"Y'know, I won't do it again." Nick said quietly, as he twirled Rusha's hair around his fingers.
Rusha snuggled closer to him, skimming her fingers over his bare chest. "Won't do what again?" she asked, trying to ignore the nagging voice in the back of her head that pestered her every time Cody was gone, because she knew where he was, and she felt guilty for keeping a it a secret.
"Anything like Cody. I shouldn't have gotten involved with him in the first place, and I never should have asked him to move in here, I like him.. I don't even feel like I can say I love him anymore, and I don't know that I did in the first place... but this.. experience or whatever it is/was, definitely wasn't worth risking what I have with you." he said, kissing her cheek.
"It's.. okay. It was a learning experience for both of us, I guess. We made it though.. that's what's important." she said. "What are you going to do, though? Tell him he has to move out?"
"I don't know. I feel sort of, trapped now. Like, I can't just kick him out, but I think it's becoming obvious to all of us, that he doesn't really have a place here anymore."
~~~~~
"Your time is up, Cody. You have to tell him." Rusha said, pacing around the deck the next morning.
"I know, and I am. I just wanted to tell you first... I'm moving out." Cody said, grabbing Rusha's hand, trying to get her to hold still.
"You are?" Rusha asked, a little surprised. She hadn't expected Cody to take the initiative to just up and leave on his own.
"Yes. Gavin is moving to Miami for his job, and I'm going with him. I don't have any reason to stay here.. I came in, wrecked you and Nick's relationship, but you're so together now.. I can't keep interfering with that. You love him, he loves you.. and well, I guess I really like Gavin..." Cody said.
"Whoa.." Rusha was nearly speechless, not only was he moving out, but moving away. "So, you're going to tell him, like, soon?"
"I was just waiting to tell you, first. You're my friend, Rusha, and I'm going miss you.. and miss Nick, very much.. but I know it's the right time.. this is the right thing for me to do." Cody replied.
"I'll miss you, too.. I'll go out tonight... so you can tell him.. is that alright?"
Cody nodded, "Thank you, Rusha."
~~~~~~
"I'm going to the gym for that kickboxing class.. I'll be back later, guys." Rusha said, as she grabbed her duffel bag and headed out the front door. She wondered what would happen while she was gone, what she'd find when she came home.
"Bye, Rush, I love you!" Nick called, as the door shut behind her. He flopped down on the couch, and grabbed the remote, expecting to see Cody walk out the door pretty soon, too.
Cody watched Rusha's car disappear down the street, and then went downstairs to join Nick on the couch.
"No plans for tonight?" Nick asked, looking over at Cody.
"I need to talk to you, Nicky." Cody said, averting his eyes from Nick's gaze.
"Oh, um, alright." Nick flipped the television off. Maybe this would be a good time for him to bring up wanting to end their.. relationship.. or whatever it was they had now. "What's up?"
Cody bit his lip, this was harder than he expected it to be. "I'm going to move out, Nicky." he said, very quietly.
Nick didn't know what to say. He'd thought he'd be the one to break it off, but now, apparently he was the one getting "dumped". "Move out?"
"Yes. I don't belong here anymore, I never did.. but now it's really time for me to go. You and Rusha are perfect together, and I'm not going to try to ruin that." He paused, and then said, "And I've met someone else... I'm moving to Miami with him."
Nick shifted on the couch, wondering why he felt like he did. He'd been wanting to tell Cody it was over, so why did he feel hurt now that it was? He hadn't had to do anything, everything had just fallen into place of it's own accord. It was too easy... or something. He couldn't figure out what it was, but it wasn't right.
"I'm sorry, Nicky. I'll always love you... Rusha, too. But it's time for me to go." Cody said, and got up. "I guess, I'll leave now. I'll send movers over to get my things as soon as possible." He leaned down to kiss Nick on the cheek. "Thank you for everything."
~~~~~
Rusha came home from her kickboxing class, drenched in sweat and desparate for a glass of ice water. She flung the door open, headed straight for the kitchen, but stopped when she saw Nick sitting on the couch, staring into space. "Nick?"
He turned to look at her, just to acknowledge that he'd heard her, but then turned away again.
Rusha dropped her duffel bag, and went to sit beside him. "Baby? What's wrong?"
"He left."
She hadn't had any clue what to expect about how he was going to react, but she hadn't been thinking he'd be distraught.. or whatever this was. "Are you okay?"
He turned back to look at her, "Did you know?"
She nodded. "Yeah, he told me this morning that he was leaving."
"Did you know about the other guy?"
"Gavin." she said, feeling even worse now that he was going to know she'd been keeping secrets.
Nick let out a breath slowly. "How long did you know about him?"
Rusha swallowed hard, "A few weeks.. I caught Cody with him."
Nick's expression gave Rusha no clue what he was thinking. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Cody swore he was going to tell you... I didn't think it was my place to play tattletale. I didn't want him to hurt you.. and I didn't want to either, I just.. didn't know what to do.. so I told him.. I'd give him a little while, and then.. he had to tell you.. and he did, obviously." Rusha was about to cry, she couldn't figure out what he was thinking and it was hurting her that he was probably upset, not only about Cody, but now also with her.
Nick got up to get a drink, watching Rusha bite her nails nervously as he left the room, and then came back. He sat down beside her, put his arm around her, and pulled her over to him to push her damp hair out of her face, and kiss her forehead. "I'm not mad at you, Rush. IThat had to be a tough spot to be in. Thank you for letting me hear it from him, though. I needed that."
Rusha breathed a sigh of relief, "I love you."
"I love you, too." He hugged her, "No offense, babygirl, but you need a shower."
Rusha laughed, "Yeah, I'm sure... care to join me?"
"How can I pass up an invitation like that?" Nick asked, jumping up off the couch, and scooping her up, throwing her over his shoulder, and bounding up the steps to the bathroom.