Happier With You | ✓

Chapter 29

!! TRIGGER WARNING, THIS CHAPTER INCLUDES SENSITIVE TOPICS, READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. !!

The beach was Cody's and my favorite place to go. Beside the park, it was one of our go-to spots where everything just felt easier, quieter. So the next week after the party, we decided to drive back up to the beach, just the two of us.

The sun was low in the sky, painting everything in soft orange and pink. We sat on the hood of his car, the metal still warm from the day, a breeze brushing through my hair. The beach was nearly empty, just a couple of kids chasing waves and some seagulls screaming like they ran the place.

Cody leaned back on his elbows, squinting out at the water. I sat cross-legged beside him, hugging my knees. For a while, we just sat there. No talking. Just the sound of the ocean and the wind and the quiet that never really felt awkward with him.

"This is nice." I said eventually. "Feels like we haven't done this in forever."

"Yeah." He said. His voice was weird though.. Lower, flatter than usual.

I looked at him. He gave me a half-smile, but it didn't last. It barely touched his face before disappearing.

I nudged his shoulder. "You're not getting tired of me already, are you?"

He let out a soft laugh. "Not a chance. I could do this every day."

I smirked. "You practicing lines now?"

That actually made him smile. For a second. And I caught myself staring at him-the curve of his mouth, his lashes catching the sun, his eyes that looked way too sad for someone who was supposedly fine. Then it was gone again. The smile. Just like that.

"You okay baby?" I asked, more serious now.

He blinked like he'd been somewhere else. "Hm? Yeah baby. Just tired. That's all."

"You've been saying that a lot lately."

He rubbed the back of his neck. "I've just been up late. Ryan's been staying over. Sage has me running around with her. It's been a lot."

I frowned. "You used to love that stuff."

He didn't answer. Just went back to staring at the waves, picking at a loose thread on his jeans.

The silence stretched again.

And then I said, "Did I do something?"

His head snapped toward me, confused. "What?"

"Wrong." I added. "Did I do something wrong?"

His brows pulled together. "Why would you think that?"

"I don't know. You've been... I don't know. Distant. And weird. And I keep asking what's wrong and you keep lying."

"I'm not lying."

"Cody." I said, folding my arms. "You literally said you were fine and then couldn't even look at me."

He exhaled. "London, can we not do this right now?"

"There it is." My chest tightened a little. "You only call me London when you're annoyed or mad."

"I'm not mad at you." He said, but his tone didn't match the words.

"Then what? Just tell me what's going on!"

"It's not about you!" He snapped, finally looking at me, eyes sharp. "Everything isn't always about you, okay?"

That stung. I looked away, blinking fast.

There was silence. Heavy, suffocating silence.

We sat there for a few seconds, not moving. Just breathing, barely.