Happier With You | ✓

Chapter 30

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

It was one of those rare afternoons where things actually felt okay.

The four of us-me, Cody, Ryan, and Sage-were packed into the living room, limbs everywhere, popcorn flying, and some ridiculous movie playing that none of us were really watching. Cody and I were curled up on the couch, his arm around me, a half-empty bowl of popcorn resting on his chest. Ryan and Sage were in their usual chaos on the floor, fake-arguing about something in the movie like their lives depended on it.

"Bro, there's literally no way the mom isn't the villain." Ryan argued, jabbing his finger at the screen. "She's got evil stepmother energy."

"She wears glasses and drinks tea." Sage fired back. "That's not evil. That's British."

"So.. Same thing."

I rolled my eyes. " I have NO clue what you two are on about but you two need to be studied."

Cody chuckled beside me, his thumb brushing absentmindedly against my arm. I glanced at him and caught that smile, the one that looked almost real.

Almost.

Then Ryan looked over. "Hey, when's our H-O-R-S-E rematch happening? Or are you scared I'll win this time?"

Cody didn't miss a beat. "We should probably do it soon... while we still can."

The air changed.

It was like someone hit pause on the world. My body went cold.

Sage blinked. Ryan furrowed his brows. But I was already looking at Cody-his eyes weren't on anyone. Just the screen. Like he hadn't just dropped a bomb on all of us.

"What does that mean?" I asked, already knowing.

Cody shrugged. "Just saying. Who knows what's gonna happen."

"Stop." My voice came out too fast, too sharp. "Don't do that."

He looked at me, eyebrows slightly raised.

"Don't say stuff like that like it's nothing. Like it's funny."

"I didn't say it was funny. London."

"Then what, Cody?" I asked, sitting up straighter. "What are you trying to do? Scare us? Scare me?"

"I'm being realistic." He said it calm. Too calm. "It's not like I've got forever."

The silence from Sage and Ryan behind us was deafening. But I didn't care.

I shook my head. "You always do this. You make everything sound like it's already over."

"Maybe because sometimes it feels like it is." He snapped.

I flinched.

He sighed, like he regretted it instantly, but the damage was already there.

"You act like we're supposed to just be fine with you giving up."

"I'm not giving up."

"Then stop talking like it."

We stared at each other, and I hated how mad he looked. But I hated more how scared I was underneath it.

"You don't get it." He said, voice lower now. "You keep trying to pretend everything's gonna be fine and I love you for that but I don't have the energy to fake it anymore. I'm exhausted, London."

"And you think I'm not?" I whispered. "You think this is easy for me? Watching you... change. Watching you get worse every time I come over?"

He looked away.