Redneck Cinderella

   “Here you go.”  I walk over to Cody who is politely dripping onto a colorful throw rug by the door.  None of the décor was mine or daddy’s doing.  Some fancy interior designer lady did up the entire house since daddy and I were clueless.  While I like it all well enough it doesn’t really feel like home to me.

      “Thanks,” he replies and when my fingers barely brush his I get another hot tingle that makes me shiver but this time it’s not from the cool air.

      “Cold?”

      “No… oh, I mean, yes,” I lie and then wrap a towel around me as if I’m freezing.  I do a fake little shiver for good measure.  Then since he covers his face with the towel and starts vigorously drying his hair, I have the opportunity to stare at the play of muscle in his biceps and chest without him knowing.  “If you need a dry shirt and shorts I could probably round something up,” I offer hoping he doesn’t realize it’s a blatant effort on my part to see some skin.  “I have plenty of large t-shirts and maybe some gym shorts that might do the trick.”

      After lowering the towel he hesitates long enough for me to realize that he doesn’t exactly like the idea but his clothing is so saturated that he finally nods.  “Okay, sure.”

      “I’ll see what I can find,” I tell him but then can’t stand it any longer and have to ask, “What brings you here, Cody?”  My heart beats a little faster since a hopeful part of me wishes that he’s come to his senses and has decided that Marissa is a snotty pretentious bitch and he’s decided to give a real woman a try, namely, you know, me.  But when he suddenly clears his throat and appears uncomfortable my hopes are dashed.

      “We need to have a little talk if you have a few minutes?”

      I give him a smile while nodding but I’m thinking this can’t be good.