Page 52 of Safe
“You’re late,” the guard said, glancing at his watch. Cody handed over a thick envelope and apologized. Without another word, the guard returned to his booth and picked up the phone to tell someone that we’d arrived. My curiosity was piqued.
What was he up to?
After a few minutes, a petite woman appeared, her blonde hair pulled into a ponytail. She wore a Cheyenne Mountain Zoo button-up shirt, khaki shorts, and sturdy boots. She looked far too excited about this, like she’d been waiting just for us.
“You must be Cody!” the woman said, stepping forward with an outstretched hand, then turning her attention to me. “And you must be Danielle! I’m so happy to finally meet you.”
To finally meet me? I was lost. Did Cody know her already? How long had he been planning whatever this was?
She led us to the main gate, and through the wrought iron bars, the zoo looked suspiciously empty. Once we got past the main entrance, we were led through another gate. The trails were deserted except for us.
I glanced at Cody, perplexed. “Why does the zoo look closed?”
He smiled, squeezing my hand. “It is closed.” With that, we followed the zookeeper through the deserted pathways.
The zoo was eerie without the sound of people, and yet, alive in ways I hadn’t expected. Strange animal calls came from the exhibits, ones that I might not have heard in crowded parts of the zoo. Distant, exotic birds shrieked, and somewhere nearby, a lion’s roar reverberated through the air. My heartpounded in excitement and anxiety as we walked deeper into the park.
After about five minutes, Cody stopped and turned to me. He pulled what looked like a piece of fabric from his pocket.
“If you want to go any further, you’ll have to let me blindfold you,” he said with a teasing tone in his voice. Before I could protest, he tied the fabric over my eyes with care. I couldn’t see, but I could feel the warmth of his skin close to mine.
Before we went any further, he leaned in and whispered, “We can use this later, too, if you want.”
I didn’t know whether to laugh or melt into a puddle right then and there.
With Cody’s hands on my shoulders, I let him lead me forward. The only indication that we had moved indoors was when the gravel path turned smooth, hard concrete, and the heat had been replaced with cooler air. There were several turns, then a door swung open, and we stepped into a room that was much colder and silent, except for our breathing.
I stood there, waiting, surrounded by nothing but darkness.
“Ready?” Cody whispered into my ear from behind me.
I nodded, feeling Cody’s hand steady on my back as he led me through the final door. His fingers brushed at the edge of the blindfold before removing it.
Once my eyes adjusted to the light, I was struck speechless. No amount of guessing could have prepared me for this. There we were, standing on a rock above the water. Right in front of me, just a few feet away, there were dozens of penguins waddling by, flapping their wings, and noting my every move.
It took a moment for it to sink in that we were actuallyinsidethe penguin enclosure. The icy air, the soft sounds of water lapping, the happy chattering of the birds—every detailfelt magical. I was at a total loss for words. No one had ever done anything like this for me. This was what a real relationship was supposed to be.
“Cody,” I forced the words out, not knowing the right thing to say, “this is incredible.”
The zookeeper stepped forward, grinning at my awestruck face. “Do you want to hold one?”
“Um, YES!” The word tumbled out before I could gather my composure. She scooped up one of the smaller penguins with ease and brought it over. Meanwhile, Cody spread a blanket across the cold rock for me to sit on. I plopped down, arms outstretched like a little kid on Christmas morning.
The zookeeper eased the penguin into my lap. Its downy feathers pressed against my palms as its tiny body nestled into mine. I couldn’t stop smiling. For the next fifteen minutes, I laughed and played like the world outside didn’t exist while Cody just watched, smiling, content to see me happier than I could ever remember being.
“Would you like some champagne?” Cody asked, smiling as he pulled a basket from behind the rocks. Inside was a bottle of champagne, two glasses, and an array of different cheeses with crackers. He popped the cork, aiming so it went flying into the hallway, then poured out two glasses and sat next to me on the blanket. I took a sip, and he made me a plate.
“How did you know I love penguins so much?” I asked, smiling as we made our way through the cheese plate.
Cody smiled back, almost smirking. “A few months ago, my roommate asked me to look after his little sister. I figured there might come a time when she’d be scared, or sad, or maybe just needed a smile. So, I asked him what she loved most, just in case. That way, no matter what happened, I could make her happy.”
Yep. This is love.
I’d never felt so sure about anything, ever, as I was at that moment.
As I let my hand glide over the soft feathers of the penguin in my lap, I realized that I had been the one holding back all along. For so long, I was afraid to reveal even a hint of love to Cody, terrified that he might not feel the same. The prospect of rejection was something I knew I wasn’t capable of handling yet. But this changed everything I thought I knew.
Until now, I thought Cody was just a fierce protector, his actions being based on the desperate need to keep me safe, but this evening revealed a side to him I had been longing to see. He didn’tneedto do this; he wanted to. This was more than sex; it was an intentional act, something to show me that I was someone worthy of doing extraordinary things for.
