Page 26 of Sight Unseen

The only reading I like doing is when Cody is here and we listen to audiobooks.

Suzanne chuckled. “That stupid dotty stuff is going to let you have choices. A choice to read a document or a book, to check out your TV listings or even better, read that program of your work when you start sculpting again and have an exhibit at an art show.”

I scowled. Between Suzanne and Cody, I had a formidable and unrelenting team trying to get me to begin working again, or at least enter my studio.

“Stop your sly attempts to manipulate me into doing something I’m not ready to do yet,” I muttered. “Christ, you’re as bad as Cody. He thinks by getting me down into the studio, I’ll have a miraculous breakthrough, smell the clay and become enthused with creativity and whoosh, look at who’s the next Rodin. The dude is such a damn optimist.”

Cody was such a loveable dork sometimes. Well, most of the time. He’d become my rock whereas Jon—I preferred not to think about Jon what had become.

Suzanne snorted, a most unladylike noise. “Cody is most certainly an optimistic guy. We had a conversation the other day where he said he didn’t think piercings hurt. He talked about having ‘mind over matter.’” She grimaced. “Did he tell you he was thinking of getting one himself? I told him about the one I had downstairs, and he wanted to know what it felt like. He seemed really curious about it.” Her voice grew teasing. “Perhaps he’s thinking about getting a Prince Albert.”

I swallowed and instinctively reached down a hand to cover my crotch.

Hell no. Nothing sharp is going anywhere near my dangly bits. And yuck. Did she just mention her lady bits?

My distaste at thinking about lady parts was overtaken by the fact my cock liked the idea of Cody having a piercing in his dick.

Jesus. That’s so fucking wrong on many levels.

“Hey, you little pixie woman. No letting out the Cody secrets. Nate doesn’t want to hear about my rabid fantasies.” Cody had just arrived, and his indignant voice echoed in the room like a familiar song, or a warm blanket over the shoulders. I grabbed a cushion to cover my groin. “You have all that steel in you, and maybe I’d like a little too…” His voice trailed off and he uttered a dirty laugh. “Of course, I do like a little steel in me sometimes.”

I groaned both at the pun and the fact that the idea was making my chubby even worse. I didn’t want to think of anyone else doing my best friend. “Hey, enough of the sex talk. There’s a lady present.”

Cody burst into a guffaw. “Suzie’s no lady.” His tone was affectionate and there was the sound of a slap and Cody’s startled “Ouch” as Suzanne hit him. She was one tough character; she and Cody got on like mustard on a hot dog.

Cody’s familiar scent came closer and I sensed him beside me as he dropped a kiss on the top of my head. “How’s the dotty stuff going? Are you able to read Chaucer yet?”

He sniggered and I batted away the hand that rumpled my hair. “No. And enough with the hair already, you dork. It looks bad enough without you messing it up.”

“I think it looks awesome, that cut suits you,” Cody murmured as he brushed a strand off my forehead. “Suzanne is a great hairdresser. Another of her many talents.”

I’d gotten tired of trying to put product in my unruly hair only for Jon to tut-tut and tell me it looked awful. Suzanne had offered to cut it shorter, so I could manage it better.

Cody’s warmth disappeared as he no doubt went to the kitchen to find something to eat. There was the familiar sound of rummaging and muttering as Cody raided the fridge and I grinned.

“He makes you smile more than anyone I know,” Suzanne said. “You might not realize it, but that man makes you happy.”

“We’re best friends. And he’s Cody, so sure he makes me smile,” I said guardedly.

Has she noticed something? Had I revealed something I shouldn’t have?

There was a loud sniff. “You keep telling yourself that,” she muttered. “I mean, you two are so in sync, it’s scary.”

I cleared my throat and fumbled on the table for the stress ball I kept near when my hands got tired of trying to read Braille. “Yeah, that’s what happens when you spend a lot of time together.”

Suzanne sighed deeply enough for warm air to blow past my cheek. “Uh-huh. Friends it is.”

I ignored the knowing tone of her voice as the fridge forager in question came back to my side, eating an apple, from the sounds of it.

“So how are you doing now with the cane work?” he asked between crunches. “You stopped having hissy fits and falling over?”

I mock scowled. “I’m getting there, smart-ass. I’d like to see you try it. There’s a lot to remember. Listening to sounds, recognizing open spaces, where there are doorways or alleys, how to hold the cane…it’s all pretty overwhelming.”

Cody nudged my shoulder and I inhaled his scent, musky sweat with warm spice and vanilla tones. The heat of his skin radiated against my bare arms. I tried to wear short sleeves and tank tops lately, finding it helped to recognize when people were near. Warmth of another person’s skin and the static that made my hairs stand on end were good indicators of someone in my vicinity.

“You’re doing great. The boss lady here said so.” I loved the smile in his voice. Suzanne was right. He was good for me. “Apart from that nosebleed incident and the one with the fire hydrant and the dog shit…” he remarked slyly.

My head shot up. “What? Suzanne, you promised that would stay between us.”