Page 70 of Hating On Riot

Pissed off that he’s bringing her up now, I rush over to the girl just as she sprints toward me. I take her out with a dart to the chest and duck to avoid hers.

“We won! We fucking won!” Coop’s bellows draw the rest of our class in.

He wraps me up in his arms. He holds me above him, his hands cradling my hips. I look down at him. He’s all I see. His blue eyes shine. His dark blond hair is a tousled mess. His grin is boyish. He’s so handsome. He took charge of running the game like a champ.

“I’m so proud of you, Coop.”

He slides my body down his.

“I’m proud of you too, Arie.”

He lowers his head. I see it all in slow motion. I should’ve stopped him, but this needed to happen. We have to know. After four years, Coop and I have to know whether there could be more between us. I don’t think about my promise to Riot. I don’t think too hard about why Hope is in the crowd. I wait with bated breath.

Coop crushes his mouth over mine. I suck in a breath. He slides his tongue in my mouth. My body doesn’t turn to mush. My heart doesn’t go haywire when he cups my face and deepens the kiss. My toes don’t curl.

“Anything?” he murmurs against my mouth.

“Nothing,” I say. “You? And be honest, Coop.” I grab him by the collar.

“Nothing,” he says, smiling.

“Thank goodness.” I sigh in relief.

“Thank goodness,” he echoes.

Before we can put any space between us, Cooper is grabbed by the arm and yanked away from me. Then there’s a resounding slap. Cooper’s hand flies to his cheek. Hope stomps her feet. “You’re a jerk. A lying, cheating mess of a jerk.”

She runs off toward the library. Coop hurries after her. I follow. Riot keeps pace alongside me. The rest of our class disperses.

Hope finally stops in front of Cooper’s truck. Riot and I sneak over to his truck. We shouldn’t eavesdrop, but we’re fully invested in Cooper’s happily-ever-after, though I’m not sure about ours. Tension and anger roll off Riot like he’s a ticking time bomb, ready to go off at any moment.

“Hope.” Cooper reaches for her.

She shirks away from him.

“Baby, I love you.”

“That wasn’t love back there, Coop. That was betrayal, pure and simple.”

Sighing, he runs his fingers through his sweat-dampened hair.

“I thought long and hard about what would bring you back to me. What would make you give me another chance. You’re pissed at me for my friendship with Arie. You don’t believe me when I say nothing happened between us. We kissed, publicly, Hope, and I felt nothing. Me kissing Arie is the proof you need, isn’t it?”

Her next words are so low that Riot leans into me as I lean forward, bent at the waist and holding onto the side mirror of Riot’s truck.

“Yes.” She rushes to Cooper and wraps her arms around his waist. “I’ve missed you. I love you. I've always loved you.”

He holds on tight to her, one palm on the back of her head and his other arm slung over the small of her back. “I’ve missed you too, sunshine. Love you so much. I can comfort you now with touch, with my body, my mouth, every part of me because I’ve learned from someone whose love language is physical touch.” He looks in our direction. We duck, but Coop is onto us. “Come out, you two.”

Riot pushes me forward then follows me. I glare at him. He glowers back. I’m in deep shit. Crap!

“Hi, Hope.” I do a little wave.

She slips out of Cooper’s arms and pulls me into a hug. I relax against her. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Thank you, Arie.”

“Do you need anything from us? Now that the game’s over, I’ll get my stuff from Coop’s house.”