"Well, since you called us both off work today, which of course means that after our date here, I'll be screwing you senseless today, does that make me a stud?"
Okay, one point all around.
"So, where did you go?" I asked, my voice squeaking ever so slightly. She chuckled.
"I drove around for a little while, enjoying the new set of wheels." She revealed straight, white teeth to me with an ear-to-ear grin.
"I'm so glad." I smiled back, taking the breakfast burrito that was offered to me. "Yum, still warm."
"Good. I hoped they'd stay that way." Both of us served with a thermos of hot cocoa, our breakfast burritos, and a container of browned potatoes, we began to eat. "Did you really call us off today?" she asked around a bite of her breakfast. I nodded.
"Sure did." I grinned. "You don't mind, do you?" Cody shook her head.
"Not at all. Kinda cool." She wrinkled up her nose as she grinned, then the smile left, and she looked down at her food. "So, um, Brooklyn?"
"Yes, Cody?" I sipped from my Styrofoam cup of cocoa.
"You're my, well, girlfriend, now, I guess." Shyly she looked up at me from under her bangs.
"God you are so adorable." I sat forward, leaning my weight on my arms, bringing our faces together. She looked at me expectantly. "Yes, Cody," I whispered against her lips. "I am definitely your girlfriend."
Our lips met, hers cold from the crisp, pre-autumn air, mine warm from the hot drink, but both soft, all the same.
* * *
I set the picnic basket down onto the counter in the kitchen, about to turn around when I found myself suddenly pinned between a hard place and Cody.
"Dessert?" she breathed into my ear, making me absolutely melt. I nodded as I raised my head, allowing pliant lips to make a trail of fire down my neck and then earlobe as it was sucked into a warm, hot mouth. Cody's hands ran up my sides, bringing up my shirt as they did, until finally she cupped my breasts, my nipples instantly getting hard at her touch...
... the water in the shower was begging to turn cold as I tried to find purchase on anything, my head thrown back, one leg over Cody's shoulder as she did her best to taste me, the water running down her face and my body. Her tongue found the perfect spot, and I cried out, grabbing two handfuls of dark hair...
... inhaling the scent at what lay before me, my nostrils sending an erotic message to my brain as I looked up between Cody's legs, up her body, seeing the twin mounds of soft flesh topped by hard peaks, and finally the gaze, filled with blue fire, looking back at me. Cody's mouth was open, her breaths coming out in heaves, her chest rising and falling to match each. I slid my tongue out along my bottom lip, still able to taste her there.
"God," she groaned, slamming her head back onto the living room carpet as I lowered my mouth once again, only for Cody to yell out moments later, her fingers trying to find purchase in the rug.
I raised my head, sensing that she'd had enough. Climbing up her long body, I nearly purred with sated contentment.
"Did you enjoy that?" I asked, taking the muscle that connected her neck to her shoulder into my mouth and biting playfully. Cody's arms automatically wrapped around me, her eyes still closed as she panted and nodded.
"I do need a break though, dude." She grinned. I chuckled into her chest.
"Well, dude, that can be arranged."
Two heads shot up when a car pulled up to the house.
"Shit!" I jumped to my feet and peeked out the window. "Double shit! Cody, get dressed." I began to race for our clothes.
"Who is it?" she asked, getting to wobbly legs, and trying to find her shorts.
"It's your mother," I hissed.
"Oh, god."
We scrambled around, tugging on what we could. I kicked a pair of underwear under the couch before plopping down on it.
Oh god, oh god, oh god. What's the age of consent in Oregon? Oh, yeah, she's nineteen. Okay, clear. God, I'm going to lose my job, going to lose my house. Oh right, it's paid off. God, I'm going to die!
Ding dong
Cody looked at me, and I looked at her, both of us at a loss as for what to do now.
Ding dong
"You gonna get that?" Cody asked, her attitude already beginning to slip into place, that cool, you can't hurt me, exterior that made me sad.
