50. Chapter Fifty
Cody
Cody sat at the end of the kitchen table, looking across at Morgan and surrounded by their friends and family. They were all looking worse for wear, even though they’d gone through a quick round of cleaning and bandaging with the first aid kit.
The remains of a roast chicken dinner was in the center of the table, surrounded by now-empty bowls of side dishes.
Yana had been very insistent on cooking Henry for dinner, but Cody and Nyrah managed to talk her out of it.
It didn't seem right to eat a sentient parrot who had a name, even if he had been an evil parrot.
Over the course of the meal, Cody and the others tried to explain everything to Doug, who had refused to go to the hospital until he got a detailed explanation.
“So…the gift shop lady…” Doug said slowly.
“Yep,” Morgan said. “She was an evil bitch.”
“Language,” Doug said, and looked to his side where Gracie was enjoying a bowl of strawberry ice cream for dessert.
“I said the word ‘bitch’ today,” Gracie said, still focused on her ice cream. “Sorry, daddy. I won’t do it again.”
Doug rubbed his face. “That is the least of my worries, kiddo. But you’re right, you don’t use that word ever again.”
The table grew somber, a quiet settling over them. Cody leaned back in his chair, feeling sore but happy. Everyone he loved was at this table. Safe. They’d done it. They’d killed Temica.
“And Grandpa Sam…” Doug said.
Morgan shook her head. “We’re still not sure about that.”
“He’s coming back!” Gracie insisted.
“I’m gonna…think this over some more,” Doug said with a sigh. “Gracie, let’s go home.”
“You need to get those wounds properly looked at,” Morgan said.
Doug waved her off. “You already patched me up good enough. I'll get properly looked at tomorrow. Right now, I need to get Gracie home and we’re both going to bed.”
Cody got up and grabbed his car keys from the hook at the front door. “Here. Take my car.”
It wasn’t a far drive, but Doug looked as exhausted as Cody felt. Doug accepted the keys with a quiet thanks and left, Gracie looking back one last time to wave goodbye.
“Okay!” Edouardo clasped his hands on the table.
He was now wearing shorts and a T-shirt borrowed from Cody, the shirt stretching across his pecs in a way that it never did when Cody wore it.
“I have been cooped up for a very long time, so I’m going for an evening stroll on my own.
Walking, stretching, moving wherever I want.
Thinking my own thoughts. Just…doing whatever the fuck I feel like doing with zero intervention. ”
“You’re going to go look for a puffball mushroom, aren’t you?” Cody asked with a smirk.
“In this immaculate body?” Edouardo stood and spread his arms wide. “I am never fucking a mushroom ever again. I completely forgot how extremely handsome I am. Pretty sure I can get a real woman now.”
“I think the pet shop is closed for the night,” Cody teased. “You’ll have to try and stop in tomorrow.”
“Pet shop?” Morgan looked between the two men. “What does that have to do with…anything?”
“Nothing.” Edouardo shot Cody a stern look.
Cody shrugged and shook his head. “Go for your walk, Ed. Enjoy your freedom.”
“I will,” Edouardo said, and headed for the door. “And I am happy to give you some privacy while you get victory laid by three beautiful women.”
Edouardo winked and then left the cottage. Cody slowly turned to the three women in the room.
Morgan met his eyes and let out a long sigh. “I don’t want to have sex tonight.”
Cody felt fucking exhausted and was actually relieved to hear her say that. “Neither do I.”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I just want to cuddle and go to sleep,” Nyrah said.
Yana was silent and her eyes roamed over the remains of their dinner, pointedly not looking at Cody. She still looked pretty grumpy about not being allowed to cook the parrot for dinner.
“C’mon.” Cody got up, grabbed Yana by the hand, and started pulling her down the hall.
The others followed close behind. But Yana tugged at her hand, and Cody let her slip free.
He turned to face her. “We’re cuddling and falling asleep.
That’s it. I don’t want you sleeping out on the couch by yourself tonight. ”
“Yeah.” Nyrah grabbed Yana’s hand this time, guiding her the rest of the way into the bedroom. “Purely platonic cuddles!”
Yana huffed. “Fine. Platonic cuddles.”
“Well, not entirely platonic…” Cody said.
“No, not really,” Morgan agreed and fell into bed. Cody crawled in next to her, with Nyrah climbing in behind him and pulling Yana into bed, too.
It was a tight fit in the queen-size bed, but he certainly didn’t mind having their soft bodies pressed up against him. Cody was still pretty filthy from the fight, and so were the girls, but he didn’t care. All he wanted to do was rest. Fucking finally.
Cody woke up what felt like hours later, with Morgan on one side and Nyrah on the other, Yana right next to her. It felt like he’d fallen asleep the instant his head hit the pillow. A quick glance at the clock on his bedside table told him it was five in the morning.
He just lay there, content to be surrounded by the women he loved, listening to their soft breathing noises, the warmth of their bodies pressed close to his. They sure as hell stank, but it didn’t matter. They could have some fun sharing the shower in the morning.
He looked up at the darkened ceiling. There was one thing he hadn’t done yet.
He had been purposely putting it off. He wasn’t even sure if he wanted to check, but he knew he should.
He sighed and brought up his game screen.
The garish pink light was like a slap to the face.
Temica was gone but her stupid game still lingered.
He was still at four out of five Friendship Levels with both Lexi and Doug, and a whopping zero out of five with Marigold.
Why did that girl have to be so fucking weird?
But did it even matter? He wasn’t sure. Could he stay in game limbo forever?
It wouldn’t be the first game he quit before getting all one hundred percent of the achievements.
There was also the zero out of ten for Yana’s Romance Levels.
He rolled his head to the side, trying to catch a glimpse of her sleeping peacefully next to Nyrah.
He still wanted that. It had nothing to do with the game.
He felt a tiny bit guilty that he already had two girls hopelessly in love with him, but was still yearning for Yana.
But he liked what they had, and what they were building.
It didn’t really feel like there was less love for Nyrah and Morgan if he pursued Yana, just… more love for everyone.
There was still a lot to figure out. They hadn’t finished crafting Gracie’s final gemstone for the World Arch.
He had no idea if Grandpa Sam was still alive.
He was engaged to Morgan and looking forward to actually marrying her.
Maybe he should buy a ring for Morgan, and a new truck for Doug…
he had the money to do both. But mostly he was looking forward to more of this.
Just being with his women, and his best friend, living a quiet life in cottage country.
Cody Hampshire Player Stats
Friendship Moments: Lexi: 4/5, Doug 4/5, Marigold: 0/5
Full Friendship: Doris, William, Bob, Gracie
Romance Moments: Yana: 0/10, Nyrah: 6/10
Full Romance: Morgan
Relationship Status: Officially a Dude with a Harem
THE END