Page 43 of Triple Pucked
My heart clenches.
What if he does break a promise? How will I trust him?
Cody’s expression gentles.
He points dramatically at the cake. “Look, I haven’t. You’re the only person apart from my husband who I’ve baked this for. And you’re the only person who I’ve shown how to bake it. You’re as special as the recipe. Let’s have a slice, huh?”
I stand frozen.
My mind is reeling.
Special?
My cheeks flush. I duck my head, but a small, pleased smile tugs at my lips.
Only Cody can make me feel like this, as if he’d have chosen me to be his friend, even if I wasn’t his sister’s boyfriend.
He’s my friend, rather than Shay’s.
No one has chosen me over my brother before.
Cody is several years older than me. He’s so athletic and sun blushed, however, by his time spent surfing that he looks the same age as me.
He’s handsome with neat brunette hair, freckles across the bridge of his nose, and russet eyes. He’s dressed in pastel blue boardshorts and a black t-shirt withTORTURERemblazoned on the front in white.
Cody is Director of Physical Therapy at the Bay Rebels.
Torturerhas become his nickname, although I don’t know how much of that is a joke.
Cody is good in that easy way that makes everybody like him.
Everybody apart from his dad.
Cody pushes me hard in my physiotherapy but that’s what I’ve needed.
I’ve been committed to my recovery. And Cody has been equally committed in the way that no stranger would have been.
Cody dances happily around the kitchen, humming to David Bowie’s “Heroes”. He swings his hips as he pulls out a sleek, stainless steel cake knife and two plates.
Shay insists that friends share their music.
I’ve tried several times to share my love of the Arctic Monkeys. After all, Cody loves English singers like Bowie.
Every time, however, the words burn my throat.
What if Cody hates my rock bands?
What if he laughs at them?
What if he rejects them?
I wince at the crack, as Cody drops one of the plates that is covered with the bold letteringA WISE DOCTOR ONCE WROTEfollowed by a load of illegible scribbles.
It must be Doctor Michael Gaines, Cody’s husband’s, plate.
Michael has a dry, dark humor.
His handwriting is also worse than Shay’s. So, the plate is accurate.
