Chapter 14: Rain and Trust

Cody POV

I’m still shaky from Jake barging in yesterday, his weird warning ringing in my ears. “Better watch out, Cody!” It’s stuck with me, but I shove it down. Me and Ryan are sprawled on my couch again, my head on his chest, his fingers in my hair. My tiny apartment feels safe, like our little world. The TV hums low, some dumb show we’re not watching. His heartbeat thumps steady under my ear. I trace his stomach, feeling the muscle there. He laughs soft, kissing my forehead. “Tickles,” he says, voice warm. My chest feels full, good full. I want this forever.

Then the door flies open. No knock. Just a bang. I jump, sitting up fast. Ryan does too, arm tight around me. A guy storms in, tall and mad, suit wrinkled like he rushed here. His face is red, eyes sharp. “Ryan!” he yells, loud and rough. My heart slams hard. I know him from pictures. His manager. The one who called that night at the party. My stomach twists.

Ryan stands quick, stepping in front of me. “What the hell, Greg?” he says, voice hard. His hands ball up. I pull my knees up, hugging them. My shorts slide down a little. I feel small, caught.

“Fake a girlfriend,” Greg snaps, pointing at Ryan. “Or you’re done. That photo’s everywhere. Studios are freaking out.” His voice cuts through me. That blurry balcony pic. The one that hit online. My throat gets tight. I stare at the floor, cracked and dirty. My safe bubble pops.

Ryan shakes his head fast. “No way,” he says, loud. “I’m not lying about us.” His voice shakes a little, mad and sure. My chest hurts. Us. He means me. I look up, catching his eyes. They’re dark, fierce. I want to believe him.

Greg steps closer. “You don’t get it,” he says, almost yelling. “Your career’s toast if you don’t fix this. Be smart, Ryan.” He doesn’t look at me. Like I’m not here. My heart sinks, heavy and cold. A secret shame. That’s what I am. I can’t breathe right. My hands shake bad. I slide off the couch, quiet, grabbing my shoes by the door. Ryan’s still arguing, voice loud. “I’m not faking shit!” he says. I don’t wait. I bolt.

My sneakers slap the floor as I run out. Rain hits me hard, cold and wet. It’s pouring now, soaking my shirt fast. My hair sticks to my face. I don’t care. I need air. My chest’s too tight, like it’s breaking. I hit the alley behind my building, brick walls blurry through the water. My legs burn, but I keep going. Jake’s warning mixes with Greg’s words. “Watch out.” “Fake a girlfriend.” I feel dumb. Used. Tears mix with the rain, hot on my cheeks.

Footsteps splash behind me. Fast. Loud. “Cody!” Ryan’s voice cuts through the storm. My heart jumps, scared and mad. I don’t stop. He catches me quick, grabbing my arm. I stumble, turning fast. He pins me against the brick wall, hands on my shoulders. His shirt’s drenched, clinging to his chest. His hair’s flat, water dripping off his nose. “You’re not a fucking secret,” he says, voice rough and desperate. His eyes lock on mine, wide and wild.

I shove him, hands on his chest. “Then why’s he here?” I yell, voice cracking. Rain runs into my mouth, salty. My fists shake. He doesn’t budge. He grabs my face, fast and hard, kissing me deep. His lips are wet, cold from the rain, but warm underneath. My breath catches. I shove again, weaker, then pull him close. My hands claw his back, fingers digging through his soaked shirt. Our tongues meet, deep and frantic. He tastes like rain and him, sharp and good. I groan loud, mad but needing him.

He presses me harder into the wall. Brick scrapes my back through my shirt. My legs shake bad. His hips grind into mine, rough through wet jeans. I feel him, hard and hot. I’m hard too. My hands slide down, grabbing his butt, pulling him tighter. He sucks my neck, wet and hungry. A mark blooms there, stinging good. “Trust me,” he begs, voice low against my skin. His breath’s hot, shaky. My chest heaves. I nod, trembling hard. “I’m trying,” I say, soft and broken. Rain pours over us, washing the doubt away. For now.

We stand there, pressed tight. His hands grip my hips, steady. My arms wrap around his neck, holding on. Water runs down my face, dripping off my chin. His forehead rests on mine. “I’m not faking anything,” he says, quiet but sure. His lips brush mine, soft now. My heart slows a little. I kiss back, gentle. My fingers dig into his shoulders, feeling muscle. He’s real. Here. Mine.

The rain slows, just a drizzle now. My shirt sticks to me, heavy and cold. His does too, showing every line of him. I shiver, teeth chattering. He pulls me closer, arms around me. “You’re freezing,” he says, rubbing my back fast. My nose presses his neck, breathing him in. Wet hair, sweat, him. My legs feel weak, but he holds me up. “I’m okay,” I say, voice small. My hands slide down, resting on his chest. His heart beats hard under my palms.

He kisses my cheek, quick and warm. “I mean it,” he says. “You’re not a secret. Never.” His voice shakes a little. My throat gets tight again. I nod, leaning into him. “Okay,” I say, soft. My fingers curl into his shirt, clinging. Rain drips off us, pooling on the ground. My jeans rub rough, soaked and tight. I feel him still, pressed against me. My breath hitches. He smirks a little, grinding slow. I laugh, shaky and dumb. “You’re bad,” I say.

“Only for you,” he says, kissing my nose. My chest warms up, full again. I hug him tighter, rain forgotten. His hands slide up my back, warm through the wet. We’re a mess, but it’s us. I want to stay here, just like this. His lips find mine again, slow and sweet. My tongue brushes his, easy now. He sighs into me, happy. My heart’s loud, but it’s good loud.

Then his pocket buzzes. Sharp. Loud. I pull back fast, eyes wide. He groans, digging in his jeans. Water drips off his hand. My stomach twists hard. “What now?” I ask, voice shaky. He pulls out his phone, screen glowing through the rain. It keeps buzzing, angry. He squints, holding it up. My heart drops. Another call. My legs feel like jelly.