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Dad smirks, wrapping an arm around Mom’s waist. “Don’t keep her out too late.”
Mom grins, pinching his side.
“Dad, come on,” I beg, cheeks flushed.
Cooper ducks his head and clears his throat. The tips of his ears are pink at my parents’ teasing. I’m still surprised they accepted Cooper casually asking me out on a date at dinner so readily. And I won’t even touch Mom’s comment about always thinking there would be something between us.
Nodding, I allow him to lead me out the door into the warm summer evening, the sky awash in pinks and purples. We pass Jackson in the driveway. He watches us closely, no longer as angry as I last saw him. I exhale in relief that I didn’t come between my brother and his best friend.
Cooper squeezes my hand and we continue down to the street, strolling aimlessly. We make it to the corner before I finally speak up.
“So…” I gulp when he pins me with his sultry brown eyes. “We’re off to a great start of being friends.”
His grip on my hand tightens and his eyes flash. “I told you, I can’t be your friend, baby.” He tugs me closer, bringing his lips to my ear. “Do I need to repeat what happened after I said that? Because there isn’t a second of the day I don’t want to be inside you.”
My breath catches and I sway into him, shivering at the memory of last night. His deep chuckle wraps around me. “Ok, but seriously. I thought we were going to figure this out together and strategize out how to end it. Now we’re dating? And I’m the last to know?”
Sighing, he plants a kiss on my temple. “I knew it was stressing you that Jacks was bent out of shape over this, so I came over for dinner to talk to him.” He pulls me to a stop and takes me by the shoulders. “I’m proposing we change the plan. We’re going to pretend we’re together.”
My brows shoot up. “Why?”
“Why, she says?” An amused huff leaves him and he adjusts his signature backwards cap, shaking his head. “Babe, I need you to realize what a catch you are. Any guy would be lucky to pretend to be your man, let alone actually date you.” My cheeks heat and I open my mouth. He grasps my jaw, dipping his head into my space. “But they don’t get you. Not while you’re mine. Only me.”
“Coop,” I breathe.
For a moment, I believe his rumbled words and the possessiveness threaded into them. It’s insane to think a guy like him would want to claim me.
His eyes bounce between mine, then drop to my mouth. “Last night you said it was win-win if we stopped, but I call bullshit. It’s win-win if we keep this going. It’s the perfect cover, and…” Trailing off, he swipes his thumb across my lip. “I want people to stop thinking thirst trap and fuckboy when they see me. I want a reformed image.”
“Reformed,” I echo. “But why do you need me to do that? You could pick any girl. You could get a real girlfriend and just put your best foot forward.”
His forehead rests against mine. “T, for someone so smart, a lot goes over your head. When I’m with you, I don’t have to freak out about what to do next, because I know you’re there to talk it out with me. I trust you. When I’m around you, I’m able to focus and see the future more clearly. You help me be the kind of man I want to be. That’s why it’s gotta be you, baby.”
I’m taken aback, a warm glow expanding in my chest.
Cooper’s fingers sink into my hair, massaging my scalp in the way that makes me melt. I become putty in his hands. It occurs to me we’re not hiding anything right now, standing on our street corner in the golden rays of the evening. I put my hands on his chest, enjoying the slight ripple of his firm muscles.
“This way we don’t have to sneak around. Do you have any problem with faking it with me?”
There’s a hint of vulnerability in his question that pierces my heart, making me forget my own concerns. What he’s saying makes sense, and I get the vibe like he’s not going to let this go.
He’s helped me this far with an even crazier deal than what he’s asking of me right now. I want to help him, too.
“No, I don’t have a problem.”
“Good. By the way, our first date was the bonfire. Jacks made me tell him how long, and I figured it was the easiest thing to remember since it was when it all started.” He pauses, offering me a lopsided smile. “Check your Instagram and my TikTok profile.”
He waits while I pull my phone from the back pocket of my cut-offs. The Instagram notification is on my lock screen, so I check it first, eyes widening when it takes me to his profile and shows my username next to a heart. Switching to TikTok, I find the same, rolling my lips between my teeth.
“Um.” I peek at him. “I’m mentioned in your bio.”
“Exactly. Tag me in yours, too. I’m yours and you’re mine, T.”
A flutter moves through me and I feel like I’ve stepped into a dream world as I enter his handle into my bio.
I bite my lip. “What about me being prepared for college?”
Cooper smirks, and it sends warmth into my veins. “You’ll be more prepared this way.” He grasps my waist and tugs me against him, his words taking on a slight growl. “I’ll be able to stay close to you and ease you into college life. Real world experience, T. Isn’t that the kind of learning you thrive on? Parties, the social scene—all of it. Consider me your training wheels college boyfriend.”
