Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 143842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 719(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 479(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 143842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 719(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 479(@300wpm)
“This didn’t happen,” I finally said, voice still haggard.
I needed to erect a wall. Guard myself from the feelings that were threatening to sprout. Hell, they’d been there all along, and I’d just drenched them in life-giving water.
The edge of Cody’s mouth ticked all the way up, that smirk back in full force. “Whatever you say, darlin’.”
Reluctantly, I took his hand and let him help me out, and he reached out to steady me when I swayed the second my feet hit the ground. “Whoa, there. I’ve got you.”
He shut my door and guided me onto the curb, and he rested his hand lightly at the small of my back as he guided me up my driveway and around the sidewalk that led to the porch. He followed me all the way to the door.
I didn’t realize how badly my hands were shaking until I fumbled with the zipper of my little purse, how I couldn’t stop the quaking of my insides when I retrieved my key and tried to get it into the lock.
Cody reached out and set his hand on mine, his movements controlled as he helped me slide the key into the lock and turn it. The latch gave, the knob twisted, and the door creaked open to the darkness of my house.
I went to step inside, only Cody’s mouth went to my ear as I passed. “You might want to pretend that didn’t just happen, but believe me, Shortcake, the sight of you coming is going to be imprinted in my mind for the rest of my life.”
Then he backed away, stuffing his hands into his pockets and wearing one of those flirty grins, and said, “See you tomorrow…friend.”
FIFTEEN
CODY
TWELVE YEARS OLD
“Beat you by a landslide, sucker!” Ryder shouted as he jumped onto the bottom step of Cody’s front door stoop.
Cody came barreling to give a shove to Ryder, pushing him off the step and planting himself there, cracking up as he claimed, “Doesn’t look like you won to me, now, does it?”
“Ah, you jerk!” Ryder pushed him back, hard enough to send Cody toppling to the grass. “I totally got here first, and you know it. You’re such a cheater, Cody.”
Cody grabbed Ryder’s arm and sent him falling, too, and in an instant, they were wrestling around, the race forgotten in favor of being the one to get the pin. It didn’t take much for Cody to get on top, his arm across Ryder’s chest to keep his back glued to the lawn.
Ryder might have been crazy fast on his long, skinny legs, but Cody was at least double the size of his best friend, so in wrestling, Ryder wasn’t close to being his match.
Cody shouted, “One. Two. Three,” as he smacked his free hand in time against the ground considering it only took one of them for Cody to keep hold of Ryder, counting down as Ryder thrashed below his hold, struggling to get free.
“Pinned.” Cody boomed it. He jumped onto his feet and threw his fists in the air, pumping his arms as he showboated his victory. “I am the champion.”
Ryder kicked out, catching Cody at the ankles, dropping him right to his knees on the ground. That time it was Ryder’s turn to howl with laughter. “Got you, asshole.”
“Freaking cheap shot.”
“No different than the cheap shot you took. I totally kicked your butt in that race.”
Cody couldn’t help but smile, and he climbed to his feet and stretched out a hand to help Ryder pop onto his feet. “Like I even had a chance of keeping up with you. Pretty sure when you get on the track team, you’re going to break every record ever set.”
Ryder shrugged a little. “Maybe. At least you’re allowed to play football. My mom said no way because I’m gonna get crunched.”
“I woulda protected you,” Cody said, swiping the dirt off his pants since his mom scolded them every time they came in the house dragging in mud, and the last thing Cody wanted was his mom working harder than she already did.
Cody was bummed Ryder wasn’t allowed to be on the team, but they’d already tried to talk Ryder’s mom into it, and she wouldn’t budge.
“It’s fine. I’m going to be going to Seattle to visit my cousin Caleb, so I would have missed a bunch of games, anyway.”
Cody threw a light punch to Ryder’s shoulder. “Lucky ass.”
Ryder shrugged again, smug, saying, “Don’t need to be jealous,” as he tossed open Cody’s front door.
They were struck with the scent of sugar and dough and warmth.
Ryder inhaled, his black eyes going wide. “Chocolate chip cookies. My favorite.”
Dakota was always in the kitchen, baking up a storm, and Cody had half a mind that the only reason Ryder came over was to get a taste.
Case in point: Ryder beelined across the living room and disappeared through the arch to the kitchen without looking back.