The smile on Cody’s face disappeared the moment Lana left. Instead, he turned to look at his dad.

“What?” Linford frowned, “I’ve never asked her to be here. Just like she said. She’s treating me as her brother.”

Cody rolled his eyes, “Ask yourself. Do you even believe that?”

“She will be no one else to me except a friend,” Linford said seriously.

Cody shook his head, “If you really don’t feel anything for her, why didn’t you stay away from her in the first place?”

Linford took a sip from his cup on the nightstand, “I’ve never wanted to stay close to her, and I’ve explained our relationship to...