"Right." I stood, and headed over to the door, unlocked and opened it. Rhonda smiled at me, a grocery bag held in her hand, and the distinct smell of chicken soup wafting up from it.
"Hey. How are you..." Her words trailed off as she glanced over and saw Cody sitting on the couch, cool as a cucumber. "...feeling."
I sat next to Cody again, eyes bulging when I realized that her tank was on inside out. Fuck!
"So, um, I guess you're both sick today." My boss smiled uneasily as she set the bag of food down on the table. She looked from one to the other of us, her eyes resting on her daughter. "Cody, why is your shirt inside out?"
There was a deafening silence that filled the space, the tension thick as Rhonda's face began to transform from the concerned friend to the suspicious mother. Her eyes volleyed between the two of us.
"What's going on here?" she finally said, her eyes settling on me. "Brooklyn? Why is my daughter's shirt on inside out? Did I not take enough time getting out of the car?"
Oh, boy. She was getting angry now. Hard eyes landed on Cody.
"I can't say that I'm completely surprised, Cody." Her voice was a deadly calm. Cody raised her chin in defiance, and I wanted so badly to reach out and take her hand, let her know I was there. "And you..." I started, realizing that growl was aimed at me. "I trusted you. I thought you'd be a good influence on my daughter." She snorted. "What a fool I was."
"Rhonda..."
"Don't! You have nothing to say that I want to hear," she spat. "Cody, let's go."
I shot up from the couch, my shock and guilt morphing into anger and resentment.
"Wait a goddamn minute," I said, my voice low and just getting warmed up. Rhonda penetrated my very being with her gaze. "How dare you come over here and treat me like a child in my own house."
"How dare I?" She pointed to herself. "I came over here to bring you chicken soup, Brooklyn! I sure as hell didn't come over here expecting to find that you had seduced my daughter!"
"Wait a minute!" Cody shot up, but I put my hand on her arm, gently shoving her back down. This was my fight.
"That may be, but what the hell do you think you're doing, Ron? I'm a grown woman, hell, Cody's a grown woman. This is my house. You have no right whatsoever to come storming in here like the saint that you are not, and try to tell me what is right or what is wrong. Where do you get off?"
"And where do you get off contaminating my daughter!" Rhonda yelled, the vein in the middle of her forehead pulsing with her fiercely beating heart. "My daughter is a good kid..."
"Since when?" I challenged. "Ever since I've known you you've had nothing but bad things to say about her."
Rhonda's eyes quickly darted to Cody, then bore into me.
"She's my daughter," she hissed.
"That you've slated as a failure since her conception! Get a clue, Rhonda, she is not Jodi, nor will she ever be Jodi."
"Oh no, you're right. Jodi would never disappoint me like, like..." She indicated the two of us. "... this." I heard Cody snort behind me. My fists balled into fists, my anger building with every passing moment.
"Cody is doing nothing wrong, Rhonda, and neither am I."
"It's against god!" she raged.
"Says who? And since when does an ex-hippy care what god says or doesn't say? Don't bring that bullshit into this, Rhonda. Don't you dare try and blame your prejudices and narrow-mindedness on something else. You don't like it because it's not what you told Cody to do!" I felt dizzy, all the blood racing to my brain, and throughout my body as my pounding heart sent it surging through me like fire.
Rhonda stood where she was, by the door, her hand on the knob. She took several deep breaths, trying unsuccessfully to get herself back under control. Her eyes still on me, she said, "Let's go, Cody."
Cody stood, looking at her mother, nearly two decades of anger burning in those baby blues. I put my hand on her arm. "Don't," I said, trying to stop her from saying something that she would regret for the rest of her life. Those fiery eyes turned on me, making me shiver at their intensity.
"Cody, now!" Both our heads jerked toward Rhonda, then we looked at each other again, a silent communication flowing between us before she said,
"I'll be back later."
I nodded, feeling helpless as I watched mother and daughter leave my house. Once they were gone, I fell to the couch, my legs turned to rubber, me still in shock.
