Page 27 of Sight Unseen

My traitorous lady friend chuckled loudly. “Did I? I don’t remember making that promise.”

My face flushed with heat as I recalled the ungainly way I’d stumbled over the fire hydrant right in the front of my house, while out on a cane lesson alone. I’d been determined to see if I could do it by myself. My fall had been broken by placing my hands in a lovely fresh pile of dog crap. Suzanne had been coming around the corner, and when she’d seen my predicament, despite being worried, she hadn’t been able to hold back her laughter. I thought I’d sworn her to secrecy.

“Oh no. That was too good to keep to herself. Suze had to share, didn’t you, my sweet?” Cody crunched the apple again. “So where’s Jon? Out at another underwear signing, or a business meeting?” I knew Cody had lost all regard for Jon.

“He’s out with friends, then he has a fashion shoot later. He’ll be late again, I guess.”

Cody crunched his apple violently. “Really? You’d have thought he’d have had enough time with his friends, after being out with them for his birthday for two days a week ago.”

I winced. “Yeah, I know. That didn’t quite go as planned.”

Cody huffed. “You’re telling me. Dude. All that planning you put into his party just fizzled out because he decided he wanted to go clubbing and you said you weren’t ready for that yet.”

We’d had a silent, awkward dinner at home before he went out partying. I hadn’t been ready to go into a busy club and put up with not being able to see anything, never mind trying to figure out where the bathroom was, but that didn’t excuse him abandoning me.

He’d had no problem leaving for the club where he met up with his friends and it took him almost forty-eight hours to get home. Yeah, he’d messaged me to say he was wasted and was staying over at a friend’s house, but still. And as if Uber didn’t come to our neighborhood.

I rolled one shoulder. “It’s nothing. It doesn’t bother me.”

I didn’t need Cody to say anything to hear his disbelief. The way his breathing changed, the anger I could feel coming off him in waves made him a wide open book.

“Oh-kay. So once again you’re alone tonight. Want me to stay? We can order takeout. Maybe you can show me a few moves with that cane of yours, give me a few pointers?” He cackled. “Get that, pointers? As in, your cane has a point—”

I rolled my eyes, hearing Suzanne’s chuckle. “Yeah, I get it, it was such a bad one I hoped I could forget it. Yes, you can stay, and for a change we’re having pizza. None of that crappy Chinese stuff you love, I’m tired of Wong Fuck Yu and Chicken Chow Whatever.”

“What?” Cody was scandalized. “I’ll have you know that’s my patented speciality dish. Everyone loves a bit of Fuck Yu.”

I couldn’t help it, the laughter started deep in my chest and echoed in the room along with Suzanne’s hearty chuckles.

“Well, I’m going to leave you guys alone to enjoy your evening. It’s getting late and the traffic home will be a bitch.” Suzanne leaned over and kissed my cheek. “Look after yourself, keep practicing the dotty stuff and if you get a chance, do some cane work. You know the old saying—”

“Practice makes perfect,” I finished. “I know. Thanks for everything, Suzanne. I’ll see you next week.”

After she’d left, Cody ordered the pizza—double cheese-filled crust with pepperoni, meatballs, salami and chicken, topped with black olives. He grumbled about our arteries and the fact he’d have heartburn all night because of the dough, but I knew he’d enjoy it anyway.

Tonight, instead of playing movies with me listening to the audio version, we decided to listen to music. As it was my turn to choose, I wanted show tunes. I had a bit of a thing for them, loving the lyrics and the story they told.

I mean, who could resist “Cellblock Tango” from Chicago? Or “No One Mourns the Wicked” from Wicked? Only a heathen would be able to turn away a good show tune.

We hunkered down on the sofa eating peanuts and drinking beer or soda, singing along to lyrics that we knew. Cody hammed things up, making me laugh. He’d always loved air-guitaring and based on how many times he got up and danced around the room, I guessed he still did.

It was close to eleven p.m. when he finally stood up to leave.

“I’d better be off,” he murmured, as I lay half-asleep on the sofa. “I’ve got an early start in the morning, I’m flying to San Francisco for an art show. I’ll be out of town for a couple of days. It’s a traveling fair theme with the weirdest stuff I’ve ever seen, like stuffed giant fish and bicycles with false sausages as spokes. For some reason, people are going crazy for Dwight’s art. Me, I think it’s horrible. But Rachel likes it, and it’s making us money so…” He blew out air and I had a vision of him standing there looking adorably tousled, his hair escaping from his ponytail. “I’ll check in with you, though, see how things are going. I don’t like the idea of you being left alone like this.”

I sighed and sat up. I was still a little groggy and I blamed my lack of clear mind on what I said next. “I’m not complaining. I’d rather Jon be out there than be here being miserable with me. Things have been shitty anyway lately, I’m better off on my own. So’s he.”

The air stilled. All sound stopped and I drew a deep breath. Shit, I hadn’t meant to bare my soul like that.

I sensed the shift in air as Cody either crouched or knelt in front of me. “Nate, have things gotten that bad between you guys? I knew something was up, hell, he’s hardly ever home but is that really how things are going?”

I rubbed my eyes. I didn’t want Cody worrying about me when he should be enjoying his trip. “Nah, bud. I’m sounding off, that’s all. I’m sure we’ll get over the slump, heal the rift, you know, all those hippie kinda things you keep saying to me.”

Who am I kidding? The rift between Jon and I is the Grand-fucking-Canyon.

I reached out and found Cody’s arm and squeezed. “I’ll be fine. Tomorrow we planned to go on a drive down to the beach, maybe have a picnic.” That was such a lie. Jon had somewhere else to be tomorrow. “You go off and have fun with your circus and I’ll catch up with you when you get back.”

“Hmm.” Cody didn’t sound convinced. “Okay, but if you need me, you call, okay? I’m only a couple of hours away, traffic permitting. Oh, and remember the day I get back, I’m picking you up for that surf-off competition. I’ll come over in the morning to get you.”