Swapping · Chapter 1

Shut Up and Come

By Reggie · October 22, 2026

While reshelving books after the Granbury Public Library closed at 9 pm, Brynn — encouraged by Cody's nudging — asked Reggie to come along to Cody's small Saturday backyard get-together. Reggie deflected twice, first with self-deprecation about fitting in, then with a direct statement that he didn't want to go, but ultimately agreed on explicit terms: he'd come as support for Brynn because she'd told him she's uncomfortable attending coupled friends' gatherings alone. Before committing, Reggie also put Cody on notice about the political friction between Canada and the US and the fact that he's a brown man in a pro-Trump Texas town, giving Cody a clean out. Cody declined it, vouching that nobody would give Reggie trouble under his roof and crediting his wife Kayla as the one who keeps the group in line. Brynn told Reggie to shut up and come; he laughed and accepted. Both Brynn and Cody registered that his yes was reluctant and conditional, not warm — and took it anyway.

Cody

He slots a stack of returned paperbacks onto the cart, glancing over at Brynn with a half-grin.Hey, so — you gonna ask him, or are you just gonna think about asking him all night?

Brynn

She doesn't look up from the call numbers she's reading off spines, deliberate.I'm getting to it. And you can mind your own business while I do.

Cody

It is my business, technically. It's my party. I'm just saying. Clock's ticking.

Reggie

I walk in.I'm done with the philosophy racks. Do you guys need a hand with anything before I go? I'm in no rush.

Brynn

She looks up from the cart, and the timing is so absurd she almost laughs. Almost. She sets the spine she was reading down and turns to face him, composed.Actually, yeah.She glances sideways at Cody just long enough to tell him to stay out of it, then back to Reggie.Cody's having a few people over Saturday. Wade and Tanya, Kayla. I was going to ask if you wanted to come with me. It's nothing big.

Cody

Totally casual. Backyard thing.

Reggie

Oh, that's very kind but I wouldn't dream of imposing. Enjoy your get-together. Do you need a hand with those boxes? They look heavy.

Brynn

She steps forward and takes the box before he can redirect the conversation, sets it on the cart, then looks back at him.You wouldn't be imposing. I'm asking you.She says it plainly, no performance in it.Come with me.

Cody

Boxes are fine, man. We got it.

Reggie

Brynn, if you're asking me because you think I'm lonely, I'm not. If you're asking me because you don't want to go alone and want my support, I will go as your plus one, but I don't fit in here at all. You'll end up looking worse than if you went alone.

Brynn

She holds his gaze for a moment — she expected pushback, just not that particular shape of it. She keeps her voice even.I'm asking you because I want to.A small pause, choosing her words.And I'll decide what I end up looking like.

You fit in with me. That's the part that matters Saturday night.

Reggie

No, let me try again. I don't want to go. No offence at all intended, Cody. You seem very nice. But I don't fit into this town at all and plan to leave it when my contract is over and my goal is to ruffle as few feathers as possible until then. That said, Brynn, you've told me you are feeling uncomfortable about going places alone. If you're asking me to go to support you, I'll go.

Brynn

She looks at him for a moment — the yes she wanted would have been cleaner, but she knows this man well enough by now to know when she's gotten as far as she's going to get. She nods, once.That's what I'm asking.Quietly, no drama in it.Thank you.

Cody

So — Saturday. Seven-ish. I'll text you the address, Brynn. And hey. Glad you're coming, man. Seriously.

Reggie

Cody...just one thing...and I mean this seriously. Canada and the US are on horrible terms. This is Texas. Everyone supports Trump. Are you really sure you want a Canadian, and a brown Canadian to boot, at your home? I'm not trying to stir anything. Just giving you a clean out if you want it.

Cody

He stops what he's doing and looks at Reggie straight, no grin this time — actually considering it for a second, which is more than he usually does with anything.Man. I appreciate that. Genuinely.He shakes his head slowly.But no. Wade might have something dumb to say about hockey or whatever, and Tanya will probably pretend she doesn't notice half the things she notices. But nobody's gonna give you a hard time under my roof. Besides, Kayla would never let me hear the end of it if I was weird about it. She's the one who keeps the rest of us from being idiots.

Reggie

I look at Brynn hoping for some escape. There is none. She tells me to shut up and come.

Brynn

She catches his look. She holds it just long enough to let him know she saw it, then goes back to the cart.Shut up and come.

Cody

He laughs, short and genuine, and picks up the next stack of books.What she said.

Reggie

LaughsOkay. Thank you for inviting me.

Brynn

She doesn't make a big deal of it — just marks it and moves on, pulling another shelf section toward her.Good. And noted, for the record.

Cody

Yeah, yeah. It's still a yes.