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Luckily the glass broke into a few big chunks, so it’s an easy mess to clean. Jess wipes a wet rag over the counter just to be safe and then sets a shot glass in front of me. Reaching for the tequila, she tips the bottle over until the clear liquid is level with the rim of the glass. “I texted Cooper to come get you,” she says, not concerned with me or my response.
I scan the room and spot Emily in the corner booth by the billiards room leaned over the table, whispering to my ex best friend. I take a breath as I bring my attention back to Jess. “Thanks,” I mumble. I tap the shot to the bar then shoot back the alcohol before pushing the glass forward for another.
Twenty minutes later, my phone buzzes with Cooper’s name lighting up the screen. I drop a couple twenties on the bar top for Jess, and when she looks my way, I give her a slight nod as I leave.
The windows of his black 4Runner are rolled down, so I can clearly see Cooper sitting in the driver's seat, his hand draped over the steering wheel. His U of O sweatshirt hood is pulled over his worn-in, black Nike hat, but I can see his face enough to note the familiar look of pity in his eyes.
I open the door and slide into the passenger seat.
Twisting the volume dial left, Cooper turns the country music down to a hardly audible level. “Do you want to talk about it?” he asks before checking his blind spot and pulling into the street.
“Not really.” I scrub my hands up my face. He doesn’t fight me on it. “It’s just… it fucking sucks.”
“I know,” is all he says, and we drive the ten minutes back to our house. He pulls into the driveway and turns off the car before turning to me. “I think maybe you should consider taking your cousin up on his offer early. You could transfer to a school in California.”
“You think it will be this bad for that long?” I groan.
“I don’t know, man. Maybe I’m the wrong person to ask, but I think sometimes the only option is to distance yourself.” He sighs, gripping my shoulder and squeezing before letting go. I have a feeling he’s right.
“I’ll get through this year. I’ll be fine. Then if I need to leave, I’ll go.”
“Okay,” he says.
CHAPTER TWO
TROY
Threemonthslater(December)
“Are you sure Sophie won’t be here?” I ask Cooper as we get out of my car where I just parked on the dark street. I wanted to go to this party tonight specifically because Marcus and Dean throw low-key, no drama parties. Lately we’ve been to ragers, and I’m over it.
“I don’t think so. Dean has a sweet and innocent view of his sister, and she likes it that way, so she won’t party around him,” he says as he slides his hands into the pocket of his black hoodie.
“Well, that works out for us.” Where there is Sophie, there is drama–at least when it comes to Cooper, and me by association. “Maybe you’ll actually have a good time tonight without worrying about her. Hell, maybe you’ll meet someone new.” I know he’s still hung up on Sophie, but if she’s moving on, so should he. If I can at leasttryto get back out there after a four year relationship blowing up, he can too. Especially since their relationship was hardly even official.
“Doubt it. It’s always the same people.” We walk up the gravel driveway then veer around the side of the house, following the sound of crackling flames toward a bonfire so big it lights our path from a few hundred feet away.
Before I have a chance to shift Cooper’s attitude, Marcus stops in front of us, a full, red Solo cup in his hand. “Hey, Troy. Coop.” Even from this distance, the fire lights him from the side, his well-built frame and man bun casting a shadow on the grass.
“Hey, man,” Coop and I say in unison. Marcus lives here with Dean, whose parents have owned the house next to Cooper’s parents forever. We aren’t super close, but because I’ve lived with the Montgomerys since I was ten, we’ve all spent a decent amount of time together. “Big turnout tonight,” I say, not recognizing as many people as I expected.
“Yeah, it seems no one left for winter break this year, and I think Dean’s girl brought some friends again.”
I hit Cooper’s arm and get an eye roll in return for insinuating again he could meet someone new tonight. “Oh yeah, I heard he’s with someone. Weird as shit. I’ve never known him to have a girlfriend.”
Marcus chuckles. “Yeah, it’s strange. But they’re great together. We’ll see what happens.” The energy shift in his last statement seems contradictory to the previous one and piques my interest, but I don’t push the subject.
“Well, good to see you, man. We’re gonna get some drinks.”
“Sounds good. I’ll catch up with you in a bit,” Marcus says with a wave, taking off down the grassy hill.
“I’ll grab you a beer. Go talk to a girl or something,” I tell Cooper.
“Yes, Dad.” He shakes his head at me, irritation rolling off him. Then he chuckles and heads toward the fire.
I make my way to the back patio, knowing I’ll find a couple coolers full of drinks. I pull two cans of beer out of the half melted ice. Fuck, that’s cold. I stand, shifting both beers to the same hand, so I can dry the other one on my sweatshirt. Looking up to make my way back to Coop, my gaze is met with a nice ass in tight blue jeans. Damn.
My gaze shifts upward, and it only takes a split second to realize I know her, which is shocking considering the limited time we’ve spent together. I haven’t seen Maci since the party at my fraternity’s house over a month ago, which was the first time I’d seen her since I ghosted her after our date two months prior to that. I felt like such a dick for pretending our date never happened and acting like we’d never met, but it felt like my only option at the time. I didn’t know how to explain to her I just wasn’t ready. What 21 year old dude is pathetic enough to stay hung up on an ex who couldn’t care less about him? What’s that expression? The best way to get over someone is to get under someone else. I thought for a split second that might help me, but Maci deserved more than that. She’s not rebound material, she’s girlfriend material.
