27. Chapter Twenty-Seven #2
“Seriously?” Lexi studied him closely.
“I am one hundred percent serious. Let me be your overdue book errand boy.”
“You’re kind of weird, you know that?”
Cody shrugged. “You’re not the first person to mention that.”
“Well, let me check the computer.” He waited as she typed, and then scrolled with her mouse.
“This isn’t an invasion of privacy, is it? Letting me know who has overdue books and what books they’re borrowing?” Cody asked.
Lexi shrugged. “It’s a small town. Everyone knows everything already, and I highly doubt anyone is going to care.”
“If you say so. Who am I visiting next?”
“Um…Marigold Parker. She works at Cornerstone Critters. Do you know her?”
“We’ve met.”
“She has some overdue non-fic books. Mind returning them?”
“I’ll be right back.” Cody gave her a salute, feeling pretty pumped about actually getting shit done, and headed back outside–where he immediately ran into Temica.
She gave him a big, performative yawn. All of his happy adrenaline faded and turned into a hard lump of anger in the pit of his stomach.
“What do you want?” Cody asked, and kept walking.
“I’m bored. As usual.” Temica fell into step with him, keeping pace with her long, graceful strides. Henry rode on her shoulder, as creepy as ever.
“Isn’t this your game? Aren’t you the one who is controlling this very boring bookish fetch quest?”
“Henry takes care of this stuff.” Temica waved a hand towards the bird.
“Why even have a game? You’re supposedly a goddess or something. Why not go wherever you want and cause chaos?”
Temica was silent, as if she wasn’t willing to answer, but then she spoke: “The games are my…ecosystem. Like a fish in the ocean or a jaguar in the jungle.”
“Sure,” Cody said, but was pleased that it sounded like completing the game might actually get rid of her.
“We wanted to try something quaint and cozy this time around. Turns out, I’m not a fan. We won’t be doing it again. Although, I did have a teeny tiny bit of entertainment the other night, when your girlfriend got jealous and claimed her man.”
Cody clenched his jaw. “You, uh…saw that? All of that?”
“I’m a goddess, Cody Hampshire. I’ve seen it all. Don’t be shy.”
“I’m not shy. But some things are private.”
Don’t worry, she’s a lying whore, Knife said. Maybe she fed off the minor bit of ‘chaos’ that night, but I’m still not buying the all-seeing bullshit.
Cody almost smiled at hearing Knife’s voice again, but managed to keep his expression neutral as Temica spoke next: “You’re going to keep those ungrateful brats at your cottage, yes? Maybe stir up some more jealousy for me? Make things interesting?”
“Or you could send them home.” Cody felt bad as soon as he said it, because he knew Nyrah and Yana wanted to stick around.
“No. They’re my only hope for something interesting to happen, especially the little lovesick nekofae. Why do you think I brought them here in the first place?”
Cody sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Just…fuck off already. Please?”
“I’ll fuck off when I’m satisfied. And so far, you’ve been a fucking bore most of the time.”
They arrived at the pet shop. “This is my stop.” Cody walked in, not bothering to care if Temica followed him in or not. She didn’t.
“Oh, h-hello!” Marigold called from the front counter. “Can I h-help you?”
Cody tried to shake off Temica by giving the shy girl a friendly smile. “You haven’t burned the place down yet. Good job.”
Her brows knit together in confusion for a moment, but she shook it off, appearing to remember it was a joke. Albeit, not a very funny one, since she didn’t laugh. “Correct. I didn’t burn it down.”
His patience already running thin for the day, Cody decided to cut to the chase: “You have overdue library books.”
Marigold’s face turned bright red. “I w-was going to return them. T-tomorrow. I swear!”
“I can take them back for you right now.”
“I don’t have them here, they’re at home.”
“Right.” Cody felt his heart sink. He wanted to get the damn Friendship Levels over with. “If you bring them to work with you tomorrow, I can return them to the library.”
“I can take them m-myself.”
Well, yeah, Cody thought. She could. But then he wouldn’t be earning another Friendship Level with Lexi.
“Just let me do it?” Cody said.
Marigold quietly studied him before asking, “Y-you want an excuse to talk to Lexi? Is that it? Do you like her?”
“No, it’s not like that. I’m dating Morgan Callahan.”
“O-oh! I didn’t know. I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have said that about Lexi.”
“Well, you didn’t know so…” Cody shrugged. “Bring your books to work tomorrow and I’ll come pick them up and return them.”
“O-okay.”
Cody gave her one final nod and left the store.
You’re getting really fucking weird, Knife commented. Really wish you’d stop weirding out the cute pet shop girl.
Oh, are you back?
Are you going to apologize? Knife asked.
For what? The name thing?
Knife was silent as Cody made his way through town, and back onto the gravel road that led home, since he had opted out of driving today.
Stop being a petty bitch about the name thing, Cody told Knife. If you have a name, you had more than enough opportunities to tell me what it was. That’s on you just as much as it’s on me, and I’m not apologizing for something that stupid.
Fine, Knife said. I’ll be the bigger man, and I’ll go first: I’m sorry. I’m sorry I got pissed off at you about the name thing. Also, I uh…miss you. Or something. Sitting inside your head isn’t the same as actually, you know, talking to you.
So, that’s why you’re back? You missed me? Not because you’re due to visit Little Miss Puffball? Cody asked.
I apologized! Stop being a dick!
Cody laughed, feeling a sudden burst of overwhelming happiness in his chest. He stopped walking, savoring the moment. He’d been feeling like a bundle of frayed wires lately, but now he felt a whole lot lighter.
I’m sorry, too, Cody said. And yeah, I guess I missed you, too.
I know. I live inside your stupid brain.
Can I ask you something?
Go ahead, Knife said.
So, what is your name?
Knife was silent and Cody kept walking, wondering what was taking so long. Maybe Knife was getting emotional because he finally asked. Maybe Knife was being a dick and not going to tell him. Maybe Knife–
I dunno, Knife said.
You don’t know? Cody could hardly believe his ears…or, brain. Whatever it was that listened to Knife. He couldn’t believe that was the answer.
I’ve been– Knife began, but was cut off by a notification.
[System Notification: You are now entering a Musical Montage. Enjoy!]
“No!” Cody shouted. “Control - Alt -
Music from an Eighties synth-wave keyboard was already filling the air, along with an electric guitar.
Wait! Knife cut in. Let it play. I’ve got a good feeling about this one.
Cody sighed, right as the drums kicked in.