Chapter 7

This has been the longest afternoon ever.

After receiving the worst news of the semester, I spent the last two hours fighting with every Texan as we all prepped for the ice storm that is supposed to arrive sometime this evening. I'm exhausted, frustrated, and completely spent.

So what am I currently doing? Casually doing some baking and cooking because the store was completely out of bread.

Why is it that when a natural disaster threatens, everyone stocks up on bread? Nonetheless, I didn't want to be left out, and thankfully the store had plenty of ingredients to make my own loaf at home.

For the past hour, I've been listening to my romantic suspense Mafia audiobook while preparing food in case we lose power. And let's face it, I'm blowing off some steam. While my dough has been rising, I made a pot of vegetable soup that is simmering on the stove. All I want right now is a bowl of soup and crunchy bread. Comfort food and cold nights just go hand and hand.

Wind beats against the windows and our glass patio doors. The first sound of ice hits the glass, and I jump. I'm so glad I made it through the store when I did. There's no reason for anyone to be out in this mess. Ice is no joke, especially for a Texan, and you won't catch me out until this weather passes through.

While I was at the store I received a text from our landlord letting me know that he was entering our apartment to do a few storm preparations. He dropped off a small box of supplies: flashlights with extra batteries, a battery-operated radio, and a first aid kit. It wasn't a lot, but it was helpful.

Since Brynn is staying at Quinton's, she told me to pull her comforter off her bed for an extra layer for me. My dad offered to bring me a generator, but I told him to not even think about getting on the road. While he was concerned that I wouldn't have power, I convinced him that I would be fine without electricity, but I wouldn't be fine if something happened to him. He finally agreed. With it being just the two of us, it doesn't take too much convincing—for either one of us—to always take precautions.

I've gathered all of my candles and spread them throughout the apartment. I've never been more thankful for my obsession. And the fact I only like a handful of scents is a blessing in disguise so when they're all lit, I won't have scent overload.

The timer on my phone goes off, startling me since I've been lost in the words the narrator has been speaking, and I reach for the covered bowl the dough has been rising in. Digging the mixture out of the bowl, I plop it onto the flour-covered counter. Kneading the mixture, I work the flour until I have the right consistency. Just as I reach for the olive oil dispenser, the power cuts out.

Tonight was not the night to listen to a suspenseful audiobook.

Complete darkness takes over the entire apartment. I'm left standing with dough and flour-covered hands. Slowly I inhale a deep breath before a long exhale.

This is fine. The stove is gas, and I can still finish everything as planned. Only I didn't think about lighting any candles ahead of time. Tapping my hand across the counter, I seek out my phone to turn on the flashlight. The light filters into the kitchen, allowing me to see just enough to ignite the stove. Quickly, I oil the cast iron before placing the dough inside. Placing the lid on, I set the Dutch oven on the burner to bake.

I'm halfway through washing the sticky dough off my fingers when there's a knock on the front door.

This is a scene out of every horror movie. A girl is home alone. The power suddenly goes out. The girl goes searching for the breaker. Then bam someone attacks said girl. While I know my situation is a little different, I can't help but notice the timing is impeccable.

And I have no idea who could be coming by the apartment in the middle of an ice storm.

I dry my hands off on the towel before making my way over to the front door with just the light from my phone's flashlight.

It's okay, Chloe. No murderer is out in an ice storm to attack you. It's probably Brynn and Quinton coming back to keep you company.

Although I hope not because I really don't want to listen to the two of them go at it all night.

Standing on my tiptoes, I look through the peephole. Duh, you idiot, it's dark outside.

"Uh, who is it?" I ask, hesitant because I want to know, but also what if it's someone I don't know, and now they know I'm home?

"It's Cody."

Cody.

Why is he here?

"Chloe, let me in. It's freezing out here."

Snapping out of my thoughts, I rush to unlock the door knowing that he's right. It's freezing out there, and ice pellets are coming down.

Cody reaches down to pick something up before he comes inside.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, helping him inside.

