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r face. “You coming?”
His breath lodged in his throat, and then he followed her. He had a habit of doing that. Following her around. If he was a lesser man, it just might bother him.
But he wasn’t, and it didn’t. And they might not have long together—only one more day, really—but until he walked away?
He’d be at her side, no holds barred.
Chapter Sixteen
Kayla flopped over in the middle of the field flat on her back and stared up at the clouds. It was going to rain any second now, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. All day long, she and Cooper had been laughing and having fun.
Yet that happiness was overshadowed by the fact that he was leaving. She wasn’t going to pretend otherwise. She liked him, and she couldn’t help but wonder if they could become something real—more real than stolen moments and a fake relationship—if only they had more time together.
She’d always doubted there was someone out there that would make her want to settle down. To try a traditional relationship. But Cooper had made her reconsider her ways. He’d said he didn’t want to leave a girl behind…but could she change his mind?
And if she could, was she really okay with being that girl left behind?
He lay down beside her. Their heads were side by side, so she rolled hers to the left to face him. He was watching her intently, seeming to be as contemplative as she was. Was he thinking the same thing?
Did he not want to say good-bye, either?
He cupped the back of her head and kissed her, sweet and tender. She let her eyes drift shut, enjoying the moment. He ended it way too soon, pulling back and watching her with his warm green eyes. “We have to be at your parents’ house in an hour.”
“I know.”
Then out of the blue, he asked, “If you could go anywhere at Christmas time—if money was no object—where would you go? Think about it before answering.”
She hesitated. She’d never really thought about it before. Had been too busy visiting family and all that, but if she had the choice? “Why Christmas time?”
“The cities are always all lit up and decorated.” He shrugged. “Seemed as good a time as any.”
“Oh.” She thought on it. “England. I’ve never been there, but Christmas time seems like a good time to go.”
He laughed lightly. “You realize you’d have to fly. Like, I think it’s safe to say you’d have a one hundred percent chance of flying.”
“Nothing is one hundred percent.” She met his eyes. “Like, ever. It’s not a realistic number.”
“I think that is,” he said dryly.
“By the time I actually get to go? Who knows, there could be a new way. Teleporting or something. Or maybe even a good old fashioned ocean liner cruise.” She shot him a grin. “Like I said. Nothing is one hundred percent.”
“You told your dad that you were behind me one hundred percent,” he pointed out.
“Yeah, but I was just playing the part.” She pursed her lips. “What about you? Where would you go?”
He shrugged. “I’d go somewhere warm. The Caribbean, maybe.”
“Mm. That sounds nice, too. Blue water. Warm sand.”
“Indeed,” he said, his voice soft.
They both fell silent. She looked back up at the sky, watching the clouds. She’d swear the one above their heads looked like a heart.
Seriously, a heart.
What the hell had happened to her lately? She pictured her sister from last night, glowing with happiness as Max kissed her on the stage. They looked so happy. So normal. Did she really want that all of a sudden? It seemed too fast. Too much.
Cooper interrupted her thoughts. “What do you see up there? You look really focused on something.”
