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There was an epic fail.
Luckily, I didn’t choke on the test. The guys were champions at distraction. I had an escort for every class, and this time when I had to slip into the bathroom before lunch, Coop just waited in the hall. The cramps improved, some. The closer we got toward dinnertime, the worse they grew.
Fortunately, Mr. G just left us to read, and I’d finished that re-read of the chapters already, so Jake quizzed me. The distraction only lasted so long. My phone buzzed five minutes before the bell with a message from Mom with the time for dinner and the restaurant. They would be picking me up at six at the house. Oh, and she’d left the dressEddiegot for me on my door.
Jake grimaced when he read the text. “That just reads fucking creepy.”
He was not wrong.
I fired a response back that said I’d meet them at the restaurant. Hopefully, they wouldn’t be there when I got home.
The singleKin response wasn’t comforting.
Jake walked me out to the parking lot, and it was weird that we didn’t head to where my car was but toward Archie’s. Coop and Ian were already there with Archie waiting. We had to keep the goodbyes brief, but I wished them both luck on the game whether Jake was sitting it out or not.
“Take care of her,” Ian said to Archie.
“I planned on it, we’ll check in later.”
“I promise,” I said. “This time, I really will check in and not forget. I’ve been crap about it.”
“You’ve been distracted, baby girl,” Jake said quietly, the corner of his mouth kicking up. “As long as we know you’re okay.”
There wasn’t much else to say in the crowded lot, so I gave them quick hugs, then slid into the car. Coop leaned forward between the seats as Archie headed out of the lot.
“Do you know where you’re going?”
“My mom said Rosewood. The reservation is for seven.”
“That’s all the way on the edge of Fort Worth.”
“I know,” I said.
“And exclusive,” Archie commented with a wry twist of his mouth. “Edward’s going all out.”
“Well, I told them I’d meet them. So I’m kind of hoping they’re not at the house.”
“Wanna give me your extra key in case I need to check on the cats for you tonight?” Coop offered, and I twisted to look at him.
“Will you?”
“Not a problem. I don’t want you worrying about them.”
“You guys probably think I’m being stupid. They’re cats, they’ll be fine if I just leave them water and food. Mom made me lock them in my room this morning, so I moved the litter box, but…”
“It’s not stupid,” Archie told me, one hand on my thigh. “Seriously, Frankie, you love your cats. You’re allowed to worry and right now, there’s a lot about this situation that makes me uncomfortable. The thing with your cats is not it.”
“Nope, you love the little furballs. So grab the key and give it to me, and I’ll swing by. Then if you skip out and stay at Archie’s tonight, I’ll sneak in and make sure they’re okay.”
“Thank you.” When we got to the apartments, the very first thing I did once we were out of the car was to hug Coop. He wrapped me up in a firm, if gentle hug. I didn’t care about the heat or the mugginess.
Coop cupped the back of my head and rubbed a hand between my shoulder blades as I pressed my face to his throat. I sighed, leaning there for a long moment.
“Take all the time you need,” Archie said. “I mean, I don’t mind standing here, all by myself, not getting hugged for being a superhero like Coop because he promised to take care of your pussy.”
There was an absolute beat of silence, then Coop snickered and I couldn’t stop the laughter welling up.
“You are awful,” I told Archie as I turned my head, but didn’t pull away from Coop.
