Lost & Found

by E B Brooks

  “My pleasure.”

  After that, they both focused on eating their burger, not talking. Cody had never been a talker, more of a doer, so the silence didn’t bother him.

  After a good twenty minutes, though, Maddy spoke up. “Jeez, Cody, can you shut up so I can get a word in? Not much of a talker?”

  As Maddy took a sip of the pop Cody bought for her, he couldn’t take his eyes off the way her lips closed around that straw and wished her lips were closing over something else.

  He crossed his legs and leaned back. “Ha, ha, aren’t you funny. No, I don’t talk much. Out of my friends and me, I’m the quiet one.”

  “Tell me about them.” When she smiled, it lit up her whole face.

  He would do anything to see that smile. “Ah, okay. There’s Ryder. He’s my age and my best friend. His parents are screwed up, so my parents basically raised him. Ryder loves women. All women. Then, there’s my brother, Skylar. He’s a year younger than me. Total prankster, can’t be serious. Then there’s Jace, who’s Skylar’s best friend and the normal one out of the group. Our parents raised him, too, because his dad owns a construction business, and his mother is out of the picture.”

  “Your parents sound wonderful to take in two other kids. What do they do for a living?”

  Cody let out a snort and wagged his finger back and forth. “Oh, no. It’s my turn to ask you a question.”

  “Oh, are we going to play Twenty Questions? Okay, I got nothing but time.” She shifted to get more comfortable in the chair.

  “Twenty Questions sounds good. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but why aren’t you in the dorms?”

  Maddy scratched the back of her neck. “Well, I’ve lived in a dorm setting all my life, and I just couldn’t do it anymore. I wanted my own place.”

  Cody scrunched up his nose in question.

  “I grew up in an orphanage. When I turned thirteen, I got moved to a group home.” She gave him a closed lip smile before nibbling on a fry.

  His eyes grew round. “Your whole life? Never got adopted or fostered out?”

  Maddy shook her head as she finished chewing.

  He screwed up his face. “Isn’t that weird?”

  “Extremely. But what the hell do I know? I just lived there.”

  They both fell silent for a bit, then Maddy roused herself. “My turn. What do your parents do?”

  “My dad is a police officer, and my mom’s an accountant.”

  They spend the next hour asking questions back and forth. It was the most Cody had ever spoken at one time.

  Then Maddy asked the one question Cody didn’t want to talk about. “You said you’re in training. What are you training for?”

  “Fighting.”

  “Well, that explains the muscles.” Her cheeks flushed. “Do you fight in a league for school?”

  “No, it’s an underground fight league. I’ve been doing it since high school.” Gathering his trash, he rolled to his feet. “It’s getting late, and I’m sure my friends are wondering if I’m okay. I kind of just left and didn’t say anything else. Where’s your phone?”

  She pointed over her shoulder. “It’s over on the counter. Why?”

  “I want to put my phone number in so you can call me.” Cody strode to the kitchen to grab her cell. Putting his number in, he then texted his phone. “Make sure you put ice on your ankle tonight. The ice packs should be frozen by now. Try to stay off your foot as much as possible.”

  She saluted him. “Yes, sir.”

  Maddy got up, and Cody handed her the crutches he’d grabbed from home.

  She followed him to the door, pausing when he opened it. “Thank you for everything, I hope to see you around campus.”

  “I’m sure we will. Call me if you need me.” Cody turned and shut the door behind him.

  A few seconds later, he heard the clicking of the lock.

  When Cody reached the safety of his truck, he finally let out the breath he’d been holding. He didn’t know how to explain why he liked to fight without it making him look barbaric.

  What the hell was he talking about? He was barbaric. That was why it was a good idea for Maddy to stay away from him. He didn’t want to get her involved with all the shit that was going on with him.

  He needed to forget today ever happened and stay the hell away from her. If only his body didn’t hate that idea.