"Oh my god," I muttered, running my hands through my hair. Feeling the need to get out of here, I ran upstairs, threw on fresh clothes, including underwear this time, and hurried out to my car, which was still parked in the driveway.
I wiped tears away during the entire drive to the gallery, my vision becoming dangerously blurred as the late lunch traffic swarmed around town like little worker bees or ants, taking food back to their tribe.
The bell over the door jingled my arrival, and Keith, who had been working with a client, turned to see who had entered. When he saw me, he immediately called his assistant to take over the sale, and hurried over to me.
"What is it?" he asked, his voice low with concern.
"She knows," was all I could say. Baffled, he took me by the arm, and led me toward the back where I was pushed onto the old, ratty couch that had been in the office for years. He sat next to me, but not before handing me a steaming cup of coffee.
"Start at the beginning," he said gently, his arm running along the back of the couch, his dangling hand gently rubbing my shoulder.
"Well..." I took a long sip, closing my eyes as the hot liquid tried to warm my icy insides. I turned to him, realizing I'd have to tell him everything. "We slept together last night, Keith." Blonde brows drew.
"Who?"
"Me and Cody," I exclaimed as if he should know this.
"Oh," the brows quickly climbed his forehead, then a smile swam across his lips. "So this morning was an afterglow day off, huh?"
"Keith!"
"Sorry. Continue."
"Well, that's all and good, but then Rhonda showed up." I looked at him. "I had just, well, gone down," I whispered, "on Cody right before." A small smile tried to peek out at me, and eventually it was catching. We both chuckled at the absurdity of the situation before I sobered again. I felt my throat tighten as tears tried to rush forth.
"Come here." He grabbed me around the shoulders, and drew me to him. "It's okay, sweetie," he cooed as I cried against his dress shirt. Large hands ran through my hair, soothing in their familiar touch. "So what happened then?" he asked before kissing the top of my head.
"Rhonda said some awful things, I said some awful things, then Cody left with her."
"Well, I'm sure mother and daughter had to talk some things out. Knowing Cody as I do, I have no doubt she had some things to say to her mother. Hell, I do."
"Take a number." I pouted, earning me a chuckle and a squeeze.
"So, what bothers you the most? The fact that you and Cody had sex, or the fact that Cody's mother now knows about it?" I pulled back, sniffing and wiping my hand across my eyes. Keith reached over to the desk and handed me a Kleenex. I blew my nose, and stared at my lap.
"I'm not sure. I'm mean, I'd felt guilty for a while, knowing that sooner or later either Rhonda would find out, or we'd have to tell her. I really wish she hadn't found out this way, though." I shrugged, tossing my balled up tissue toward the trash, missing. "I feel bad."
"Why?"
"Because." I looked at him. "She believed in me, Keith. I was supposed to be a good influence on Cody." He waved off my words.
"Don't give me that bullshit, Brooklyn. That sounds like something Rhonda would say."
"She did."
"See that? Don't you start believing that crap. She was angry and shocked, and I'm sure said anything to make you feel as bad as she did. Honey," he grabbed my hands in his. "You both are consenting adults. Cody may have an attitude, but she's not stupid." He looked me in the eye. "And neither are you."
"I don't know how this happened between us," I said, my voice quiet.
"Do you regret it?" I shook my head.
"God, no!" Keith smiled.
"You know, think of it in terms of Cody's skateboard. She goes downhill, the revolution of her tires just gets faster and faster, and there's nothing she can do about it. It's all gravity, and out of her hands. Unless she jumps off, of course. But I don't think she wants to." He gently caressed my cheek. "You two have been gravitating toward each other for some time, Brooklyn. It's not a bad thing. I truly think you both are really good for each other."
"Really? Despite my being a bad influence on her and contaminating her?" He chuckled, pulling me back into him again.
"Yes. Despite you're being evil devil's spawn."
"Jerk."
"Converter."
* * *
As I drove home, I thought about what Keith had said, and knew he was right. Cody and I had been on a crash course toward each other for some time, and I had just gotten tired of fighting it.
