“But I want to go,” Coop said.
“You can do what you want, Coopie,” Cammie egged him on, glaring at me. “Big bad Mike Hill will just have to deal with it. Right, guys?” she asked, glancing around and rallying the troops.
Everyone agreed with her and kept razzing me. I was as angry as a murder hornet getting its nest busted apart but had to try and mask my reaction. I was supposedly a teenager as well, and they were right, I did sound like Coop’s father. I was fucked three ways to Sunday no matter what I said or did.
I tucked my tail between my legs and glanced at Coop. “I’d better get you back home now,” I spoke softly, turning to leave.
“I’ll see you guys tomorrow,” Coop said. “Text me when you’re heading over.”
They all cheered while I unlocked the car door, sliding in and pounding my hands against the steering wheel. Coop got in and stared at me like I’dlost my mind.
We were halfway home before either of us spoke. He was stubborn as fuck so I broke the ice. “You’re not going.”
“Yes, I am,” he declared. “What’s up with you? Of course I want you to go, but there’s no reason I can’t go just because you’re working, is there?”
“I just don’t want you to.” I had no ground to stand on but I’d beg if I had to. “Please just don’t go. I . . . I . . . can’t explain why but I need you to stay home, Coop.”
“You’re serious, aren’t you?” he asked, sliding his hand into mine after hearing my quivering voice.
My eyes had welled up when I turned to him. “I’m afraid, Coop. I know I’m acting crazy here, but I’m totally anxious about something right now.”
“Okay, Mikey. I won’t go then.”
His announcement surprised me. “You promise?”
“I promise. You know my word is my word.”
“And you swear? On us?” I asked.
“What is going on? You’re freaking me out, Mikey.”
“I just feel like something bad is going to happen,” I answered. “I know. I know. Mywhateverfeeling probably sounds crazy. I get that, but I’m really scared, Coop.”
“Then I won’t go. Simple as that,” he said, squeezing my hand. His brow furrowed and he looked at me. “Your hand is sweaty, baby.”
Cooper had never called me baby or any nickname except for Mikey. If I’d been in near panic and about to have a full-on anxiety attack before, his endearment crushed my heart. I was so in love with him and what I feared was about to happen. This wastheevent and I was freaking the fuck out.
“I can’t lose you, Coop. I just can’t, and now I’m embarrassed about what just happened in front of our friends.”
“Pull over,” he said, motioning to the road.
I pulled onto the shoulder and shifted the car into park. Cooper leaned over the console and laid his face in the crook of my neck. His free hand ran up and down my arm.
“You are all that matters to me,” he whispered against my skin, his kindvoice pulling on my heartstrings. “You asked me not to go so I’m not going. Do you honestly think I’d ever put our friends before you?” he asked.
I mumbled what I hoped sounded like no.
“I wouldn’t, Mikey. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever,” he vowed.
“I’m not going to work tomorrow,” I said quietly.
His brow twisted again but he quickly relaxed after noting I hadn’t calmed down. “Because of this feeling you have?”
“Yep,” I stated. “Don’t trust it.”
“Would you like to spend the entire day together tomorrow then?” he asked.
“If you can, I’d like that a lot,” I admitted. “Can you stay overnight at my house tonight?”
