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“I wouldn’t have missed it. I’m so excited for you, Cooper.”
“Thanks.” He reaches out and tucks a stray hair behind my ear. “Tomorrow, we’re sight-seeing all day. If the parents don’t want to go, we’ll leave them here. But you and me, we’re painting this town.”
I laugh. “Sounds like a plan to me. Night, Coop.”
He leans in, and my heart skips a beat thinking he’s going to kiss me, but at the last minute, his lips veer and press to my cheek. “Night, Reese.”Chapter 21CooperThis is the last night in the house. The guys and I are all moving away. We’re going home to spend some time with our families before we have to report to training camp. We also need to find places to live in our respective new cities. So, that means tonight we’re having a party. Not your typical party. No, this one is more low-key. Now that we have four professional league contracts to maintain, we don’t need any crazy shit happening. We sure as hell don’t need any fucking cleat chasers. They’ve been following all four of us all over campus. Hell, graduation last week was a nightmare. No, tonight is just going to be our core group of friends. One last hurrah, if you will, before we all go our separate ways.
“I’m going out to get the alcohol. What does Reese want?”
“She said she would bring her own.”
“You sure?” Dustin asks.
“Go ahead and grab her some White Claw.” I reach into my pocket and pull out some money and hand it to him.
“Nix said that Tess and Reese are making dinner. We need anything else?”
“No,” Tessa says, walking into the room. We’re all set. Reese is just waiting on Hunter to get to her place, and they’re heading over.”
Fucking Hunter. I want to hate the guy, but from what I can tell, he’s good to her. He’s not jealous of our relationship. Not that he should be. Hell, I feel as though I’ve barely seen her these past few weeks. Life is passing by at a rapid rate. I was hoping he wasn’t coming with her. I just wanted a night to chill with my best friend, and our other best friends, before I leave and life gets even crazier.
“All right, well, if that changes, just text me,” Dustin tells her. Out of the five of us that live here, he’s the only one that didn’t declare for the draft. He’s always said that wasn’t his end game. Turns out, it’s nice to be able to send him on runs. Sure, the cleat chasers try to latch on, hoping to get an invite, but Dustin is a big dude, and he can be scary as hell if you don’t know him. He doesn’t get approached nearly as often as we do.
It’s just here on campus and around town where we’re noticed all the time. I’m sure when I head to my parents’ tomorrow, it will be that way with people that recognize me, but when I get to Indy, I’ll just be me—Cooper Reeves, running back for the Indianapolis Defenders.
I still can’t fucking believe it.
“You going to behave tonight?” Tessa asks me.
“What?”
“You heard me, Reeves.” She plants her hands on her hips and gives me her best “mom” look.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I do, but I’m not going to admit that to her.
“Hunter,” she sighs. “You need to be good.”
“Aren’t I always?”
“No. You’re an idiot most days. You let the best thing that ever happened to you slip from your fingers because of fear.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” I stand from the couch to head to my room to finish packing.
“I do know what I’m talking about. You might have everyone else fooled… hell, you even have her fooled, but I see you, Cooper. I see the way you watch her. The way no other woman gets your attention. Just her.”
“You have my attention,” I counter lamely.
“I do. Because I’m talking about her.”
“No. It’s because you are my best friend’s fiancée and my other best friend’s best friend.” Yeah, it’s a complicated mess. “For that, you have my respect and my attention.”
“Well then, since I have your full attention, let me tell you this. One day, Cooper Reeves, you’re going to wake up and realize that she’s gone. You’re going to regret your choice to push her away.”
“I didn’t push her away.”
She gives a “don’t lie to me” look. “I want you to promise me something.” She waits for me to agree, but I don’t. Instead, I just stare at her. “When that day finally arrives and you pull your head out of your ass, if she’s happy, you need to promise me you will let her be happy.”
“That’s all I want for her. I want her to be happy.”