What would happen now? I understood why Cody had gone home with Rhonda, and I also knew I had to have faith in her. Whatever happened would happen, and I had no part in it right now. Apparently I had already done my part. I snorted to myself at the thought. I sure had.
* * *
It was dark out, the sun dying long ago when I heard a knock at the front door. I hadn't heard a car, so I started at the unexpected sound. Jumping up from the couch, I pulled the door open, breathing out a sigh of relief when I saw Cody standing there, board tucked under her arm, eyes staring down at the Welcome mat on the porch.
"Hey," I said, tentatively reaching out for her. She fell into my arms, and I squeezed my eyes shut, holding her to me, feeling her body relax in my arms. "Are you okay?" I asked, rubbing small circles on her back.
"Can we just go to bed?" she asked into my neck.
"Of course." I pulled back from her, shutting and locking the front door, then taking her by the hand, leading her upstairs. Once in my room, I gently undressed her, keeping my hands warm and comforting as I caressed the exposed skin, not wanting to do any more than let her know I was here if she needed me. When we both stood naked, she collapsed against me again.
Though it was not sexual, the feel of her warm, exposed skin against mine was incredible. I don't think I could ever get tired of that.
"Come on," I whispered into her ear, tugging her toward the bed where I laid on my back, pulling her head to rest on my chest. I was so glad she let me hold her, so worried that she'd be too proud.
"I don't think you're going to lose your job," she said finally, her quiet voice shattering the weighted silence that filled the room.
"I don't care about that," I said into her hair as I stroked it, kissing her forehead.
"She said some pretty awful things." I remained quiet, letting her tell me whatever she wanted to. "Then Jodi came in."
"Oh, boy." She chuckled, but there was no humor in it.
"Yeah, oh boy is right. My mother tried to make her take sides. How fucked up is that?" I could feel Cody's body tense as the anger began to stir again. "I'm going back for my stuff this weekend."
"What? Why?"
Cody pulled away, leaning up on her elbow and looking down at me.
"She made me choose," was all she said, but then she pushed the covers aside, and began to pace back in forth next to the bed, her body sleek like a cat.
"No," I breathed, sitting up. Cody nodded.
"Yep."
"Cody, honey, I will not make you lose your family..." She turned to me.
"It's my life, Brooklyn." She stepped over to the bed, looking down at me. "I'm here, aren't I?"
"Yes, but..."
"No buts about it." She began pacing again, her bare feet slapping against the hardwood with every step. "She has never given half a shit before what I did, only about what I forgot to do, or what I did wrong, or what I'd never be. Well goddamn!" She slammed her fist into her naked thigh. "I won't do it, Brooklyn!" she glanced at me, then continued on her three foot voyage.
"Okay. Whatever you want, Cody."
"Look..." She sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes boring into mine. "I don't know what will happen in the future, hell, I don't know what this is," she said, indicating she and I. "But I do know that, and this will sound kind of sick, you've been a better mom in the past eight months than she has been in the past ten years, and I can count on you, Brooklyn. You're there for me." She reached out and cupped the side of my face. "You believe in me."
"Yes, I do," I whispered, leaning into her touch.
"Keith offered me a place above the gallery." My eyes shot open.
"What?" Her hand dropped into her lap.
"Back when I told him I was starting school, he told me there's a small studio apartment above the gallery, and the rent is really cheap, and if I wanted it, it was mine." She searched my face. "I'm going to take it."
I felt as though a sharp pointy thing had just pierced my heart. I have no idea what I thought she'd do, or even what I wanted her to do, but for some reason, this not only took me by surprise, it hurt.
"Oh," I managed. Cody's hand was on my knee now.
"Look, Brooklyn, I want to be with you." She closed her eyes, "God, do I."
"But?" She looked at me.
"But, I need to grow up first." She sighed, caressing the side of my face again. "I want to be able to be there for you as much as you've been there for me, and I honestly feel, in my heart and in my gut, that right now I'd only hurt you."
"So," I choked, "you're saying you don't want to do this anymore. Us, I mean."
