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Carson doesn’t come back by the time Jackson and Cooper win. The people who all seem to know Cooper crowd around him, cheering. Jackson tugs him out of the circle and makes his way over to me and Simone.
“Bro, tell me why I had to cover for your ass? You never miss. I don’t know what’s up with you,” Jackson says.
“I dunno, just off my game tonight.” Cooper’s eyes flick to me, then cut away. He pulls off his hat and scrubs at his scalp, messing his hair up. “Too tired after my shift today I guess.”
“Did you see my last shot?” Jackson asks us with a big grin. “It sailed right in.”
“It was pretty cool,” I say.
Jackson tugs me against his side with a laugh and puts an arm over my shoulder. “I’m about ready to roll out. Come on, Simone. I’ll give you a ride back.” He bumps his fist against Cooper’s. “You hanging longer or heading out?”
Cooper doesn’t answer right away, glancing at me. “I might chill for another hour.”
I roll my lips between my teeth and allow my brother to steer me to the car. Right. Cooper is the party guy. He could have his pick of any girl here to keep his bed warm tonight. It’s not like he has to go because I’m leaving. This isn’t a date.
Despite saying he’s staying, he follows us out to the lot where everyone parked.
“I had fun tonight,” I say.
Cooper grunts, offering a tight smile. “Good.”
“Next time there’s a party, don’t say no and change your mind last minute,” Simone says. “We want you to come out.”
Jackson makes a noise of agreement while he digs his keys out of his pocket. Simone and Jackson get in the car, but I pause with the door open. Cooper shoves his hands in his pockets, watching me. Our eyes meet. Without him, I really wouldn’t have come to this party. I mouththank youand get in the car.
As we leave Mariner’s Cove behind, Simone watches TikToks on her phone in the back seat. Jackson fiddles with the bluetooth connection to his Spotify.
“You could’ve told me you wanted to go to the party. I wouldn’t have left you home.”
I shrug, unsure how to navigate my cover story with my brother. “It’s fine. You already left, I didn’t want to call you back. Cooper happened to be heading out when I decided I wanted to go.”
“You hung out with him a lot. Dancing.”
“I didn’t really know anyone, and he didn’t want to leave me alone. He promised to watch out for me. Then we ran into Simone.”
He swipes a hand over his mouth and lets it go.
Simone leans into the passenger window when we reach her house and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “See you, babe. Glad you were there tonight!”
I laugh at the shimmying dance she does as she backs away from the car to get to the porch of her bungalow-style house.
Jackson doesn’t stop giving me the side-eye after we drop Simone off. I pretend not to notice, because my brother wouldn’t know subtle if it was a huge wave crashing over him. We make it all the way home with his eyes shifting to me every twenty seconds. Before the car comes to a stop, I throw open my door.
“Tate—wait a minute,” he huffs.
“Gotta pee!” Classic excuse to run inside and shut myself in the bathroom until something distracts him.
Once I'm through the door, I halt. Mom stands at the island mixing a fresh batch of her homemade lemonade.
“Mom. Hey.”
She smiles and I lose some of the anxious edge I’m balanced on. “Did you go out?”
“Yes.” My eyes widen. “With Jackson. He was there.”
Mom hums in approval and nods. “That’s good. I’m glad he watches out for you.”
“Sorry I didn’t tell you.”
