Cody had to break into a run to catch up with her already at the end of the block. She had her phone pressed tightly to her right ear and tears were streaming from her eyes in that same calm cry she'd exhibited before.
"I just don't understand why, poppa. Why does he want to be around me? I don't want him around me," she was saying to the other person, who Cody could hear mumbling back in a slow way.
"I'm sorry, I know. I just… it's not the same. I'm not my mother. I'm sorry I woke you, poppa. Goodnight," she hung up, meeting watery eyes with Cody.
"I apologize," she said quietly, her breathe hitching a little but she fought to keep it under control.
"You don't need to be sorry. You warned me," he said, taking a step toward her. She took one back.
"I've called a cab. Are you going back to the hotel as well?"
"I'm not staying in there with your dad, that's for sure," he replied. She laughed a little, letting another tear escape from her eyes as a cab pulled up to the corner. They got in; Cody squeezed up against Bryony and put his arm around her. She leaned in to him, letting him direct the cab driver to the hotel. She remained on his shoulder until they pulled up to the hotel, when she leaned out to pay for the ride and watched the cab pull away.
"C'mon, Bry. I'll walk you to your room," Cody took her arm, and she walked with him into the hotel.
"Third floor," she said simply as they stepped into the elevator together. Cody pressed the button, and they stood in silence with their arms laced together. Cody felt comfortable, as though they'd been together for years and silence was no longer silence but just quiet examples of adoration. He followed behind her as they stepped off, for once she was walking slowly and he was enjoying the walk with her.
"313," she stated quietly, stopping at the door and turning to face him. They looked into each other's eyes for what felt like minutes before she spoke again.
"You tried to kiss me," she said, not losing eye contact with him. He nodded.
"You don't even know me. You don't know how old I am, what my favorite color is, what my hopes and dreams and fears are. How is it that you find interest in me when you know nothing about me?"
Cody had to think about it for a moment. It was true she didn't talk much about herself, really herself; the things she cared about or what she enjoyed. She was always professional, always articulate and never gave more information than necessary. He knew she liked roses, and hated blondes; and that she was easily the smartest woman he'd ever met.
"I could know those things if you wanted me to, Bry," he said, reaching out and touching the side of her face. She took his hand in hers, laced her fingers in his and put herself in his arms. He wrapped them around her, leaning down and kissing her gently.
"I'm twenty. My favorite color is blue, like your eyes. I hope to be successful, I dream of being a wrestler again, and I fear what I'm doing right now," she said quietly, in a voice devoid of regality or professionalism and full of true emotion. He kissed her again, letting their lips linger together for longer than before.
"I'm not going to hurt you, I'll never hurt you. You don't need to be afraid," he whispered. She nodded, and held him tightly for a while. He kissed the top of her head, enjoying the moment with her.
"Would you… like to come inside for a while?" she asked hesitantly. His eyes widened a little. Was she propositioning him? Was that really what she wanted?
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" he countered. She thought for a moment, finally nodding.
"I'm sure," She said, reaching into her bag for her cardkey. She turned around, pulling the card through and opening the door. He followed her inside, closing the door quietly behind them. She had a beautiful room, larger than his and all to herself; with a big bed and even a small kitchen and a flat-screen television.
"Fancy room," Cody commented, taking a few more steps inside. She smiled, making her way into the room and over to a large pink suitcase in the corner.
"I'm the boss, I get a fancy room," she answered, picking up the suitcase and placing it on her bed. She grabbed a few articles of clothing from it, and stuffed them under her arm; putting the suitcase back in its place.
"Make yourself at home, Mr. Runnels. I'm going to change into something more… cliché," she said with a little laugh, making her way to the bathroom. Cody took the opportunity to walk around, taking in the room. It was much nicer than anything he stayed in on the road, and she was right; the boss gets fancy rooms. He was in his boss' room. That was something he never thought would happen. He never thought his boss would be such a beautiful woman either. He found himself seated on her bed, which was also much more comfortable than the ones he usually slept on. Bryony had it good being the General Manager.
"Sorry about that, I just don't like being so professional all the time," she said, entering the room in a pair of shorts and a tank top. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail that's end fell across her shoulder. He couldn't help but laugh a little.
"What are you laughing about?" she said, looking down at herself.
"You just look really cute, is all. It's very different," he replied, standing up and trying to put his arms around her; she slipped under him and plopped down on the bed.
"Tempurpedic, can you believe that? I've never slept on one of these before," she patted the sides of it, and in his eyes transformed from regal Bryony to a nervous girl with a boy in her room all to herself. He sat down next to her, smiling down at her widely. She pulled her hair down and let it fall across her back.
"Why are you so happy, Cody? Every time you look at me, you're always smirking about something," she said, letting his hand touch her leg.
"Looking at you just makes me smile, Bryony. You're beautiful."
She leaned up and kissed him, with more passion than he had been expecting from her. Before he realized it, she was on top of him and had a hand up his shirt. He pulled back from her for a moment.
"Bryony, it's not that I'm not enjoying where this is going; where is this going, exactly?"
"For the first time in my life," she said, pressing a kiss on his neck that made his skin tingle, "I don't have a plan. I just want you, Cody."
