You were never around for him to tell you."

I opened my mouth to respond but hesitated.

"I needed you," she continued, her voice tight. "You were like a sister to me, and then you were just... gone."

"I'm so sorry," I whispered. "But... you could've called or texted."

She sighed. The yelling upstairs stopped.

"Ready?" Cody jogged down the steps, sliding on his shoes.

I nodded.

As we stepped outside, I turned back to Gigi. "Call me or text me. I don't care how late it is, okay?"