Happier With You | ✓

Chapter 11

It was yet another Saturday morning-the birds were singing, the sun was shining, and I had a feeling today was going to be a good day.

I got up and went through my morning routine: skincare, hair, Bible study, and workout exercises.

School was starting back in two months, and I was already dreading it. Life as a senior. Wow. Where had all the years gone?

I glanced at my calendar. "LAST DAY OF PT."

Right on cue, my phone went off with Cody's ringtone.

"Hi, my love."

I smiled. "Hello, stranger."

"FaceTime me. I wanna see your beautiful face." Cody said.

I did as he asked, propping up my phone as I started my makeup-just a simple routine, nothing full glam.

"How are you feeling?" I asked, glancing at the screen.

"Like rainbows and sunshine," Cody replied sarcastically.

"Haha, very funny." I rolled my eyes, but my smile faded as I got a good look at him. He was lying in bed, dark bags under his eyes.

"Have you been sleeping?" I asked, concerned.

He shrugged. "Yeah, but I keep waking up in the middle of the night to throw up."

My stomach twisted. "Cody..."

"Oh, and guess the best part." His voice was too casual, too lighthearted.

"Hm?"

He lifted his camera, revealing his shaved head.

My heart stopped. "Oh my gosh, Cody!" I gasped, clapping a hand over my mouth so I wouldn't wake the whole house.

Cody chuckled. "Calm down, love. It's okay-it'll grow back eventually."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing a small smile. "I know. It just... took me by surprise."

Cody sighed, shifting the camera so I could see him again. "My mom cried."

I frowned. "Oh, Cody..."

"Yeah. She was, like, trying to be strong, you know? But I could tell. My dad just kinda... walked out of the room." He forced a laugh, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Guess he couldn't look at me."

I set down my makeup brush, staring at him through the screen. "That's not fair. You didn't ask for this. You don't deserve to feel like-"

"Like I'm some burden?" Cody finished, raising an eyebrow.

I hesitated. "You're not a burden."

He huffed. "Try telling my parents that."

My heart ached for him. "Cody, they love you. They're just scared."

"Yeah, well, they have a real funny way of showing it." He rubbed a hand over his face, exhaling sharply. "My mom hovers, my dad avoids, and on the other hand, Ryan... well, Ryan just pisses me off."

I blinked at the sudden shift. "Ryan?"

Cody scoffed. "He acts like nothing's happening. Like, I'll mention treatment or whatever, and he just brushes it off. 'You'll be fine,' 'You'll beat this.' Yeah, no duh, I'm gonna fight, but I don't need him pretending like it's not hard. Or real.

I bit my lip, choosing my words carefully. "Maybe he doesn't know what to say."

Cody was quiet for a moment. Then, "That's the thing. He doesn't have to say anything. Just... be there. You do that, and it helps. He just changes the subject like it's an inconvenience."