Don't Touch Me! - 28

They walked on to the corner, then took a left. After a couple of blocks, Cody pointed. "That's the bar I told you about."

Brent nodded. "I'd suggest we go in, but it looks busy. I'll come back later to see if anyone remembers the last time you were there."

"They won't."

"Haven't I told you not to be a doomsayer? Someone might. I'll need a picture of you, though, if you have one."

"I do. Remind me when we get back. It was taken for the cover of my last book, before the publisher decided the mystery of who I am was helping sell them."

"Interesting theory. I sometimes wondered about that. I'm used to seeing an author's picture on the back of a book, or on the inside flap of the dust-jacket, with some sort of bio."

"I am 'the great and mysterious Oz'," Cody intoned.

Brent laughed. "I believe it's 'the great and powerful Oz', but mysterious works."

Grinning, Cody replied, "Whatever."

"You have a nice smile."

"Umm, okay. What brought that on?"

"Seeing it. It's been pretty much nonexistent since I've known you."

"Yeah, well, I haven't had much to smile about until today."

"I know. But it's going to change. Soon, you'll be smiling every day."

"If I—we—can figure out what happened in those lost hours." Cody shook his head. "I don't know if it's possible."

Brent looked seriously at him. "I'm glad you said 'we', because I'm as much a part of this now as you are."

"I know." Hesitantly, Cody reached out to touch Brent's arm. "Thank you for that."

Brent smiled. "For you…anything."

"You mean it, don't you?" Cody said, withdrawing his hand.

"Very much. So let's get you home then I'm going to pay that bar a visit."