  6

  Maddy

  The next morning, Maddy’s ankle was still a little swollen, and every time she took a step, it hurt a bit. No way she’d be able to run around behind the food counter today. Unsure what to do, she called Janet to let her know what was going on. She hated calling out when she’d only worked one day so far and offered to work the register, but Janet just told her to stay home.

  She spent the rest of the morning and afternoon doing everything she could to stay off her bad foot. She set up one of the camping chairs in her bedroom and propped her leg up with an icepack while she browsed the internet for furniture, then switched over to reading. Every time the ice melted and trickled down her leg, she hobbled into the kitchen to replace it.

  By evening, she felt like she would go insane. Just when she was about to pull her hair out from boredom, her phone buzzed with an incoming text message.

  She frowned at where it rested on the floor next to her chair. Who would text her? No one had her number. She doubted Mrs. Jones knew how to text.

  It turned out to be Torr.

  Torr: Do you have plans for tomorrow?

  Torr: Want to grab lunch, then shop for dresses to wear to club Inferno?

  Maddy messaged back quickly.

  Maddy: I’d love to go out! Pick me up?

  She followed it up with her address.

  Torr sent her a thumbs up.

  Maddy: I’m going stir crazy! It’s your job as a friend to talk to me for a while!

  Maddy’s phone rang instantly.

  Torr’s voice hesitantly filled the line. “What do you want to talk about? I’m boring.”

  “How do you know Crusher?”

  “He would come in every day asking if we had any banana pudding. I guess it’s not that popular because Janet never made it. I told her that a football player always requested it and asked if she could start making at least one cup for him. The next time I worked, there was a tray of banana pudding. When I handed him a cup when he asked for it, he got this beautiful smile on his face and told me I was awesome and his new best friend. After that, when he saw me around campus, he’d stop and say hi, still calling me his best friend.” She laughed. “He finally asked what my name was, one day, so I told him, and I make sure we always have his pudding in stock.”

  “He seems like a decent guy; someone you can trust.”

  “Oh, he is. He’s the type of guy who would do anything for a friend.”

  We moved on to her parents, and how, even though money was tight, they always made sure she had what she needed over the years. Her mother worked two jobs, one as a schoolteacher and, during the summer, as a waitress. Her father worked in town as a construction worker. It sounded like the kind of family Maddy had always wanted.

  They spent another hour talking before Torr said she needed to go.

  The next day, when her phone buzzed with Torr’s arrival, Maddy would have jumped up and down, but she didn’t want to undo all the good she’d done by staying off her foot all day yesterday. She’d used the crutches around the house so she took them with her, at least one of them. Maddy hobbled down the steps and used the one crutch to get to Torr’s small Prius. It was quite comical trying to get the crutch over her seat and into the back seat. She let out a deep breath when she finally settled into the seat.

  Torr frowned with concern. “Are you going to be all right to go out?”

  After all that, now she asked?

  “I’ll be fine, but if you don’t mind, can we stop at the local drug store? I want to buy a brace.”

  On the way to the store, they di
scussed where they wanted to go to eat.

  “What’s your favorite food?” Maddy asked.

  Torr grinned. “Chinese.”

  “Then Chinese it is,” Maddy said. “I’m up for something new.”

  Maddy always liked to try new things. In Martinsville, there was only a small diner that served American food.

  After buying the brace and strapping it around her leg, Maddy’s ankle felt ten times better.

  At the restaurant, Torr found a seat and Maddy followed slowly behind her. Whatever was cooking in the back smelled wonderful, like garlic, ginger, and other spices.

  Once they were seated, neither said much as they looked over the menu. Well, she looked over the menu. Torr was too busy wringing her hands. Maddy remembered something Ryan told her a long time ago. A good friend can only make you grow more. Even though they had a rocky start, each thinking bad of the other, she had a good feeling about Torr.

  She looked over at Torr, hoping to break the ice. “Torr, I’ve never had Chinese before. I have no idea what to get. Can you help me?”

  A smile spread over Torr’s face. “Sure.”

  Maddy laid the menu flat on the table as Torr told her that her favorite was the General Tso’s, but she warned it was spicy hot.

