Thinking about protective landlord Andrew CodyâŚ
You had finally admitted to yourself earlier that morning that you were a bit uncomfortable around your landlord.
Youâd initially taken his odd and somewhat disturbing nature as introversion but over the past few weeks, you started to wonder what was just under the surface. It was like his history/baggage had its own pulse. A pulse that sucked him out of normal functioning momentarily and just when you thought heâd totally checked out, heâd switch gears and chime in with a perfectly normal observation or suggestion.
Be sure to run the disposal every time you use it, you donât want to get fruit flies.
Is this cereal any good? Iâd like to try it some time.
Do you, you know, feel safe here?
It was the small comments, the gentle nature woven into the fierce expressions that had you finally caving, pressing the call button apprehensively.
Well, he didnât literally say hello, but you heard the line pick up. It was after 2:00 a.m., he must have been half asleep.
You stuttered out, your voice small.
âMr. Cody? Iâm so sorry to bother you, I just, I thinkâŚâ
ââŚI think someone tried to break into my apartment.â
âGo into the bathroom, lock the door. Do not hang up the phone.â
You heard him shuffling and then, almost impossibly quick, you heard the sound of an engine starting.
âMy phone switched over to the car, sweetheart, can you still hear me?â
Apparently your slight fear of him dissipated when his simmered rage had a direction (a direction aimed towards anyone trying to invade your space without permission).
âIâll be there in 2 minutes, I want you to stay silent. Iâll knock on the bathroom door 5 times quickly so you know itâs me, understand?â
You shook your head, forgetting you were on the phone.
His shout startled you back.
His anger has heightened over the past few minutes and now youâre concerned about what youâve done.
Was he annoyed? Or just being protective? And if the latter, why? How?
Over the next few minutes, you hold your breath as you hear him enter the apartment and check every room. Then, it sounded as if he was checking the door, windows, locks. Before you knew it, the knocking sounded at the door.
Carefully, you grabbed the knob and pulled it back only to see the most intense eyes youâve ever encountered in your life staring back at you.
âOK?â He asked quite quietly, concern etched all over his features.
âYeah, Iâm sorry Iâm not sure what I heard. Maybe itâs just that I havenât lived here long enough and it creeks and cracks but Iâm pretty certain I heard the handle jiggle.â
His grimace was revealing. Have they had trouble here before? He seemed more invested than he should be for only knowing you for a month.
âI feel kind of ridiculous now,â you admitted.
He startled you as he moved to reach and touch a strand of your hair, immediately pulling his hand back as if heâd forgotten himself.
âNaw,â he said, with a shrug, his cheeks still flushed. âItâs not ridiculous, if you heard something you heard something. Why donât you go get some rest,â he said, pulling out one of the dining room chairs.
âWhatâŚwhat are you doing?â You asked, unconsciously playing with hem of your sleep shorts. You only noticed because his eyes moved to your thigh before shooting back to your face.
âI know what itâs like to be antsy and exhausted, you wonât get any sleep tonight if youâre worried about someone breaking in here. Iâve got some work to do. Iâll wait up for a while. I mean, if youâre comfortable with that.â
He looked up at you with puppy dog eyes. You realized in that moment that indeed, he wants to protect you and even though you donât know why, you want him to.
âUm sure,â you responded, turning toward the bedroom. You looked back over your shoulder.
âAndrew,â he corrected.
Something in your chest bloomed.
Feeling safe and emboldened, you walked directly in front of him, leaned down, and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek.
âThank you, Mr. Andrew.â
And that was the first time you saw Andrew Cody smile.
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