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“Excuse me.” I push Cooper’s arm off me. “I’m not interested in sleeping with anyone tonight, nor do I need your pity. I can handle myself.”
“Aw, why you gotta be like that?” Cooper teases. “But seriously, you should come with us. I won’t hit on you, I promise. I’ll even introduce you to our friends.”
“No, you won’t.” Ethan is full of attitude about this and I have no idea where it’s coming from. Honestly, it’s not as if I want to crash their fun, but what’s the big deal if I meet their friends? I’ve met a few of Coop’s girls, haven’t I? And I was seen at the party. I’m no surprise to anyone at this point. Not that I care.
I study them, noting that their casual clothing probably costs a fortune, that Cooper’s longer tousled hair and Ethan’s shorter dark crop both fit perfectly with their personalities. But it’s the way their eyes are both so intense that gets to me the most. Even if one set is brown and the other blue, they’re both able to rope me in without even trying.
Ethan is gorgeous in an obvious heart-stopping way and Cooper has that devil-may-care personality that makes his rugged good looks even better. They’re definitely brothers, but they’re also so different. Subtly in appearance but night and day in personality. Doesn’t matter, I can’t forget that they’re two sides to the same coin. If push comes to shove, they’re going to look out for each other and not for me.
“I don’t know. If your friends are anything like Bree, I think I’m good on my own tonight.”
“He means our male friends,” Ethan deadpans. “He wants to hook you up with one of them. It’s Cooper’s way. He wants to have sex, but he also wants everybody else to be having sex.”
Cooper grins. “Sex is my love language.”
I scoff and elbow him, but he doesn’t budge. “And that’s why you want to introduce me to your guy friends?”
“I gotta make it up to you for what happened last week. Might as well have a good time the rest of the summer, right? You’re off work every night, go enjoy yourself.”
“Your friends are douchebags,” Ethan interjects. “They’re not good enough for Arden.”
Warmth blooms in my chest and Cooper rolls his eyes. “Our friends are not all douchebags and you know it.” He elbows me softly. “Ethan just wants you for himself.”
Ethan grimaces and walks faster, disappearing into the crowds of people heading toward the beach and leaving us behind. Cooper and I walk together in the same direction, while my mind swirls. He called me baby.
“What’s his problem?” I finally ask.
Cooper sighs. “It’s complicated.”
“You really think he wants me for himself?”
Cooper’s face is unreadable but then a sly grin takes over. “Damn, you want him.”
“No, I don’t.”
“It’s alright, everyone does.”
“He’s a jerk. I don’t want him.”
“Whatever you say.”
“I do say.”
“Alright, well in that case, I was just teasing Ethan before. He’s messed up and doesn’t want anyone right now. It’s a long story.”
“I’ve got time.”
He laughs. “I’m sure you do, but it’s not mine to tell.”
I nod. Fair enough. The mystery that is Ethan King lives another day.
“But if you want to fuck,” Cooper continues. “I’m down. Or I can hook you up with one of my friends. The offer still stands.”
Ethan was right, Cooper’s friends really do sound like douchebags. Also, so does Cooper, but I bite my tongue because Cooper is also being friendly and I need a friend. Is he gorgeous and does the idea of sex with him intrigue me? Absolutely. But I also know the kind of guy he is when it comes to girls, and I’m not interested in something like that. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself . . . ugh, why do I care so much?
“There are other ways to have fun, you know. It doesn’t all have to be about sex.”
Cooper just laughs. “You sound like a virgin.”
