Book One: The Viper's Bite

Twelve

I followed Damien and AJ through the crowded hospital halls to a room a few doors away from mine. They pushed in, and I saw Cody sitting up in the bed with his iPad in his lap, scrolling. There was a gauze wrapped over the left side of his head, stained with blood droplets. I rushed in and stood on his right, him looking up and smiling softly. "Hey, there."

"What happened?" I asked immediately. I was too worried to bother with niceties and watched as Cody straightened in the bed. "Are you okay?" He evaded, indicating my left wrist wrapped tightly. Stepping forward, I reached out to brush my fingers over the bandage on his head, frowning and poking my finger into the side of his head. He bit his lip and looked over at Damian and AJ. "What did you hear?"

I sighed, shooting the two behind me a glare, mouthing No. Looking back to Cody, I crossed my arms over my chest and stared him down. "Don't screw with me, Runnels. Tell me what happened." With a sigh, Cody clicked the lock button on his iPad and shifted his body towards me.

"There was an argument close to the back of the pub, where a woman looked like she was confronting her boyfriend or something and he was yelling, and then he shoved her into the wall. I stepped between them to break it up before it got more serious, and the guy raised his bottle and smashed it over my head." He fingered the wrapping gingerly, pulling a face as he broke eye contact with me. "I think a few shards got lodged in the top, and someone rushed me out and to the hospital."

I frowned, plopping into the chair next to him and resting my hand on his knee. "Poor you. Didn't feel so good to play hero." 

"Actually," Damien chimed in, "the guy was escorted out by one of the guy bartenders and the woman was there with her friend anyway, so she had a lift home."

"I think I'll just chill here with Cody for a while." I looked at him, tilting my head. "Is that cool with you?" He nodded, and AJ walked over and hugged me, then Cody before following Damien out of the room, the glass door swinging shut behind them.

I settled into the wide chair, folding my legs underneath me as Cody stared forward blankly. He bit his lip in thought, and I couldn't help but watch as he shut his eyes and sat quietly on the bed.

Suddenly his eyes flashed open and met with mine, and I felt heat creep up my neck and cheeks as a sly smile slid onto his face. "Sorry,"  mumbled and pulled my hand off of the covers. He eyed me thoughtfully and I did my best to avoid eye contact. 

"Sorry I wasn't there last night," he suddenly said, his voice soft. "Damien told me what happened. If I was there, that guy wouldn't have dared make any moves." His face was closed and I knew how conflicted he must've felt about the situation. I grabbed his hand with my good one and twined our fingers together.

"Don't worry, man," I said. "You were tied up with getting a concussion and stuff. I totally understand." He smiled, and then I chuckled, but I wasn't feeling particularly bubbly today.

"Have you talked to Randy? I think you need to." Ohhh. That's why I felt like shit.

I shook my head, bouncing our joined hands on the bed next to his leg. "I really don't think that he wants a call from me. Did you see what I did?" I blushed, remembering that he was in the locker room at the time, as well as our earlier kiss. "Nevermind, that was a stupid question." I shook my head and looked at the ground.

I could feel tension in Cody's grip as I stared down. "You may like me," he started me, causing me to stiffen. "You may like me, and I think you do, but I know you like Orton more. It's not doing you any good to act like you don't, and in fact I think its hurting you more than anything."

"I can't talk to him, face him. I don't want to risk having to hear him, in any way, because I might not like it, and he can't take back anything and neither can I." I looked up finally, feeling moisture pooling in my eyes, gathering on my bottom lashes. "I was stupid, and jealous, for absolutely no reason. Why should he talk to me?"