Page 14 of Sight Unseen

It was only when I lay on the bed and pulled the duvet around me that I realized Jon hadn’t answered my questions about Cody.

Chapter 4

Cody

It wasn’t often I got pissed off. I was a pretty rational guy most of the time with a comme ci, comme ça attitude that served me well. Now though, sitting in my car, contemplating the beachfront and wondering why the hell I wasn’t with Nate right now, to say I was ready to punch someone would be an understatement.

I’d taken the day off work specially to be with him. Thanks to Jon, it hadn’t worked out, but I’d decided to give myself the day off anyway to brood. Rachel said I was a pain in the ass when I was broody and preferred to stay out of my way. It was a rare occasion but I tended to make them count.

I glowered at the bobbing dashboard figure of Yoda that Nate had bought me years ago from a head shop in Venice Beach. He said it reminded him of me since Yoda was calm and collected like me. Well, Nate should see me now.

Yoda stared at me with what I thought was a smirk on his face. I tapped it, making him bob.

“Stop that,” I snarled. “It’s enough that he didn’t want me around today when he gets out of hospital. I don’t need you silently sneering, trying to calm me down with your Yoda mind shit.”

Oh yeah. I was definitely pissed off when I swore at Yoda.

I stared across the water. Why the hell wouldn’t he let me be there? Jon said Nate didn’t want me to see him “like that” at the hospital. What the hell did that mean? Like what exactly? And it’s not as if I haven’t seen worse with him. Like when he first woke up and was all messed in the head.

Scowling, I wondered why he hadn’t responded to any of my messages. I eyed Yoda and narrowed my eyes at his wise face. “Jon would at least read them out to him or something, right? Do you think he’s mad with me? Nate, I mean not Jon, ’cause he’s always mad with me.” The feeling of helplessness at not knowing what was going on drove me crazy.

Yoda stared back with knowing eyes and less of a smirk now.

I heaved a sigh, puffing out my cheeks as my phone rang. I decided to answer it. “Hey Dev. How are things going?”

Dev Wallis was a good friend—well, a fuckbuddy really—and someone I counted on to be there when I needed release of some sort. He knew about my feelings for Nate and was happy to play stand-in, which kind of sucked for him. The chemistry between us was great for sex, but had never been there to make our relationship more permanent.

“Hey, my friend. I wanted to ask if you wanted to meet up later? Maybe catch a drink and get a bit of action? I’ve been horny all week, and I need me some loving.”

I stared into the distance. I didn’t think I’d be seeing Nate today so why the hell shouldn’t I have some fun?

“Yeah, sure. We can meet at Paulie’s if you like, have a drink then we can go back to my place.” Paulie’s was a bar down on the beach that sold cheap alcohol and played great music.

“Sweet. We can catch up tonight. See you later.”

The phone went dead and I threw it onto the passenger seat. I eyed the phone, reached for it, then pulled my hand away. Tapping the steering wheel, I watched as two seagulls fought over a piece of bread, only for it to fall into the depths of the ocean. The seagulls screamed in anger and swooped down like dive-bombing planes to rescue it.

I picked up my phone again. Fuck it. I’m going to call again. He’s not blowing me off like that. I dialed Nate’s cell number and waited. It rang a few times then cut off. I stared at the phone in disbelief.

“Did you cut me off, you bastard? No fuckin’ way.” I dialed again.

Just as I was about to give up, Nate’s sleepy voice answered.

“Oh, you are alive.” I couldn’t keep the sarcasm from my voice. “I thought maybe you’d been abducted by aliens.”

“Cody? Where the hell have you been?” Nate sounded angry.

I gaped. “What? I’ve been keeping away like I was asked. Where the hell have you been? And why did you cut me off?”

There was silence, then, “What do you mean, ‘like you were asked’? I came out of hospital today, don’t you remember?” It was hard to miss the hurt in Nate’s voice. “And sorry about the cutting you off. I tried to answer and must have pressed the wrong button. I’m still getting used to the whole being blind thing.”

I squinted at the seagulls, trying to see which one of them had won the food competition. It looked like the fat one with the tattered feathers was the reigning champion. I threw it a thumbs-up.

“Huh? Of course I remember. I’ve sent you loads of texts. And it was your boyfriend who told me you didn’t want to see me today, and I should stay out of the way.”

Nate went quiet again. I heard him shuffling around. “Jon told you I didn’t want to see you? Why would he do that? He knows I wanted to see you.”

I sighed. “That’s why. I guess he wanted you to himself today. I can understand that.” The tight feeling in my chest and throat must be heartburn, I reasoned. Not heartbreak. Nate wasn’t mine and I couldn’t lay claim to him like Jon could. And did.