Chapter 20
Twenty
Codie
It'd been four days since I went to the community center with Pythor, and while I hadn't attempted to do that again, I had made some other progress I was extremely proud of.
The last two days, after Pythor left for the center, Hella and I had gone to the park for a while. I didn't think I was brave enough to leave the gates without Pythor by my side, but at least I'd left the house.
I never would've attempted it without Pythor's support, but doing it on my own still made me feel a little more confident. Like I really could get my life back.
Nessa had been so surprised and delighted to see me out when she'd driven up with Alia yesterday, and I'd loved seeing the look of pride on her face.
She'd known who was to thank for my newfound bravery, and when I'd told her we were dating.
.. well, all my neighbors had probably heard the delighted shriek she let out.
She'd insisted the four of us needed to have another meal together again, and while I'd agreed, Pythor and I had different plans today.
Pythor had asked me if there was any place I wanted to go to try again, and the store had been the first thing to pop into my head. Before that night, I'd sometimes spend hours in that store, just soaking in the smell of fresh paint and empty canvases, wood and clay, and everything else.
The art store was like a second home to me, and I'd missed it. Spending time there had been a part of my process, a way for me to fill my creative energy bank. Even the tools and things I didn't need sometimes sparked ideas that resulted in some of my best work.
When I'd mentioned the place to Pythor, he'd been intrigued and eager to check it out, so that was where we were headed today.
Hella, a little disappointed we weren't taking her, disappeared just as Pythor asked me if I was ready to go.
"Where did she..."
"She'll be fine. She probably went to visit one of the others since we won't need her for a while," Pythor explained, and I nodded. Of course, that made sense. I'd been hogging all her time over the last few weeks. She must miss the other demons.
"Come on. She'll be back when we are," he assured me, and I nodded as I took his hand, stepping closer to him so he could teleport us.
Pythor's magic moved around us in a now-familiar flicker, and a few moments later, I could feel the warmth of the sun shining down on me, though my coat kept me from feeling the heat.
I stepped back, though I didn't let go of Pythor's hand, holding it close as I looked around. We were in an alley, and while I'd never been in this exact place before, I could see the art store across the street from the alley exit.
"There it is," I said, then gave Pythor a curious glance as we started walking. "So, how exactly does the teleportation thing work? Do you have a magical map in there? GPS?" I asked, pointing toward his head, and he gave me an amused smile.
"I don't know if you'd call it GPS. It's easiest to teleport toward someone, especially if you know the person well.
For places, I need to have a general idea of where it is.
I looked up the store on the map app after you told me about it.
My magic does automatically find the nearest hidden place to go to, though. "
I nodded thoughtfully, then focused on crossing the street before asking another question. "Have you ever gone somewhere you couldn't find a place like that?"
"Yep, a few times. I just turn incorporeal then, so no one can touch or see me. And then once I'm somewhere alone, I become corporeal again."
"What if you were with someone? Like me?"
"I could turn you incorporeal too, but only for a few minutes."
"That's cool," I murmured, which made him shoot me a grin as we reached the store. He held the door open for me, and I grinned as I slid inside without letting go of his hand, and he followed me in, his eyes roaming all over as he took in the place.
"Welcome to my paradise," I said with a grin, and he shot me a soft smile.
"Where to first?"
"This way," I said, leading him toward the far end of the store where clay and other ceramic art supplies were displayed.
They weren't my medium, but that was why I preferred to start there.
All the stuff I usually needed was closer to the door, but I still liked walking through the whole store, and I went there last so I wouldn't have to tote around all my purchases the whole time.
Pythor had a curious look on his face as I led him toward the shelves stacked with all kinds of clays.
There were some in plastic bags of various weights, others in powder forms. There were also blocks of different types of stone and marble for sculpting.
The air here was a teensy bit dusty like always, and it was all part of the charm.
When I first moved to this city, I'd looked this place up, and then felt so fucking glad I'd moved here because I'd never seen such a big art store with such a large variety of offerings.
They catered to everyone from hobbyists to beginners to professionals, and treated them equally.
I adored the owner—who always sat at the counter—and the people who worked here because they mostly let you shop in peace unless you looked confused or like you needed help.
"I've never been to a place like this before," Pythor murmured, and I glanced up at him.
"And? What do you think?"
He thought about it for a moment, then gave me a smile. "It feels like a very happy place."
Pythor
Codie grinned at me, clearly agreeing with my assessment. Then he started walking again, and I followed, watching his face more than the things around us.
He seemed to delight in every little thing, showing me the myriad colors of wax like they were precious jewels. He clearly loved all things art, and I wondered if he'd like it if I bought the store for him. Hmm... it might be a bit too much. Maybe just the painting art section.
Leaving that aisle, we stepped into the next one, which seemed to focus on jewelry making.
The scent of leather, resin, and various metals filled the air, and Codie oohed and aahed over the boxes full of colorful beads, wires, and related tools.
He seemed to have no interest in buying or using any of them, but he still seemed utterly fascinated.
He looked adorable, with his hair falling into his face and his dark brown eyes bright with curiosity and joy as he took everything in.
Was it this easy to love someone? Why had I never tried it before?
I didn't feel like my love for Codie was romantic, but it didn't feel platonic either.
