AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You played his album in the car the last two times we went out for lunch.” She laughs.
“That was like three weeks ago, Mom. Keep up.”
She rolls her eyes at him, and he returns the gesture while Troy laughs at them both.
“Well, I’ve never heard of either of them.”
Cooper addresses me. “You’ll learn. Half of this town listens to country.”
“Tell me I’m not in LA without telling me I’m not in LA.” I laugh. Some people listen to country, and I know of a few bars near my apartment that cater to it, but I don’t know any songs myself.
I get confirmation Troy has been hesitant about specifically bringing up anything related to moving here by the look in his eyes when it comes up. I appreciate him not wanting to pressure me, but I also want to love it here. I’ve felt like I’m outgrowing California for a while. He doesn’t contribute to the conversation but looks down at the card for the next line.
After two more turns for Cooper and Melissa, it’s our turn. I’m nervous, mainly because I have a feeling it’ll either make me believe Troy and I are as in sync as we think, or our short four months of dating will prove otherwise.
Cooper draws a card. “Ready?” He looks at me and waits for my nod. “Topic is sports gear. A sport where cleats are worn… 3. 2. 1.”
“Football,” Troy and I say at the same time. Easy. I’m about to voice my next thought when Troy cuts me off, reading my mind again. “Mom, do you still have my jersey somewhere?” He shoots me a wink.
I feel my face heat at the possibility of someone catching on to the fact that I only want to see it on him so I can take it off him. Troy takes notice and grins as Melissa says, “Yes, of course. It’s still in the closet where you left it,” without questioning.
“Okay, next!” Cooper pulls our attention back to the game. “A company that makes athletic shoes… 3. 2. 1.”
“Nike,” Troy says as I draw a blank.
“I only wear converse and cycle shoes.” I laugh, feeling like I should have been able to come up with something, but no one makes me feel dumb.
“Nike was founded here. Originally called Blue Ribbon Sports, though.” Cooper shares this fun fact. “It’s basically a requirement to be the go-to for anyone who plays football here, which is something we are also obsessed with.”
That part I knew. Troy somehow convinces his bar to play the Oregon Ducks game every single week, even if a California school is playing. If that doesn’t tell you how charming the man is, I’m not sure what will.
“Okay, a form of protection besides a helmet… 3. 2. 1.”
I know we are on the same page when I see a smirk on Troy’s face the split second before the word “condom” comes out of both our mouths at the same time.
Cooper laughs hard as he falls back onto the floor dramatically.
Melissa is quick to jump in. “So young you still think sex is a sport.” She laughs then adds, “Well at least I know you listen to the things I taught you.” She directs her statement at Troy, more amused than anything. I’d be caught up in how ideal their relationship seems, but I can’t stop thinking about how strange it is to feel so in sync with someone.
I’m only thrown off more when we play a few more rounds and Troy and I have the same responses almost every single time. How on earth we are so in tune with each other, I have no idea. After an hour of back and forth, Troy excuses us, and after saying goodbye to Melissa, Cooper follows behind us.
By the time we get back to Cooper’s house, it’s almost 11 p.m. For being someone who usually goes to bed at two or three in the morning, I am exhausted. We hardly slept at all last night after the concert, and we drove thirteen hours in two days. Troy grabs our bags and walks us to the guest room, which doesn’t feel like a guest room at all.
The closet door is open, and I see a couple of what I’m assuming are Troy’s hoodies hanging there with a few pairs of sweats folded on the shelf above them. The black bedding matches everything on his bed in California, the same blackout shade hangs in the window. If I didn’t know where he actually lived, I’d swear this was his room. “Creature of habit?” I question after I finish my inventory of his room.
“I know what I like.” He grins and takes a step toward me to close the distance between us. Reaching his hands for my waist, he pulls me into him before pressing his lips into mine. “I am surprised it’s exactly how I left it. I told Cooper to rent it.”
I pull back slightly. “It kind of seems like you never left.” I’m more curious than judgmental. He looks nervous at my statement, though, so I add, “It’s okay. You don’t have to tiptoe around the idea of moving here or you loving Oregon. This isn’t only my decision, and it should be based on whether this is what’s best for you too. If it’s what’s best for you, I want to love it here. So, stop holding back.”
“How’d I get so lucky to find you?” he mumbles against my lips before giving me another soft kiss.
“Ummm, you wouldn’t leave me alone. I had no choice but to give in.” I smile into another kiss, but I feel his happiness falter. I pull back. “What is it?”
He shakes his head. He rarely keeps his thoughts to himself. I run my hands up his back, under his shirt and wait. He takes a deep breath. “I was so fucked up after Emily. She wrecked my world.” I can see in his eyes how hard it is for him to recall that time of his life. “A few months ago, I decided I was ready to start dating, but I wasn’t convinced I could be happy in a relationship again. But somehow I found you.” He presses his forehead to mine before lowering his voice. “Whatever we decide about Oregon, what’s most important to me is that we do it together. Some of the people who were supposed to be on my team didn’t take it seriously. But you care about what I might need, you tell me that you love me and it feels like you mean it. You healed what I thought would always be broken, Lexy. I can’t thank you enough for that.”
I pull myself into him, feeling his heartbeat where my head rests on his chest. “You’ve done the same for me,” I whisper.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
