Page 49 of Can We Just Be Happy Now?

“It doesn’t matter who invited him over if he’s your boyfriend.”

“For the last time, he’s not my boyfriend!”

“So, you’ve made a new habit of kissing people who aren’t your boyfriend?” What is he talking about?

“I haven’t kissed JT in months. I can’t even remember the last time.” I scan through the few memories I’ve pushed away, placing the most recent one in my kitchen during the football game.

“I fucking saw you, Sophie.”

What? How? There’s no way he saw that kiss.

He rolls his eyes at my confusion. “In your kitchen. Don’t even try to deny it.”

God, that was so stupid.

He sees the recollection on my face. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

“That wasn’t what it looked like.”

“You didn’t kiss him?”

“I mean, I did. But that was the last time. I swear. I haven’t even seen him since.”

“Uh-huh. So, what have you been doing for the past month?”

“When you wouldn’t see me later that day, I tried giving you space! You always want space when you’re upset.”

He laughs like I’ve lost my mind. “You really think that’s what I wanted?”

Tucking my hair behind my ear, I focus on the design on the floor tiles, avoiding his eyes. “Yeah,” I whisper.

Frustration spews out of him. “I didn’t need space, Sophie. I needed YOU,” he yells so loud his voice is all I hear over the sound of the party on the other side of the door.

Tears blur my vision, stinging my eyes like when I open them in a chlorine pool. “You never really lost me. My heart has always been yours.” I reach for him, but he tilts his body backward over the counter to avoid me. I freeze. His fingers push into his eyes and inhales a deep breath. On the exhale he turns around to face the mirror, his palms pressed into the counter. When he looks up, I meet his gaze in the reflection.

“It’s been four months since we broke up. Was I supposed to wait for you to come around when you made me believe you’d never truly come back?”

“Yes.” I tangle my fingers through my hair and tug on it hard, my high ponytail loosening. He’s supposed to know that I would. “You . . .”

“What? Finish your damn thought.”

“You’ve always been it for me, Cooper. Of course we’re supposed to end up together.”

His stare burns through me so hot it could reliquify the Jello-O shots in the fridge. “How the fuck was I supposed to know that, Sophie?”

“I just . . . I think . . .” Frustrated, I stumble over my words, shrinking into the wall behind me. “I thought . . .” I attempt to breathe in confidence. “I’ve been trying to talk to you for the past month!”

“Well, you didn’t try hard enough.”

“So, you just got a girlfriend instead?” A silent tear slips down my cheek.

He sighs and turns to face me. “She’s not my girlfriend. But we are dating.”

“You mean you’re having sex with her?” The question comes out even though I don’t want the answer.

“Please don’t do this, Sophie.”

“Do what?”

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