  “Most people like the Chicken Chow Mein. It’s Chow Mein noodles with boneless chicken in an oyster sauce. Another favorite is Sweet and Sour Chicken. It’s breaded chicken with a sweet and sour sauce. Then there’s Sesame chicken; this would have to be my second favorite. The sauce is a honey sesame.”

  Torri pointed the pictures out on the menu, and Maddy’s stomach rumbled. “Hmm, they all look and sound so good. But I don’t know if I like oysters, so I don’t want to try that.”

  The waitress stopped at their table. “Are you ready to order?”

  When Torr looked over to Maddy, Maddy said, “You pick something for me. I trust you.”

  Her head shot down, hands twisting a mile a minute again. “Oh, no, I couldn’t do that.”

  “Why not? Everything you suggested looks good; I’m sure I’d like them all. I just can’t decide. Trust your instincts and order for me.”

  She didn’t care what Torr ordered for her. Maddy liked just about everything. From the moment she met Torr, she knew someone had destroyed her confidence. Maddy was sure she’d already found out who that was, too. In the group home, she’d lost her confidence. If it wasn’t for Ryan, she still wouldn’t have it. She was hoping to help Torr get that back just as Ryan had helped her.

  Torr’s head slowly lifted, and Maddy smiled and nodded.

  “Okay, remember you said to do this,” Torr warned. “I want General Tso’s with white rice. She’ll have the Sesame chicken with white rice. Two egg rolls and an order— No, make that two orders of Crab Rangoon.”

  The waitress nodded and headed back to the kitchen.

  “See? That wasn’t so hard. But, um, what’s a Rangoon?” Maddy scrunched her nose up.

  Torr started laughing. It was infectious, and soon Maddy was laughing, too.

  “You’ll love it. It’s fried wonton with a cream cheese crab mix.” She moaned. “They are so good.”

  Maddy shrugged. “Okay, I’m trusting you.”

  Torr grabbed a long, paper wrapped item from the table. She unwrapped it to reveal wooden sticks inside. She broke them in half lengthwise and handed them to Maddy.

  Confused, she stared at the pieces of wood. “What are these?”

  “Chopsticks. You use them to eat.” Torr held her set between her fingers and clicked them together.

  The sticks were wide on one side and tapered down on the other. How the hell do you eat with them?

  Looking around the room, searching to see if anyone else was using them, Maddy found a couple who were using them, but most had normal silverware.

  She cocked a brow. “Can’t I use regular silverware?”

  With confidence she didn’t have before, Torr shook her head. “Nope. If you trust me to order your food, then you’ll trust me on how to eat it.”

  Oh, shit, what did she get herself into? “Okay, how do I do this?”

  “You ready?” Torr grinned.

  “As ready as I can be.”

  “First, hold one chopstick like you would a pencil, next take the other chopstick against your ring finger, holding it there with the base of your thumb. Now, move the chopstick with your thumb and index fingers.”

  Maddy followed Torr as she explained how to hold it, but once she went to move the stick, it kept falling. Torr was patient, moving her stick to the correct position, then encouraged her to keep trying.

  The waitress arrived with our food. It smelled good.

  Torr used her chopsticks to pick up a piece of chicken and put it in her mouth effortlessly.

  Maddy tried, got the sticks around the chicken, and picked it up, but halfway to her mouth, the chopstick shifted and the chicken tumbled onto the table.

  Torr chuckled, then covered her mouth.

  Maddy tried again and got it closer this time before it fell right down her shirt.

  Torr laughed. “Try again, Maddy, you were close that time.”

  Letting out a breath, she tried one more time and got it to her mouth. The chicken touched her lips, then once again the chopsticks shifted, and the chicken tumbled down her shirt and onto the floor. She didn’t care, she’d still eat it, she was that hungry. She took one chopstick, stabbed the chicken, and put it to her mouth.

  Torr laughed, which caused Maddy to laugh.

  “Okay, maybe chopsticks aren’t for you.” Torr reached beside her and put a napkin with silverware on the table.

