Stevie removed the rest of the wrap and tossed it in the trash. She carried the cake to the sofa and sat down on one end. She should have driven out to the ranch and had this conversation with Cody when he first came home, she had decided since she left Mia in the barn. But she’d been downright hateful and belligerent every time she saw him. Her mother always told her that every choice had consequences. That was the absolute gospel truth, she thought as she waited for him to come over to the living area. Today it was time to pay the fiddler, and Stevie was ready to get it over with and off her heart and mind.

“You can bring the forks and two beers. I’m glad I don’t have to choose between beer and chocolate tonight. I need both,” she said with a long sigh.

“So, it’s a serious talk?” Cody took two forks from the drawer and a couple of long-neck bottles of beer from the fridge and joined her on the sofa.

“This is more like a ‘come to Jesus’ talk for me, starting with I’m sorry for treating you the way I have since you came home, and especially since you’ve been so nice to me. I thought I was completely over you since we broke up in high school, and I thought I had moved on, but evidently I hadn’t.” Stevie was glad that Tex was between them.

“Well, then let’s hear it, love.” He set the bottles on the coffee table.

“I told you not to call me that, and this is serious, Cody, and this is not the time to tease me,” she said.

“Okay, then spit it out and let’s get it over with.” He said.

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “It’s tough to talk about the way I feel, and even harder to admit that I’m to blame for most of it.” She took a fork from him and cut off a chunk of cake with the edge of it. “I was in love with you when we were dating…” She sighed. “I know we were both just kids, but I would have followed you to the ends of the earth.”