He doesn't answer. Instead, he sets a black box down at my feet and slides off his backpack before reaching back outside to grab a bag. "I came to check on you."

"Ohh-kay," I draw out, completely confused as to why he's here. "Brynn's not here."

"I know. I came to check on you." He repeats, stepping further inside and taking off his tennis shoes. "She said you were home alone and wouldn't answer. I wanted to make sure you were okay. Do you not have anything else for light?"

"The power literally just went out, and I haven't had a chance to light candles. If you're going to be a jerk, you can just leave."

I don't need him here, and I don't want him here. We aren't friends, he's made that clear. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I still haven't had a chance to curl up with my dark motorcycle romance that was released this morning. That's how I plan on spending my night, not entertaining Cody Jacobs.

He sighs as he takes out his phone and turns on the flashlight. He places it in the front pocket of his jacket which is shallow enough to allow the light to stay out. He reaches down, unzipping his backpack before pulling out a rectangular box.

"Uh, what's that?" I ask, staring at the metal shape in his hands.

"It's a DVD player. I stole it out of Hudson's room with a few DVDs. They're all comedies but like the good, classic comedies."

My brows knit together. I'm utterly confused. But before I have a chance to question anything else, Cody grabs the black box at his feet and carries it into the living room. He places it down near the TV stand and walks back toward the front door.

And like a puppy, I'm right on his heels.

"You don't have to follow me around." Cody slips his tennis shoes back on and before I know it, he's walking out the front door, but he doesn't close it all the way behind him.

What is going on?

His back pushes the door open again, and in his arms is another box. This one is much larger and looks heavier. Cody kicks the door shut and slips his shoes off again before he makes his way toward the kitchen. I follow as he heads into the laundry room, and I cringe knowing that I have lace bras hanging all over the place.

I watch as he pauses at the entrance, no doubt the light of his phone has hit the delicates. But he doesn't seem to mind. I'm pretty sure I saw him smirk as he walked over to the corner and set the box down. After a few minutes, I hear something running and the power clicks back on.

"There," he says, walking into the kitchen where I'm leaning against the counter in shock. "Give me a minute, and I'll have the space heater turned on. The generator isn't very big, and we need to conserve gas, but I thought we could at least turn on one breaker to get some heat going. We'll turn it on and off to keep the chill out."

This has been the craziest day, but nowhere would I have predicted that Cody Jacobs would drive over, in an ice storm, to bring me a generator, a space heater, and a random DVD player.

"What smells so good?"

I just stare at the boy in front of me. "I-I-I made vegetable soup, and there's a loaf of bread baking."

He makes himself at home by removing his jacket and hanging it on the back of a bar stool. With a few strides, Cody is standing at the stove, removing the lid of the soup and stirring the tomato-based mixture.

What the hell is happening? Did I fall and bump my head somewhere along the way today?

Placing the lid back on the pot, I watch as Cody turns and finally takes in my appearance in the little light we have. His eyes start at my head where my long, blonde hair is pulled up in a claw clip. They trail down my makeup-free face and continue down my body. He stares at the white satin pajamas with tiny purple flowers detailed along the edges. Even in the low light, I can still make out his eyes darken.

And that's when I remember that I'm not wearing a bra.

Quickly I fold my arms over my chest attempting to cover my hardening nipples.

A light chuckle escapes him as a smirk spreads across his lips as he whispers, "You and your purple."

I try to keep my heart from doing a little pitter-patter at the realization that Cody remembers that purple is my favorite color.

He walks toward me, and my heart stops. Like it legit stops beating in my chest. I don't know what Cody is about to do. But him reaching out and twirling the loose pieces of hair around his finger before tucking it behind my ear was not what I predicted. My breath stutters at the contact. That smirk appears on his face as he looks down at me, skimming his finger across my cheek. Goosebumps spread across my body as he brushes past me and heads into the living room.

What is going on?

I did not have being iced in with Cody Jacobs on my BINGO card this winter. Not only is he stuck inside with me, but it has been the most awkward three hours in the history of being forced together. Even with Step Brothers playing on the TV.