  “Wait, you had that the whole time?” Maddy pointed at the silverware.

  “Mmhm.”

  “You bitch! I’ll get you back for that.” Maddy grabbed a Crab Rangoon and popped it into her mouth. “Oh my God, this is good.”

  Everything Torr ordered was good. Maddy stuffed herself and decided Chinese was her new favorite food.

  “Ready to go shopping?” Torr’s eyes beamed.

  What was it about girls and shopping? Maddy would never understand it.

  “No.” She patted her tummy. “I think I ate too much. I’m glad you brought me here, though. We’ll have to come back another time.”

  Torr smiled from ear-to-ear. “Anytime you want to come here, just let me know.”

  Despite Maddy’s protests, Torr took her to a clothing store she swore had great prices. It was small but crammed with racks and racks of clothing.

  Maddy tried not to look overwhelmed, but she wasn’t doing a good job.

  Torr took sympathy on her. “How about I pick a couple of outfits and bring them to the fitting room? That way you won’t be so overwhelmed, and you can stay off your foot.”

  Maddy sagged with relief. “That sounds great, but no dresses.”

  “Just one.” Torr’s pointer finger popped up.

  Maddy shook her head.

  She gave Maddy puppy eyes. “Come on, Maddy, just one.”

  Maddy’s hands moved to her hips. “Didn’t you torture me enough with the chopsticks?”

  Her shoulders slumped. “Fine, go sit and I’ll bring you some clothes.”

  While she could have looked for her own outfit, she wouldn’t have any idea where to start. All of her clothes came from a second-hand store. Her foot wasn’t hurting, but she didn’t want to overdo it tonight. She wanted to have some fun tomorrow.

  She found a fitting room with a bench on one wall, and the other held a mirror that ran the length of it.

  Torr came in with an arm full of clothes and one skirt. Maddy found the skirt when she was hanging up all the clothes.

  She held it out to Torr. “What’s this?”

  “It’s called a skirt, Mads.” She laughed. “Try it on.”

  Maddy started to protest, but Torr interrupted her. “You said no to dresses. This isn’t a dress.”

  She squinted at her. “Damn you, Torr.”

  Sh
e shut the door and put on the first outfit.

  Maddy tried on four different outfits. They were all nice, but Torr found something wrong with each of them. Maddy saved the skirt and a lacy top for last. She wasn’t sure about the top, either. It was a black bra coved by a white lace that ended at the middle of her stomach.

  When she opened the door and Torr got a look at her, she clapped her hands. “This is the outfit. You have to wear it.”

  “Really?” Stepping back inside, she checked the mirror.

  She thought she was showing too much skin. If not for the lace, she’d practically be wearing a bikini top.

  The skirt was another thing. She wasn’t comfortable in it; she didn’t feel like herself. “How about a compromise? I’ll keep the top but not the skirt. I just don’t feel comfortable in it.”

  Torr looked sad, but she agreed. “I figured you’d say that, so I kept these jeans that looked hot on you.”

  They had holes in the knees and other strategic places. Maddy nodded in agreement. “While I’m changing back, why don’t you go find something?”

  “Oh, I already did. I’m going to step in the next booth and try it on.” She bounced to the next booth.

  By the time Maddy got back into her own clothes, Torr was out waiting for her. “What do you think?”

  She’d picked out a red crop tank with a matching mini skirt. She looked smoking hot.

  “Definitely get that. You look hot. Crusher won’t be able to take his eyes off you.”

  Torr looked back into the mirror. “You don’t think my hips are too wide for this? Or my stomach is bunching up too much?”

  Next time Maddy saw that bitch, Trisha, she was going to punch her. “What are you talking about? Do you think my hips are too wide?”

  Torr shook her head.

  “You’re the same size as me, and your stomach is flatter than mine. You’re gorgeous. Stop making me complement you. I mean, seriously gurl.” I used a high-pitched voice for the last part.

  She snickered. “Thanks, Mads. I’ll go get changed back.”