39

"If I have to go, then so do you," I tell Cody as we leave my bedroom. I blinked back at him, watching as he shook his head negatively. I think it's safe to say that I forced him to this - I have no shame. I'm not doing this again, by myself, when there's Cody here. Plus, I don't want to leave him because I fear when I return he won't be here still and right now, I need him a lot. he's the only person keeping me happy.

He hugged me from the back, around my waist and hung his head on my shoulder. I stopped walking, so I could look towards him. I smiled, as he began to whine, "I don't want to go to dinner with your mom and her boyfriend, Ethan."

"Yes, but you're going and it's final," I kiss his cheek.

"I hate you."

"No, you don't," I reply cockily. He rolled his eyes but kissed me nevertheless. As we began kissing with tongue, Cody moved from behind me to in front of me while stepping me backwards to go against the wall of the hallway. "I'm not even dressed for the occasion," he mutters as he pulled away slightly. I could still feel his breath as it went into my mouth from our proximity. I take my eyes off of his for a moment to look down at what he was wearing. It wasn't any suit and tie, but he didn't look bad. I mean, no one would wear a leather jacket with teared-up jeans to a fancy restaurant, but I guess he's not the everyday guy.

"I don't care about how you look, Cody. And if he says shit about it, then we leave."

"You'd leave your mother's boyfriend's dinner?" he chuckled softly. I rolled my eyes, "We all know I don't like that man - I'd do anything to get away from him. And I'd just make up with my mom after."

"You're lucky that she's so understanding... and takes your shit."

I stared at him for a moment, but decided to say nothing. It's pretty obvious where he's coming from with that - and frankly, that topic is depressing for both of us, so it's no sense speaking about it. Right now I'm trying to get some happiness back into my life and talking about Cody's fucked up family issues won't get that for me.

I took his hand and began to walk down the hallway silently. We met my mother downstairs, waiting a little way away from the door eagerly with her phone in her hand. It's so weird how much she likes this man - or according to her 'love'. I don't believe it's love yet - I mean it's only been a couple of months. I wasn't in love with Ashton and we were together for almost the same amount of time (well Ashton and I were still just friends... but honestly, I considered him more than that before he did).

"Ah, Cody, are you leaving?" she asks she looked towards us.

"No mom, he's coming with," I reply automatically.

"He is?" she rose an eyebrows, the continued, "Honey, I don't think it'll be such a good idea if Cody showed up."

"Mom, I think it would be perfectly fine if I brought someone. Where are we even going? Why do I have to show up?" I bombard her with questions.

"Sweetie, Chris really just wants to get to know you, okay. I mean, he could be your new-" she instantly stopped herself, then looked away. I stared intently at her then furrowed my brows. But I decided to shut up. I can't believe what she was going to say. This just turns me off even more. 

The doorbell rang and my mom rushed to get it. She made it so obvious that she was waiting at the door for him to arrive. They kissed and greeted each other. I turned away from that. My eyes went to Cody which wasn't bad at all. I just needed to not see my mother swap spit with someone - doesn't matter who it is.

"Uh, honey, uh Ethan's uh... friend would be joining us tonight," my mother tells Chris and I rolled my eyes. She could have said boyfriend or something. She makes him sound like a complete stranger. Chris' eyes went to Cody and he just nodded his head. He said softly, "Uhm.. okay, well lets go huh?"

"Sure..." I mutter, grabbing Cody's hand. We stepped out the house first, then Chris and my mom. I suggested (almost immediately) that we took Cody's car, but they wanted us to all ride together, It made no sense to me. They probably though we'd run away. I mean, it's a really good suggestion at the moment, but I wouldn't do that... I think.

We piled into the car, already expecting the most awkward ride. Well, Awkward for my mother and Chris... and probably Cody. I on the other had kept my interest on Cody. I wanted to kiss him, but he kept refusing me. His eyes went to the rear view mirror, where Chris' eyes were. And that just gave me the incentive to kiss him even more. 

"It doesn't matter what he thinks, babe," I lean up to tell him softly. Cody looked down at me and I took that opportunity to kiss his lips. He obviously didn't pull away then. When I did, however, he said, "He keeps watching me, I feel weird."

"Yes, he's a creep. Just ignore him."

"I can't really do that, considering I'm going to dinner with his family."

I stared at him with cocked eyebrows. His family? Cody didn't even seem to realize what he said, but after taking in my face, I think he got it. "This is not his family. It's my mom, hence my family. I'm nothing to him."

"Babe, don't be like that. You should be happy you have someone," he tells me and I just rolled my eyes before moving away from him - to the opposite of the seat so I could look out the window to at least get an idea of where we were headed. 

I have never seen this part of town in my entire life. It's that expensive rich side of the town where the people are really stock up and shit. There is no way I'm going into a restaurant on this side with those other rich type of people. I groan softly and shrink down in my seat. I can already foresee the horror this night holds.

"Okay, guys, we're here," Chris says. I sit up and look out the window. It was a house - a really big house might I add. The house isn't guarded or walled up like how I would expect a gorgeous house like this to be. It looks way too good to be real - and the darkness is just illuminating it even more, if that makes sense. I'm just a bit too shocked to even put my words together. I would have never thought raggedy ole' me would ever be walking into a house like this.

"You coming?" Cody's voice snapped me out of my tiny little bubble of complete awe. I blink at him a couple times, then smiled when I noticed he'd open the door for me. 

"Why thank you," I smile and he rolled his eyes. After I was out, he asked me, "This is his place?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "I have absolutely no idea..." I mean, he can't just bring us to some random person's home right? This is actually his house? Wow, being a doctor pays off then.

I look to my mother who already began to walk to the front door as if she lived here her entire life. What the hell is going on right now? I let go of Cody's hand and walk faster towards them. My mom saw me coming and she only smiled at me. "Why did you bring us here?" I asked Chris.

"It's just a dinner, Ethan, relax," Cody says from behind me. I turn around and furrowed my eyebrows at him. He's supposed to be on my side, right? What the hell? My mom turned away from us and walked inside, which had my jaw dropping to the fucking perfect ground. Chris quickly followed after her and we did the same.

"Mom, what is it?" I ask.

"Ethan, can you just have fun tonight? You're goddamn boyfriend is here for crying out loud, so just be happy," she sounds so aggravated. I step back a bit as I stared at her. What the hell is her problem? They're the ones who invited me to this shit. I had no intentions of coming. I was perfectly fine with staying at home with Cody and fucking until we're numb.

"Whatever," I scoff and turn around, grabbing Cody's hand to walk away. I don't know how the fuck we're getting back, but I know I don't want to be here at all right now.

"Ethan, please," she says as she came in front of me.

"No, mom, I'm done with this okay. You guys want us to leave, then fine - we'll leave."

"Ethan, I want you to stay," Chris says, causing all eyes to go to him, "I want both of you stay... here."

"What?" my mother asked.

"Marie, I'm asking if you'd move in with me..."

~*~*~