Cody's POV- March 2018

Chris cleared his throat making me look away from the traffic, at him.

"Yeah?" I questioned.

He glanced at me for a second before turning his full attention on driving.

"I invited Desiree over"

"Cool" I noted.

"You don't mind?"

No, this was a pretty big deal actually. Chris was actually interested in a girl, a first I had seen.

"I don't mind" I replied.

It was late though.

"Is she spending the night?" I wondered.

I would not mind if she spent the night because it meant that Chris would be home. Yeah, I didn't like to be home alone. It's why I practically begged Chris to sign a lease with me.

"Yeah"

"Just don't be loud," I told him.

He chuckled and glanced at me.

"You're an idiot"

Desiree was waiting for us when we got to our place. Chris immediately greeted her with a kiss on the lips and a hug. As he opened the front door, she turned to look at me.

"Hi, Cody"

"Hey" I greeted.

To my surprise, she stepped forward for a hug.

"I was actually hoping to talk to you"

As I looked at Chris, she spoke up.

"I can assure you it has nothing to do with a threesome"

Fuck, looks like Chris tells her everything.

"I was joking" I defended.

She hummed.

"Sure you were"

"We can talk, just let me change," I told her.

I pointed at Chris.

"Behave" I warned.

He rolled his eyes and closed the door behind him.

"Go change"

I made my way to my room and swapped my jeans for a pair of basketball shorts. Desiree was waiting in the living room, whereas Chris was munching away in the kitchen.

"Come here and sit"

She patted the spot next to her, so I took a seat next to her.

"So what did you want to talk about?" I wondered.

She bit her lip before speaking,

"I'm just going to get straight to the point, okay?"

Before I could nod, she continued.

"Marisol is my cousin"

Wait, what? Actually...that made sense considering they shared the same fucking last name. Which meant one thing...her dad...and Marisol's dad...were siblings.

"I want you to start from the very beginning"

I sat up.

"Uh" was all I managed to say before the waterworks started.

I don't know why I cried, I was the idiot who fucked up what could be.

"Sorry," I told her as I wiped my face.

She shook her head.

"How did you meet Mari?"

"At Starbucks" I replied.

"When?"

"Last summer" I answered.

She slowly nodded.

"Let me guess, she was picking up a coffee traveler and a peach citrus white tea lemonade?"

"Yes," I confirmed.

"And what were you doing at Starbucks so early in the morning?"

Chris answered for me.

"Getting his Caramel Frappucino...that he's forbidden to consume"

I gladly took the water bottle Chris offered me and practically chugged it all down in 4 gulps.

"Don't worry, I won't spill your secret"

She winked at me before asking,

"So how did you two meet?"

I scratched my jaw.

"She would always ask the barista if there were any Strawberry Scones" I started.

She laughed.

"Of course it involves pastries"

Something Marisol and I shared in common was that we both had a sweet tooth.

"There were never any when she dropped by, so I got there early one day and got it for her" I explained.

It soon became a tradition.

"So that's how you met her?"

I nodded.

"And it became a sort of tradition even when I was out of town for games," I told her.

There was always a scone waiting for her.

"So she knew who you were?"

I shook my head.

"No, but she figured it out on her own" I replied.

Her friend invited her to a game, and well I was the starting first baseman.

"So when did you ask her out?"

This was kind of embarrassing.

"She kinda walked over to me as I hyped myself up" I disclosed.

Desiree smiled.

"That's kind of cute"

"She shut me down, and told me she was busy with school" I stated.

"So how long did it take you to ask her out?"

"Too long" I admitted.

I met Marisol in June of last year and I didn't ask her out on a date until late August"

"There's nothing wrong with that, it just means you like getting to know the girl first"

I guess.

"So how did you get her to agree to go on a date with you?"

"I asked her if sweeping the D-backs would change her mind" I replied.

It was pretty bold of me, but it worked.

"Cody brought in 2 of the 3 runs that night"

Desiree smiled as she looked away from Chris and at me.

"I don't understand. It seems you were very into her, yet you were the one who stood her up"

I took a deep breath.

"I wasn't planning on doing that. My mom showed unannounced with my now ex-girlfriend and made me go on a date with her instead" I told her.

"Why didn't you call her?"

"Mom shoved me out of my place so fast that I left my phone on the kitchen counter" I answered.

She slowly nodded.

"By the time I got home, I tried calling her but all I got was her voicemail. Eventually, the calls would just end on their own" I stated.

Marisol either blocked my number or shut off her phone.

"I mean, you can't blame her there Cody"

"She left me a note, telling me to go fuck myself" I mentioned.

Desiree looked at me before speaking up,

"I can hopefully get her to hear you out"

"You would do that?" I asked.

"But"

Oh, whoops I guess I interrupted her.

"Let me get her side of the story"

I nodded as she looked at her phone.

"My brother, Leo is actually with her right now"

I guess I didn't need to hire a private investigator after all.