Cody cursed at himself as he listened to Paul go on and on about how hot Hennig's sister was.
He wasn't ready for the feelings that had come rushing back when he saw her. Especially not now. It had killed him when he watched her get married. But seeing her now. As amazing as she looked, he could tell she was beat down. He could see something different in her eyes, and he couldn't help but wonder if the fading bruise on her cheek was the cause.
He opened his locker, unzipping his bag. He pulled out the things he needed, the small black box tumbling out with his knee pads. He quickly snatched it off the floor, going to shove it back in his bag, but instead he cracked open the box. The diamond on the ring glimmered.
Before today he thought he was ready to purpose to Brandi. They had been together for a while. He thought he was in love. That was until he saw Sam again. He quickly snapped the box shut and tossed it in his bag, slamming his locker shut.
He had been honest with Joe. There was never anything romantic between them. They had all know each other since they were kids. Joe had always hung around with his older step brother Dustin, which left he and Sam together. Even after school had started for them, they got to see each other during breaks, and summer. Cody waited each year for school to end, so he could see the girl he used to call his best friend. It was always a joke between their families that Cody and Sam would be married. Then one summer when they were both about 16 Cody realized that he had other feelings for Sam, beyond friendship. But he had never tried to make a move on her, after all, she couldn't feel the same about him. She was beautiful, no gorgeous, why would she ever want anything to do with him?
That was the last summer they had seen each other. They still talked every now and then. The next time he had seen her was at her wedding, which his entire family was invited to.
Cody had tried to introduce himself to her husband that night, he was a jerk, and apparently nothing had changed.
"Hey Cody. I was looking for you earlier." Sam said. She was walking out with Joe.
"Oh yeah, why's that?" Cody grinned.
"Joey's boring." She frowned.
"Well, here I am." Cody grinned.
"It's too late now, he's making me go back to the hotel." Sam said, looking towards Joe. He was still walking.
He turned around. "Come on Sam." He muttered. "I'm tired."
"I don't know what I'm doing later." He handed her a pen.
"Give me your number, and I'll text you and let you know."
"You have paper?" She asked. Cody shook his head, so Sam grabbed his hand and wrote her number in his palm. "Don't forget." She smiled as she walked away.
Cody watched her. Her brown hair bouncing as she walked. He let his eyes fall to her ass, smiling slightly, until she was out of his sight. He rushed off to shower and get dressed. Smiling as he looked at his hand. He quickly added her number to his phone, before getting ready. As he was walking out the back door of the arena his text message warning on his phone went off. He grabbed it and his smile faded.
waiting for you at lucky's~ Brandi
Cody tossed his bag in the trunk and headed to the bar. Brandi smiled and waved as he walked in the door. He stopped. He couldn't help but remember the ring that was still in his bag. He had asked Brandi to meet him there, so he could ask her something.
Tonight was suppose to be the night he popped the question, but now things were different. He glanced down at the faded ink on his hand. He took a deep breath and walked over to her. She had a beer waiting on him.
"What took you so long?" She asked, placing a kiss on his cheek.
"I guess I forgot. It's been a long night." Cody said, taking a big drink of his beer. His mind flashing back to the smile on Sam's face.
"So, you said you had something to ask me." Brandi smiled, almost giddy.
"Oh, did I?" Cody asked.
"Sorry, it must have slipped my mind. I really don't remember saying that." Cody gave her a small grin, hoping she would get the point a stop asking him.
"Oh, ok." She said. "I think I wanna dance. Come on." She said, pulling on his arm.
"No, I've had a tough night." Cody said.
"So, do you just wanna go back to the hotel?" Brandi asked.
"No. I just want to sit here and drink." He replied.
"Fine, sit here like a bump on a log, but I'm going to dance." She said, getting out of the stool.
As soon as she walked away he pulled out his phone, texting Sam.
b there soon! :)~ Sam
He smiled at his phone, and looked at his watch, wondering how long it would be until she walked in the door. He glanced over at the dance floor to see Brandi grinding on some random guy. She did this often, knowing the Cody loved a show. Usually when she did this, it turned Cody on, but tonight he rolled his eyes, turning back to the bar, and finishing off his beer, before asking for another.
"I want to know what happened." Joe said. "You told me you were away from him, then here you are with a bruise on your face."
"He found my hotel and pushed his way in. I'm fine. It's just a bruise, and I'm fine now." Sam said.
