Page 31 of Can We Just Be Happy Now?

“No, I do. It’s just . . . I overheard some of Troy’s friends talking at our Fourth of July party a couple of weeks ago.”

This can’t be good.

“One of them was talking about having sex in the bathroom at a party with some girl he didn’t know. Another said he got a blow job from two different girls on the same night.”

I’ve hung out with Troy’s new friends a few times during his first year of college. They are fun, but their idea of a good time doesn’t always align with mine. It’s part of what has me concerned for the fraternity. “So . . . what are you saying?”

“I don’t know, I’m not like that.”

“Neither am I. I don’t want to just fuck in a bathroom, Sophie.” I pause. “Okay, maybe that’s something we can do someday.” Wait. “Is that why we ended up sneaking away before the fireworks?” I only fingered her, something I’d already done a few days earlier when I moved into my house, but my stomach drops at the thought of her feeling she had to do something.

She refocuses her gaze on where we connect on the swing. “Kind of.”

The air feels like it’s sucked from my lungs. “Sophie.” I grip her face between my hands. “I would never want you to do something you don’t want.”

“I know. I still wanted to do it on my own. I’m comfortable with the step we took. I’m just worried the things I’m ready for won’t be enough when you could have so much more.”

I force her chin up with my thumbs so she’s looking at me. “There is nothing I want more than you.”

Her head falls to my chest and she nods against it. “Thanks, Coop,” is all she says as I wrap my arms around her, resuming a slow swinging motion. A knot forms in the pit of my stomach, and knowing we have a party coming up with those same guys, I have a feeling it isn't going to untangle anytime soon.

Chapter eighteen

COOPER

THEN

T-minus five minutes until the first party at mine and Troy’s house, and I’m almost done getting ready. The slip ‘n slide unrolls a few times when I kick it, but it’s more folded up than rolled so it gets caught in our uneven backyard grass. I reach down to unroll it myself, looking up when the opposite side is tugged along with mine.

A smile instantly hits my face. “Hey, Soph.” I drop the tarp and cross the four feet of grass between us. I can’t get enough of her and want to soak up every moment I can before school gets in the way.

“Hey, Coop,” she manages to get out right before my kiss cuts her off.

I pull back to look at her. I’m already in nothing but my maroon boardshorts hanging on my hips. Sophie shamelessly takes me in in a way she’s never blatantly done. She looks equally as stunning. Her bare stomach does something different to me as I take in her white jean shorts and yellow bikini top. A stream of sunlight sparkles across her body as she twists all of her hair around her hand, pulling it to one side.

“Coop, helloooooo.” She waves her hand in front of my face with a giggle.

It’s not until her voice breaks me out of thought that I realize I’m biting into my fist. I pull my hand away from my face and reach for her hips, thumbs smoothing over the bare skin along the hem of her shorts. “Jesus Christ, Sophie. What are you trying to do to me?”

She grins and loops her arms around my neck. “You’re the one throwing a slip ‘n slide party. Did you expect me to show up in something else?”

“I don’t know what I thought. I can’t think at all.”

“You’ve seen me in a swimsuit before,” she says, closing the remaining distance between us. The skin of our stomachs touch for the first time ever, our bodies sticking together slightly with the heat, and I internally praise the extra hot temperature for August.

“Not since I’ve been able to touch you.” I groan.

The way she fills out her bikini top.

The way her shorts hang on her hips when they are usually covered by a dress.

My hands skim up her back, getting caught on the ties of her suit. I wish I could tug them off. The thought of seeing her completely naked for the first time is more than I can handle.

A stream of cold water from the hose hits me straight in the head, soaking me and saving me from the wet dream worthy vision in front of me. Brushing the water from my eyes, I glance up to see Troy with his thumb across the end of the hose and glare at him. “You’re a dick,” I yell across the yard.

“Am I, though?” He’s got a shit-eating grin on his face like he knows he’s my personal superhero right now. Sophie giggles as she wipes water off her face, bringing my attention back to her.

“You’re going to get me into trouble, missy.”

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