Nate answered after two rings, sounding surprised, and Cody figured he wasn’t used to the phone ringing much at their apartment. “Hello?”
“It’s me.”
“Cody? Oh my God, where are you? My dad wouldn’t tell me what was going on. He said he’d done what he could to help, and I could tell he was all proud of himself when he said it, but he wouldn’t tell me what he meant, no matter how many times I asked. Did he give you a ride to the bus station?”
“Uh, no.” Cody couldn’t stop smiling. “He gave me your car.”
“What?” Nate laughed. “I knew he was up to something. He kept telling me I’d just have to wait and see, but—” He laughed again. “Where are you?”
“I’m in Nebraska. I’ve been looking at the maps your dad gave me. I think it’ll be another eight hours or so tomorrow, and then . . .”
“You’ll be here?”
It still seemed too good to be true. “I should be.”
Nate started to give him directions to the apartment, but Cody had nothing to write on, and the time two dollars paid for ran out way too fast. They were cut off before they even had a chance to say good-bye.
No matter. Nothing could keep them apart now.
Cody went back to his motel room and lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, so full of joy and wonder that even the spider on the wall and the line of ants under the sink couldn’t bring him down.
Of course, his subconscious decided to play dirty.
He dreamed of icy roads where every exit led back to Warren, the Mustang spinning out of control, semis bearing down on him with Logan in the passenger seat, and Nate always just out of reach.
It made for a depressing start the next day, and for the next few hours, he felt sure he was still dreaming. Nebraska stretched on for an eternity, the final bit of road from Lincoln to Omaha seemingly taking him through a time warp straight out of the Twilight Zone where he drove and drove but never got any closer to Iowa.
But, finally, he crossed the state line.
After that, his melancholy melted away. How could he be worried in a place filled with so much green? Miles and miles and miles of trees, and real music on the radio, and cute little towns that somehow seemed infinitely cleaner than the one he’d left behind.
He arrived in Iowa City a little before six o’clock. Nate had told him to follow the signs to the university, and so after stopping long enough to put the Mustang’s top down, Cody set out in search of his new life. He had visions of finding their apartment, of knocking on the door, having Nate open it with his face full of surprise.
He found the college, but no address that matched the one in his hand. He stopped at several gas stations to check the map in the pay phone phone book, but each time, he found that the pertinent pages had been torn out. He silently cursed the selfish bastards who’d decided their need outweighed the need of everybody else in the world. Finally, he did what he should have done from the beginning and used the pay phone. At least it wasn’t a long-distance call.
“You’re not far at all,” Nate told him. “Wait right there. I’ll find you.”
Cody went inside and bought a bottle of Coke. He thought he’d wait in the car, but it was hotter than hell in the sun, the air wet and sticky on his desert-born skin. He’d never been one for shorts, always thinking his legs were too skinny and way too white, but he had a feeling Iowa would cure him of that pretty quick. He found a bit of shade behind the ICE cooler.
Less than five minutes later, Nate appeared.
He looked the same, only different. Still blond. Still tall. Still so damn preppy, he might as well have been an extra in Pretty in Pink, but there was a looseness about him that was new. His hair was longer, his smile somehow more natural than it had ever been in Warren.
He leaned against the ice machine the way he had the day they’d met. “Hey, man, can I bum a smoke?”
Cody smiled. “Wish I could help, but I quit.”
“Me too.” Nate edged closer, not quite daring to pull Cody into his arms, but he reached out and took his hand. He looked down at the ring on Cody’s finger.
“Do you want it back now?” Cody asked.
Nate smiled and shook his head. “Not ever.”
For a moment, they just stood there, Cody thinking how he wanted nothing more than to throw his arms around Nate’s neck, but that seemed bold for such a public place.
Nate laughed, as if reading his mind. “You ready to come see our place?”
“Absolutely.” He dug the keys out of his pocket and handed them to Nate. “But I think I’ll let you drive.”
The apartment complex was made up of four giant, boxy buildings, all painted charcoal gray. They looked old, but not too run-down, and they were surrounded by expanses of green grass and towering trees. Cody spotted a playground just past the nearest building.