Since that little incident in the kitchen where he touched me—which cannot happen again—the two of us have barely spoken to each other.

We even ate our soup and bread in silence. Cody mumbling the occasional compliment was the only sound filling the room. As grateful as I am that he came with a generator and space heater, I wish I was here alone.

I've been engrossed in my Kindle while Cody has been playing around on his phone since the one-and-only movie ended.

"Do you have a book I can read?" he asks, interrupting my thoughts.

Glancing over, I find him watching me and realize he is being completely serious. "Um, I'm not sure that you would like any of the books I read."

"Try me."

Chewing my bottom lip, I try to think of a book I have that Cody Jacobs—star pitcher for the CTU Eagles—would enjoy.

Do I give him something full of angst?

Something sports-related?

Or maybe he'd like an all-out smutty book?

Eh, forget the all-out smutty. Iced in reading smut sounds like a scene from a book, and I'm not about that life right now.

"Do you mind reading on my iPad?"

He shakes his head in response. Tossing my Kindle aside, I rush out of the room and climb the steps to my room. I'm so glad I thought to charge all of my electronics when I got home from the store. Making my way back downstairs, I thumb through my ebooks on my iPad and find the one I'm looking for.

"Okay," I start, handing Cody the device. "This is a MMA romance that I think you're going to love."

"We'll see if I love it." He smirks and wiggles his body into the armchair to get comfortable.

Now my entire being is uncomfortable knowing that he is reading one of my books. I try to settle back into my single-dad motorcycle romance.

Finally, back in the zone, I'm interrupted again. Only this time it isn't Cody but my phone vibrating. Sighing, I reach for it on the table.

Brynn: You doing okay?

Me: Yep. Did you send Cody over?

Brynn: No? Why is Cody there?

Me: He brought a generator and a space heater. Then the weather got too bad, and now he's stuck here.

Brynn: Ooooo, sounds like something out of one of your romance novels. Don't be afraid to use each other to stay warm.

Me: Yeah, that's NEVER going to happen.

The couch moves next to me, and I glance up, cheeks heating, as Cody is now sitting right next to me. I hit the close button on my phone before he has a chance to see the screen.

"Why are some of these lines highlighted?"

"Oh, those are from me. They're lines that I enjoyed and wanted to remember."

He nods his hand in understanding. "I'm going to get a glimpse inside Chloe Mariano's head."

"Believe me, it's not all that interesting."

His body presses into mine as Cody tries to grab my Kindle from where it's resting on my lap. I'm at a particularly spicy scene, and I don't need him seeing the things that I have highlighted on this page. Both of us shuffle trying to grab the device. In what seems like slow motion, Cody slips, and when I look up, both of our faces are within inches of each other.

My cheeks flame as I watch his eyes bounce from my eyes to my lips. We're too close. Is Cody about to kiss me?

"Cody," I rasp out as he continues his descent toward my mouth. A small part of me is giddy while the other is questioning everything that's going on today. It's like we got stranded together and all of our common sense just disappeared.

What if we just let things happen? What if for one night we forget who we are?

But Cody forgot about me a long time ago.

My hand shoots out and pushes against his chest, shoving him away.

"Shit," he breathes out as he runs his hands through his hair.

I stand from the couch and start backing out of the room. "Look, you can sleep on the couch. There are plenty of blankets in the storage baskets. I'm going to bed."

"Chloe…" Cody starts, but I put my hand up stopping him.

"Don't, Cody. You don't get to come in here and act like a knight in shining armor. Don't you dare come into my house and make this any more awkward than it has to be."

I don't give him a chance to respond, I turn and hightail it to my room.

After the day I've had, all I wanted to do was mope alone with my book. Instead I've been forced to spend an uncomfortable evening alone with Cody. I've had plenty of opportunities to tell him I'll be covering his baseball season, but instead I chose to be petty. He can be the one who is surprised and uncomfortable.

Am I being childish? Yes.

Do I care? Nope.

Screw this day. Screw this storm. Screw this night.