Oil & Ink

Chapter 15: Is Cody In?

Amanda: Sara texted me to see if we would go with her and Charlie to California to a tattoo competition that they're entering.

Amanda hesitated before sending the text off to Cody, but she pressed "send" and held her breath. They had been hanging out more and more since that night they solved the mystery at Dina's.

While they were not officially together, Amanda asked him if he had a girlfriend, plain and simple. He said no, so at least there was that. But, asking him to go on a trip with her and her friend, and her friend's co-worker/sort of friend? This seemed like a bit of a stretch.

She and Cody had been texting every day since he left for his internship in Oklahoma. He still had a few more weeks there, but he would be home in time to take the trip with them. That is, if he decided to go.

There was no way she was going to sit here and WAIT for him to respond. She put her phone face down on her desk and decided to do laundry. That would keep her hands and her eyes busy for a while.

She put a load into the dryer and started it. She pulled out towels and put them into the washer for another load. How was it that she had so much laundry, just by herself? She started the washer and went back to her desk, realizing that didn't take enough time.

Regardless, she picked up her phone and saw Cody sent a reply. Her stomach clenched.

Cody: What?

Hmm... not quite the response she was hoping for.

Amanda: Sara offered initially so Charlie could use her truck, but she was hoping we would come along, too, because the drive is so long. We would take turns driving and pitch in on the Airbnb cost.

She pressed send and waited for the three dots to appear. She was trying to convey that this was not a serious, romantic getaway. But she also hated how much tiptoeing women had to do around men when it came to stuff like this. She was inviting him on a trip, who cared what it meant?

Cody: Hmm.. ok, sounds kind of cool. What are the dates?

Now we're talking! Amanda sent him the dates and he agreed. Whew. The trip was finally official now that all parties were in. This was going to be an unforgettable adventure!