"No!" she exclaimed. "I'm not saying that at all. I'm saying that when I move out of my mom's this weekend, I'm moving into my own place. There's no way in hell I can burden you with my ass when I'm still so messed up." She gave me that cocky little grin of hers. "And I know you, cause I know your heart." She poked my chest. "You want to take me in and fix the broken bird that was tossed out of the nest." She searched my eyes. "Right?" I nodded.
"Yeah." I smiled, busted.
"Well, I have to learn how to fly on my own before I can join the big birds up in the trees." She stopped, scrunching up her face. "God, I'm getting corny. Anyway, you know what I mean." I grinned, nodding again. I reached out, cupping her jaw.
"How did you get so damn wise?"
"Dunno..." She shrugged. "Guess I was just lucky to born with looks and brains." She winked at me.
"Well, I always said you were a smart ass." I said, leaning in toward her.
"Yep, but I'm your smart ass."
"Better be."
Our lips met softly, both needing the contact and closeness. Cody pushed me down onto the bed, her body slowly following suit to lay atop mine, my legs automatically opening slightly to accommodate her. The kiss began to deepen, Cody's hand gently stroking my hair as she caressed my mouth, her other hand roaming down my body, her fingers in no hurry to explore and just feel, no real goal in mind.
Our bodies began to move together, this night meant for building a promise, not a climax. She breathed a moan against my lips as she kept our rhythm slow and gentle, almost reminding me of the way a boat rolled along with the waves of a calm sea. The feel of Cody against me was incredible, my heart puffing out, wanting to explode with the breadth of feelings that swelled inside it.
The room, dark, was filled with sighs and whispered promises that took us off to sleep.
* * *
Cody was excited, so I was excited, too. I knew she was right, and this was the right thing to do, and hey, nothing's permanent, such as her living in this apartment.
Stop it, Brook. I shook my head to clear it, and smiled at Cody who was looking at me like I was nuts.
"What?" I asked, realizing she had said something to me.
"I said I need the key." She was looking at me like I had three heads.
"Oh, sorry." I handed them to her, Keith having dropped them off to me at home. He was being wonderful about this. He was giving her a fantastic deal on rent, plus no deposit, and he was paying for more than half of her utilities.
Cody took a deep breath as she inserted the key into the lock. I could tell she was really excited, nearly shaking in her thrill of having her first place to herself. With a bit of a push, the door opened, and we were met with a slightly musty smell.
"Can you say Pine Sol?" She grinned as she flipped on the light next to the door. Keith had said that we'd have to do some cleaning, and would definitely have to throw some stuff out. At one time this had been the studio for an artist who owned the gallery before Keith, and it hadn't really been used for much more than storage since.
"Well, ready to work, kid?" I smiled at my girl, and she gave me an evil grin back. Yeah, I could see it in her eyes, this was what she needed.
"You got it, dude." She headed further into her new apartment, looking around, slowly running her fingers over different objects that she passed; old tables, parts of an old push wheel, a mannequin, kind of afraid to know why that was here.
"What do you think?" I asked, following behind, watching her wonder at the prospects of finally having her freedom. I just wished that it had been under normal circumstances of Cody needing space as a college student. There was so much guilt inside me from all this, feeling that this new rift between Cody and Rhonda was because of me.
"I think there's a lot of shit in here," she said, looking up at a small crack in the ceiling that looked to have been puttied over years ago. "But, overall I'm thrilled." I walked up behind her and hugged her to me, resting my chin on her shoulder.
"I'm happy, too, baby," I whispered. She turned in my arms and hugged me fully, inhaling my smell as I inhaled hers.
"Why don't I get started on the cleaning and clearing and you head on over to your house?" I asked, looking up at her. She looked away.
"My parent's house."
"Oh, Cody," I hugged her tight. "I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault, Brooklyn." I was forced to look up into intense blue eyes, her fingers on my chin. "Got that? It's their problem, not ours." I nodded slowly, not really believing it.
"Okay."
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