It Took A Rumor by Carter Ashby

Author:Carter Ashby [Ashby, Carter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-05-18T18:30:00+00:00

As it turned out, Jordan was awake after all. He’d slept a while and then awakened to take another pain pill. As it hadn’t kicked in just yet, he’d turned on the television to distract himself from the pain.

Cody waited as Ivy came back down the stairs.

“You can go up,” she said. “Second door to the left. He’s awake and willing to see you.”

Cody nodded and looked Ivy over one last time. She’d lost weight. She looked exhausted. He was sorry for his part in burdening her. It must be mentally exhausting to carry someone else’s secrets.

He went upstairs. Jordan’s door was cracked open, the blue light from the television flickering and casting shadows. Cody rapped gently with his knuckle before going in. Jordan lay still, staring at the television. It was hard to see the levels of bruising, but the swelling around his nose was obvious. “Hey,” Cody said, sitting hesitantly on the edge of the bed.

“What do you want?”

“I heard what happened and just had to see you. I’m so sorry.”

“You didn’t do it.”

Cody stared down at where his hand rested on the bed inches from Jordan’s. “When you care about someone, it feels like your fault if they get hurt. I don’t know what I could have done. Maybe been there to fight for you. I’m angry I can’t defend you. Avenge you.”

Jordan gingerly turned his head on the pillow, meeting Cody’s gaze. “You know, I can throw a punch. I didn’t just fall down and take it.”

Cody felt the beginnings of a smile working its way to the surface. “You don’t strike me as a fighter.”

“I’m not. But I’ve been in a few. I defended myself as long as I could. It was two-against-one, though. There’s only so much you can do.”

Cody nodded, returning his gaze to their hands. He reached up and enclosed Jordan’s with his own. Tension left his body when Jordan didn’t pull away. “You should have had someone by your side to make the numbers even.”

“We could maybe…be friends?”

Cody’s heart pounded and he wanted nothing more but to press it tightly against Jordan’s. “You’d be okay with that?” Cody asked.

“Of course. I’d love to be friends with you. But if you want some of this action,” he said, grabbing his crotch over his blankets, “you’ll have to take me on a real date.”

Cody laughed and leaned in to kiss Jordan on the cheek. “You’re so fucking cute.”

Jordan shifted to the side of the bed and patted the covers next to him. Cody lay down beside him, snaking his arm beneath Jordan’s neck, careful not to jostle him too much. Jordan rested his head in the crook of Cody’s shoulder, and they both fell asleep watching television.

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