Page 26 of Thaw My Heart
I nod, feeling oddly comforted by the situation. I never thoughtcomfortandCodywould be two words to go together, but such is life, I suppose.
“Works for me,” I agree.
“That sounds perfect,” Maya echoes with a smile. She glances between me and her brother. “Thank you. Both of you. I love you guys.”
“Love you,” Cody and I echo back, our voices overlapping. Our eyes meet, and I find he’s actuallysmilingat me. This cocky, presumptive,gorgeousbastard is smiling at me!
God, I hate him and his stupid dimples.
Well, no I don’t.
But I really wish I could. It would make lifesomuch easier.
Maya starts to walk ahead of us, or rather, Cody falls back to walk beside me, and I let him. He’s close, so close that I can smell his cologne and feel the heat of his skin against me. It’s like he’s testing me. Or taunting me. I don’t know which is worse.
“I really didn’t mean to freak out last night,” he tells me when Maya is out of earshot. “It’s just that Claudia is a sensitive topic. It wasn’t personal. I hope you know that.”
I think for a moment, carefully planning my words. The last thing I want to do is say something wrong. “No, I get it. I really do get it. I just… That’s why I thought I could help. Because Idounderstand. But I get not wanting help yet, or at all. God knows I probably would’ve reacted the same if I was in your shoes. I’ve been told that I can be a bit too forward at times, but unfortunately, I usually don’t realize it until it’s too late.”
Cody starts to speak, but my phone begins to ring before he can get a word out. I check it, and my heart sinks when I recognize the number as one that Milo frequently calls from. I grimace as I decline the call and feel any good mood I may have been starting to approach completely slip away.
Maya looks back upon hearing the phone, and her brow furrows when she sees my face. “Tell me that wasn’thim again.”
“Wish I could,” I say, tucking my phone back into my pocket.
Cody looks between us. “Wait, what? Who’s calling you?”
I don’t say anything, but I don’t have to because Maya’s on it. “Milo. He’s a complete stalker who won’t leave her alone no matter how many times she tells him they aren’t getting back together. He keeps finding new ways to contact her. Creepy fucker.”
Cody stops walking and watches me with the kind of concern that only he and his sister can achieve. It’s the kind of concern that you know is genuine—empathic concern. But beneath the concern is an emotion that his sister has never been able to master.
Anger. Pure, unbridled rage.
“He’s harassing you? Even after all this time?”
Maya and I stop walking and turn back to look at Cody.
I shrug. I feel like Cody can see right through me, like I’m completely exposed. “He thinks I should forgive him. But it’s honestly fine. I’ll admit, it’s annoying, but he’s harmless. All bark, no bite.”
Cody’s expression darkens in a way that would scare anyone but me and Maya. His anger isn’t for us. I know that. And I also know it’s my job to dissolve the anger before something bad comes of it. The last thing any of us needs is more trouble. I’ve had enough trouble in the past two days to last an entire lifetime.
“Give me his number,” Cody demands, pulling his phone out. “I’ll take care of it.”
“No,” I say immediately. “You’d just make things worse. AndIcan take care of it. I know how to handle him without rocking the boat.”
“Bullshit,” Cody growls loudly. A couple walking past us on the sidewalk give him an odd look and quicken their pace. “He’s gonna keep bothering you because you’re too nice to tell him what he needs to hear. I’m not. I’ll tell him exactly what a worthless piece of shit he is, and I’ll explain in explicit detail how I’ll personally stick my shoe up his ass if he doesn’t back off.” His voice is low and raspy. I nearly lose my breath. I don’t know what I can possibly say to that. I don’t think I could speak even if I wanted to. This is a side of Cody that I almost never get to see—a side that is utterly terrifying.
And I think I might like it.
“Back off, Cody,” Maya says for me, although I almost wish she wouldn’t. How far would Cody go if unchecked? If he wasn’t forced to behave, what lengths would he go to for me? “If Darcy wants your help, she’ll ask for it. It’s not your place to interfere.” She looks at me. “I am worried though. The calls are becoming more frequent.”
I wave her off, swallowing any kind of feelings that had been momentarily rising over Cody. I cannot let myself becomeconsumed. Consumption is dangerous. It’s unreliable. It’s primal. I cannot afford to be primal. I have to be logical.
“I promise, it’s fine,” I lament easily. “Milo loves to whine and complain, but he doesn’t have the balls to actually do anything about it. Please don’t worry, alright? I have everything under control.”
Maya is watching me, and I know she doesn’t believe the words I’m saying—Hell, I’m not sure ifIbelieve the words I’m saying. But she nods regardless, my silent supporter no matter what the circumstance. My cheerleader. My person. “Alright. Just be careful, okay?”
I give her my best smile, hoping it puts her nerves at ease, but I know her, so I know that it doesn’t.
