Page 16 of Wildly Yours
“You’re big. Work hard physically. Blake respects that.”
“But you don’t.”
“Is that a question? Because it doesn’t sound like one.”
“No. You said Blake respects that, end of sentence. I thought you were implying you didn’t.”
“What you do with your bod…time is none of my concern, but I have never had an issue with how you…what you…the way you make a living.”
Her cheeks flush pink.
“Anyway, I know you’re much more educated, and despite being a hermit on that mountain, you're more worldly thanBlake. I know you see things in a way he can’t. I imagine he is never going to be able to take your view or advice into account. It would make him feel like he’s not…top dog.”
“What is it with men and their pissing contests?”
“This coming from the most intimidating man in Owl Creek.”
“I’m not—”
“Cody, I know you try to make yourself…” She twirls her hand in the air, as if she’s trying to catch the right words. “Less imposing, but it doesn’t work. You have a commanding presence. You own a room. The fact that you almost seem afraid of what comes naturally to you has always baffled me.”
Her eyes meet mine. There’s something burning in them. Maybe it’s anger. Maybe it’s more. I know I ruined any chance with her years ago, but an ember of hope sparks inside me. I want to splash water on it, but it feels too good so I'm going to hang onto it for a few moments. I know I'll find my way back to reason soon enough. I'll find the reasons we can't be together soon enough.
Suddenly, she stands up.
“Ready to tackle the basement?”
I nod, and follow her out the door. She lets Meredith know what we’re doing, then grabs a keyring from a drawer and we walk to a door next to the toilet. She unlocks it, flicks on a light, and we head down.
The air is heavy down here. The smell of cold dirt fills my nostrils. Not like in the forest. This is dirt that never sees the light of day. This is city dirt.
Serena rubs her arms before she pulls out the first drawer in the cabinet next to the stairs.
“I always forget how chilly it is down here. Why don’t I start on this one, and you start on that one.”
She points to a cabinet on the other side of the room. But instead of opening it, I pull off my hoodie and hand it to her.
“You’re cold. Put it on.”
“Cody, I—”
“Just put it on.”
She takes it from me and slips it over her head, and I swear I hear her inhale deeply as she does. When she gets it on, it falls well past her waist. She peeks up at me through her lowered eyelashes, and it feels like squirrels are running around my insides.
“These are all full of files?” I step away from her and toward the other end of the room.
“Yup.”
“Why do we have so many files?”
She looks at me again, this time with defeat on her face.
“I’m the first mayor to digitize anything.”
“But it’s two thousand—”
She holds up her hand.