"Any idea how long until your divorce is final?" Joe asked.
"No. But since I'm not asking for anything, I would think it would be fast." Sam said.
"I'm just glad I'm away from there, from him." Sam gave a weak smile.
"Me too, Sam. Me too." Joe said, laying down in his bed. "Get some rest." Just as he said that Sam's phone sounded.
Sam grinned as she read the text.
Lucky's, 2 blocks from hotel, here w/ brandi, I'm sssooooo BORED! Come please!-CR
"Who was that?" Joe asked.
Sam got up and found some clothes to change too.
"I'm going out." She said, heading to the bathroom.
"Who was it Sam?" Joe demanded.
"Or do I already know? You know he's on the verge of purposing to Brandi. This won't end well with you two."
"What won't end well? Why is it so hard for you to believe that we are just friends?" Sam called from the bathroom.
"Maybe because I've seen how you two looked at each other in the past, how you've acted with each other. And I saw tonight that nothing has changed." Joe said.
"We're friends, and the fact that he has a girlfriend, who is with him right now should let you know that." Sam said. She had never really liked Brandi. There was no reason, Brandi had always been really nice to her, but Sam didn't think she was right for Cody. Sam put on her makeup and walked out of the bathroom, grabbing her shoes.
"Normally people don't get that dressed up to see a friend." Joe said, rolling his eyes.
"Just take things slow, Sam. You just got out of a bad relationship, your divorce isn't even final yet."
"I have no intent of hooking up with anyone, anytime soon." Sam said, kissing Joe on the cheek.
"I'll be back later." She smiled, grabbing a key card from the dresser.
"Have fun." Joe smiled, glad Sam was smiling again.
Cody looked up as he heard the front door open. A smile spread across his face when he saw Sam. He raised a hand and waved to her, getting her attention. She smiled and walked over, taking the stool next to him, asking the bartender for a beer.
"Thanks for inviting me." She said, giving Cody's hand a quick squeeze, before pulling her hand back. Sam thanked the bartender as she took the beer.
"Joe has been driving me insane."
"Wouldn't have anything to do with that bruise on your cheek would it?" Cody huffed, gently letting his fingers run over her bruised cheek.
"I was hoping no one would be able to tell." Sam said, lowering her head.
"No one else did, but I've known you for, what? Our whole lives, almost. You never wear blush, I knew you were covering something up." Cody smiled slightly.
"I won't pry, but are you ok?"
"Yeah. Joey fronted me the money to get the divorce going. My soon-to-be ex-husband wasn't very happy about getting the papers." Sam forced a smile.
"Should I ask how things are going between you and Brandi?" Sam said as she looked to the dance floor, rolling her eyes as Brandi was very nearly dry humping the man she was dancing with.
"Yeah." Cody said following her eyes. "For some reason she thinks doing that is going to make me come and dance with her."
"I've heard that you two are pretty serious." Sam said. "Like a ring is in the near future."
Cody took a deep breath. "I have the ring." He said.
Sam forced a smile, although she felt like she had been hit in the gut. "When's the big day?"
"It was suppose to be tonight." Cody said, frowning.
"So, what's the problem?" Sam asked.
"I don't know. Suddenly it doesn't feel right. It doesn't feel like I should do it now."
"Why?" Sam asked.
"Everything she does is getting on my nerves." Cody confessed.
Sam laughed. "Sounds like the famous Cody Runnels is having cold feet."
"Maybe." Cody shrugged.
"If you love her, and it's meant to be, you will know when it's the right time." Sam said.
"If there's one thing I have learned about marriage, it's that you can't do it just because it's what people think should happen. You have to do it for you, because you love her."
"So you didn't love him?" Cody asked.
"I thought I did. But now, if I would have stepped back and took a second to myself, I don't think I would have gone through with the wedding, or even the engagement." Sam said. Just then Sam felt a hand on her lower back.
"I didn't think your brother would let you out." A sexy accent said in her ear. Sam smiled, as she turned seeing PJ.
"I escaped." She laughed.
"Well you look like you're dressed for some fun. So answer me this, why are you just sitting here? You should be dancing. Won't Runnels dance with you?" Paul grinned. "What? You can't dance?" He looked at Cody.
"Cody has moves." Sam smiled.
PJ took her hand. "I'm going to steal her away for a while." He flashed a grin towards Cody, as he pulled Sam out onto the dance floor.