AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Where the hell did a python come from?” Devin said.
“Might have escaped from a neighbor’s,” Cody said, then cleared his throat. “You know, I wasn’t totally honest with you earlier.”
“Honest about what?” Devin cocked his head like some kind of adorable dog.
“My marriage. I did marry someone from high school, but it’s no one you’d suspect.”
“I’m not following.”
Cody thought about Demmy, how right it felt to be with him, and how proud he was to call Demmy his husband. That line of thinking helped settle him somewhat, and he smiled and said, “I married Demetrius.”
Devin blinked and his eyes widened. “Oh?” He crossed and uncrossed his arms, then wiped at a spot on the island countertop. “Oh,” he said again. “You’re gay?”
“Yeah, looks that way.” Cody shrugged. “Well, bi, actually. And it turned out Demmy was the perfect match for me. Just took me some time to figure it out.”
“Huh. Okay. It’s surprising, but, you know, I’m happy for you.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, sure. It’s not what I would have expected, but as long as you’re happy.”
Cody decided to leave things at that. He shook Devin’s hand, left the house, and got in the truck where Jugs sat behind the wheel, the air conditioning on max.
“How’d it go?” Jugs asked.
“About as you’d expect.”
“Feel okay about it?”
Cody nodded. “I do. I’m not ashamed of what Demmy and I have. I just wasn’t expecting to have to defend it, I guess.”
“Seems to me you need to be ready to defend what you’ve got pretty much any time of any day. Especially with the current political climate.”
“I think you’re right about that.” Cody blew out a breath and put on his seat belt. “Did Aggie have any suggestions for someone to take this snake off our hands?”
“As a matter of fact, she did.” Jugs put the truck in gear and pulled away from the curb. “Have you ever been to the Harriettville Zoo?”
CHAPTER THREE
Demetrius was five minutes into what he’d promised himself would be a ten minute warm-up on the elliptical when he stopped the machine and stepped down. He still felt bloated from Amelia’s ham dinner the night before, and his limbs felt heavy and unresponsive. Even the new playlist he’d titled Best Workout Playlist Ever hadn’t managed to keep him motivated. He probably needed to rename it. That was a lot of pressure to put on a list of songs from the 80s and 90s.
“You ready for me?”
Demetrius looked around to see Jordie, his and Cody’s trainer. “Oh, hey Jordie. I didn’t see you when I arrived, so I wasn’t sure we would have a session today.”
“Oh yeah, it’s on like Donkey Kong, buddy. And I’ve got big plans for you and the rest of the group.” Jordie rubbed his hands together and flashed a malicious smile. “I hope you didn’t leave all your energy on that elliptical, because you’re going to need it.”
“You know, Jordie, I’m feeling a little…”
“Excited? Motivated? Engaged?”
Demetrius blew out a breath. He was paying for these sessions. Might as well get his money out of it, even if it killed him.
The training session didn’t kill him, but it didn’t revive him any either. If he were to rate himself against the other three participants, which also included the struggling and picked on weakest link Hannah, Demetrius thought he had probably done better than her. But only by a slim margin.
After a shower, he dressed in cargo shorts, a Critter Catchers polo, and work boots and left the changing room. Jordie was standing by the door and raised his hand for a high five.
“You were dragging a bit today, Demetrius, but you put a lot of effort into the session. Way to bring it.”
