Fowl Play (Tuft Swallow)

48. Kodi

CHAPTER 48

“You’re actually here.”

It’s the last voice I’m expecting to hear, but I’d know it anywhere. And when I look up, my heart leaps in my chest.

Lily.

And Brian.

I didn’t think I wanted anyone around me right now, but if my body’s reaction is any indication, I was dead wrong.

“Guys,” I sniffle. “It’s you. How’d you find me?”

Brian looks at Lily, but she’s staring right into my soul. “Dummy. This is where we’d always go to escape your mom.” She walks over to the picnic table and parks herself next to me, wrapping one arm around my shoulder. “Luckily, Brian knew to come get me when no one knew where to find you.”

I look up at him then, and realize his eyes are glassy and wide. He’s taking in me and Lily, standing off to the side as if he doesn’t know what to do with himself.

“You can come over,” I say, patting the table beside me.

But he shakes his head. “No, that’s okay. Lily’s the one who found you. You probably need?—”

“Ugh!! How are you guys so bad at this??”

I jump back a little as Lily shouts out of nowhere. When I give her a look, she rolls her eyes and crosses her arms over her buxom chest. “Seriously, you two. What is actually going on here? First, you kiss out of nowhere at the cornhole game. Then you claim it’s all an act. Then you,” she points at Brian, “rock this girl’s fucking world after I send you to her house to convince her to chill out about cornhole, and now y’all are…what? Still pretending that you don’t actually care about each other? Trying to trick Kodi’s parents into thinking you’re dating when you’re not dating but you actually are but neither of you want to admit it yet?”

I’m in shock. I don’t even realize my mouth is open until I look over at Brian and realize his jaw has dropped, too.

“That’s not—” he begins.

“Bull. Shit.” Lily stands up on the bench of the picnic table, until she towers over both of us. “Her, I understand. She’s never dated before, so I get why she’s a little confused about the whole thing. But you? You’re like, in your thirties. We all know you have a dating history; the whole fucking town can’t stop talking about it!”

My cheeks flush with heat. “I’m so sorry, Brian.”

“What? Why?” They both say in unison, and their bewildered expression when they look at each other is almost enough to choke the sob that escapes my throat.

“It’s all my fault. You, getting rolled into the small town gossip machine. I thought I was helping you, but in the end, I just dragged you down with me.”

“Dragged m–Kodi, what the hell are you talking about?”

“The fucking Pecker article!” I can’t hold onto the angry energy anymore, and I burst from my seat, forgetting about my knee until I fall back onto the table with a thud. I let out a muffled scream of frustration. “I couldn’t stop Zeke from opening his big fucking mouth, and someone overheard, and now the whole town knows who your ex was. I couldn’t protect you. And after all you’ve done for me, I…”

My throat closes up, and I can’t choke out anymore. But that should be enough. He should understand now.

I broke our deal. The whole reason we started this relationship, whether it’s fake or real or whatever it’s become, was so I could keep the town from gossiping about him and Zeke. And, I guess, to help him with his business, but now that that’s taken off, what good am I to him?

He doesn’t need me for his business. I can’t protect him from the Nosy Pecker. I can’t even prevent the gossip from stinging as much by leading the team in a revenge victory against his ex.

I’m a bad girlfriend. I’m worthless.

My head sinks until my forehead rests against my knee, and my shoulders shake as tears finally overtake me. The thunder rolls overhead, indicating that the center of the storm is about to engulf the park.

Mom’s probably furious with me. Dad, too, since he usually follows mom’s lead. Is there anyone in town left on my good side?

A warm hand covers my back, rubbing gently back and forth, in that perfectly soothing way so lacking in expectation that I know it can only be one person. And in this moment, I hate him for it.

How can he comfort me? Again? After all my failures?

“Huh. Maybe you got this after all.”

Lily’s the one that breaks the silence as Brian’s warmth suffuses into my shoulders. I raise my head to tell her not to leave, but the grin she gives me is so full of hope and sadness, that the words evaporate on my tongue.

“You don’t always have to be the one to save everybody, you know. Sometimes, you can let someone else carry you for a bit, girl.” She says.

She directs the next few words above my shoulder. “Don’t fuck it up, alright? Or else you’ll have me to deal with.”

“I’ll try.”

She points with two fingers at her eyes, then points at Brian in a threatening gesture, followed by a wink in my direction. “I assume you can find your own way home.”

She turns to leave, but I call out before she’s out from under the roof of the shelter. “Thank you, Lily. I–I’m sorry you had to come find me.”

She shakes her head, then smiles that same, sad hopeful smile again. “I’m just glad you still need me for something.”