No, it was more than both of those, or maybe different was the right word.
It wasn't dependent on his feelings for me and us being in a relationship like romantic love, but it also didn't feel limited or as claim-free as platonic love.
I couldn't imagine Codie being with someone else.
I didn't think I'd be able to handle that.
But at the same time, if Codie looked up right then and said he no longer wanted to be in a relationship, my love for him would be still as strong.
Had I always functioned like this, or was it just because it was Codie that I felt this way? And did it even matter, when I knew I'd never feel this way for anyone else?
Shaking my head, I turned my attention back to Codie as he led me to the next aisle, and the next, reveling in his delight and loose shoulders and pleased smiles. We must've stayed there for hours, but I'd have happily spent days in that place if it meant he'd be that happy the whole time.
After three hours, Codie had everything he'd actually come here to buy, and I carried his purchases up to the counter as he stuck to my side.
He hadn't taken more than a few steps away from me the whole time we were there, and while my more primal side was pleased by that, I hated that part of it was because of his fear.
"Codie! I haven't seen you in months. I was worried!
" an older man exclaimed as he peered at my mate from behind the counter, his round glasses sliding down his nose before he pushed them up with a practiced move.
His light brown eyes flicked between me and Codie, and he raised a white eyebrow at him.
"New boyfriend? Is this who you left me for? "
Codie snickered, giving the man the kind of smile he only ever gave Vanessa and Alia, which told me he considered this man a friend. And yet they hadn't been in contact for so long. Had Codie cut off everyone except Vanessa from his life after that night?
"Oh, come on, Rufus. You know I could never replace you!"
Rufus huffed, then started scanning Codie's purchases. "So, what have you been up to?"
Codie shrugged, his smile falling as he avoided the man's gaze.
"Just the same. Painting, spending time with Nessa.
Oh! I got a dog!" he said, and proceeded to show a million pictures of Hella—when had he even taken all of those?
—to the old man. I wasn't a good judge of age when it came to humans, but he looked to be in his seventies, was stick thin, and had a head full of white hair.
His dark skin was wrinkled, though the crinkles around his eyes told me he'd had a good life.
"She looks like a hellhound. Make sure she doesn't eat you," he commented, and I resisted the urge to correct him. She was a demonhound.
"Nah, she won't hurt me. She's a sweetheart."
"That's what Bill said before he tried to hand-feed that alligator, and you know what happened to him."
Codie blinked as he slowly pulled out his credit card and slid it over, then shook his head. "Um, I don't, actually."
"Well, let's just say it's very difficult to do pottery with only six fingers," he said mildly, making Codie's eyes go wide.
"No!" he exclaimed in horror, and I just... watched. The two talked like old friends, and I got another glimpse of the man Codie had once been. I'd gotten to see this side of him more often recently, and I wondered if that meant he was doing better.
I knew he'd never completely go back. The scars that night left on him were permanent, and while he could heal from them, even I couldn't make them disappear completely.
Still, I was going to do all I could to make sure Codie got everything he needed to heal, including making sure that man never bothered him again.
I'd been looking for him in my free time, but it was hard to find someone when all you had was a face. I was going to have to work harder if I wanted to locate the bastard, but when I wanted to spend every moment I had with Codie, that was a bit tough to do.
"You better come back soon, you hear me? I don't want to wait another eleven months like a goddamn mama llama, got it?"
We both stared at the old man, and his face scrunched up as he waved us off, as if we were the ones who'd said that.
Codie snickered as I grabbed the bags, and then tugged me toward the exit, a smile still on his face.
"That was fun," he said when we stepped outside, and I hummed in agreement as I glanced over at him.
"It was. Do you want to head home or go somewhere else?"
"Home," he declared almost instantly, and I figured he'd reached his quota of outside time for the day.
Leading him back to the alley we'd come from, I teleported us home, then placed his purchases on the coffee table for him to sort through.
When I straightened back up, Codie stepped close to me, his hands falling to my hips.
He leaned up, his eyes on mine, and I closed the distance between us.
He kissed me as soon as our lips were close enough, and this time, he didn't pull back.
Instead, the tip of his tongue trailed over my bottom lip, and I hummed as I parted my lips, welcoming his tongue in as it tangled with mine.
I kept my arms loose at my sides, not wanting to startle him as he deepened the kiss, his fingers digging into my skin. Our tongues danced with each other's in a slow, smooth caress, and I moaned softly at the delightful taste of my mate.
When Codie pulled back, he was breathing hard, and I rested my forehead against his, waiting until his eyes opened and met mine to say what I'd realized earlier at the store. I'd debated keeping it to myself for now, but I couldn't.
"Codie, I love you."
His eyes widened, and his lips moved like he was struggling to speak. Reaching up, I covered his mouth with two fingers, shaking my head without pulling back.
"You don't have to say anything, and you certainly don't have to say it back. I just wanted you to know. My love isn't contingent on this being a romantic relationship either, okay? I just love you, and I'll continue loving you even if this is the last time we ever kiss."
Codie gazed at me for a long moment, as if searching my soul to make sure I was saying the truth. I stayed still, letting him see all of me.
In the end, he gave a single nod, then kissed me again.