Page 40 of Can We Just Be Happy Now?

“I’ll grab you a beer. Go talk to a girl or something,” Troy harasses me.

“Yes, Dad.” I shake my head with irritation before breaking into a grin. Marcus did say there are new girls at the party tonight. Maybe I will meet someone to get my mind off Sophie. I keep my hopes up as I walk across the grass toward the bonfire.

I spend the next few minutes chatting with guys I played football with in high school. Troy slipped a beer in my hand at some point then walked off.

When my friends escape to get a drink, they are quickly replaced by Dean, who has a girl tucked into his side. “Cooper, hey,” Dean says, pulling away from his girl long enough to bro hug me. “You remember Maci?” He guides her into my field of vision without his hand leaving her lower back. I was a little distracted when I met her at the football game–the one where I found out Sophie was seeing JT–so I take a better look at her now. She’s cute. Her brown hair falls over her shoulders covered in Dean’s high school football sweatshirt, and she’s looking at him like he’s her entire world. Damn. I’ve never seen him attached to a girl. Not his girlfriend, my ass. I chuckle to myself at his denial, wondering what the missing piece to this puzzle is that will make his claim make sense.

“Yeah, I do. Hey. It’s good to see you.”

“You too,” Maci says before she gives Dean a look. He kisses her and whispers something against her lips before she waves goodbye. He watches her walk away then turns his attention back to me.

“How’s it going?” my ex’s brother asks. Jesus Christ, I can’t go five fucking seconds without thinking about her. I miss the days when I saw him as my childhood neighbor, practically family. Now he seems like someone I should be estranged with after a breakup.

“You okay?” Dean chuckles.

Why do I feel like I’m about to tell a dad I’m obsessed with his daughter? I honestly don’t know how we haven’t had this conversation before. It’s never come up. As far as I’m aware, he doesn’t know the details of Sophie and me dating. He was already out of the house the first summer we were together and we’ve never been close enough to share dating stories. Still, I should have said something years ago. I bite the bullet. “I’d be better if I wasn’t in love with your sister.”

Beer mists out of his mouth as he chokes on his sip. He coughs a few times until his throat clears. “Sorry, I was not expecting that.”

“Are you pissed?” I ask hesitantly, tugging on the back of my neck.

“Hell no. I'm a little confused why it’s a bad thing. Carter and I have been taking bets for years. We knew you had a ‘thing,’ but I didn’t realize it was ever serious between you two.”

“Yeaaaah. We aren’t on the same page.” I try my best not to look guilty of seeing his sister naked. I thought Sophie was the one, but it doesn’t seem like that’s in the cards for us anymore. “I have to get over her, though. I’m trying to anyway.” I’m not sure if that’s the right thing to say to the brother of the one who got away, but it’s what comes out.

“Making a little more sense why Thanksgiving was weird. I’m sorry it didn’t work out with you two.”

“Thanks. Me too. If only things were more black and white.”

“Yeah, if only.” He hesitates on his words like they are more loaded than they look at face value, but it sweeps away as he changes the subject. “Well, I was actually told to ask if you were open to being set up. Maci has a friend.”

“Oh, really?” I wasn’t expecting him to ask me that, especially after what I confessed. I am a little intrigued, but I feel guilty at the same time because I’m obviously not over Sophie.

“Yeah, I don’t know much about her, but she seems cool. How do you feel about it? No pressure. Just have to ask. You know how it is when girls get ideas.” He chuckles like it's an annoying trait, but I can see in his eyes he’d do anything Maci asked him.

“Do you think it’s fucked up to date if I’m not over her? I’m going to get over her, right?” I chuckle, the second question more rhetorical and to myself than Dean.

“I hope so.” He looks dejected like he’s speaking from experience which makes no sense based on the way he was looking at Maci a minute ago.

“Me too.” I sigh, bringing my beer to my lips.

His hand lands on my shoulder. “Look. It’s not my business what went down between you and Sophie. But if she’s moved on, maybe you should too.”

Dean’s probably right, and maybe this is the push I need. Clearly she isn’t invested in our relationship. So, fuck it. “You know what? Let’s do it. Sophie and I have been over for a while now. I have to move on at some point.”

His energy lightens when he shifts his gaze to something behind me. Chuckling, he nods slightly, and I know when I turn around Maci and her friend will be behind us. It feels like we’re in high school, but it’s kind of amusing.

“Hi.” Maci rejoins us, leaning into Dean immediately. “Cooper, this is my friend, Kylie. Kylie, Cooper.” She grins. “Alright, we’ll see you two later. Bye.” The words come out rushed as she tugs on Dean’s arm, pulling him away before we’d even have a chance to stop them.

I chuckle. “That was smooth.”

Kylie is just as amused. “That’s Maci for you–not awkward at all. Gotta love her.”

The flames from the fire next to us flicker in Kylie’s light green eyes. Her blonde hair barely hits her shoulders and directs my attention to the V-neck of her olive green sweater. Her black leggings hug her thighs and her short black boots make her barely under my height. The sparkle of the red gloss on her lips catch in the firelight as she takes a sip from her Solo cup. She looks hot. She actually seems familiar. “Have we met before?”

“Hmm. I don’t think so.” She leans in slightly, not shy at all about this setup.

“Have you been to a fraternity party recently?” If I have seen her, I imagine that’s where.

---