Page 65 of Can We Just Be Happy Now?

“Tell me,” I insist. “We’re friends, Soph. You know you can tell me anything.”

“It’s not that. It’s . . .”

“He’s been inviting JT over.” I don’t ask. That’s the only thing she could be hesitant to say.

She nods. “Luckily football season ended, so he hasn’t had an excuse anymore,” she adds, distracting herself by swiping her finger across the whipped cream on the shake and licking it off.

“You need to get out of there.”

“I know. I wish I had moved into the dorms.”

“I’d say you could move in with me and Troy, but . . .”

“Even I know that would be a terrible idea.” She chuckles, lightening up for the first time today.

I finally crack a real smile. “We’ll figure something else out.”

“Yeah.”

Shirley sets the red ceramic plate filled with cinnamon roll french toast on the table. Sophie and I reach for our forks, and as the first soft and sugary bite hits my taste buds, I wonder how long things can stay sweet.

Chapter thirty-nine

SOPHIE

THEN

Cooper, 20; Sophie's 18th birthday

“I’m so jealous you get to live in the dorms,” I whine as I sit on the edge of my bed. My parents didn’t think it made sense for me since we only live ten minutes from campus.

The mattress sinks as Chastity joins me. “I mean, your parents did buy you a car as a consolation prize.” She laughs.

“Yeah, you’re right.” I sigh. I love the new-to-me car they surprised me with yesterday, on my last day of high school, as a graduation and eighteenth birthday present. “I’m not trying to sound ungrateful. I’m just nervous for our first year of college, you know? It would be easier if we could do all the things together.”

“We’ll do all the things together, bestie. Don’t worry.”

Now that Cooper and I have drifted apart, Chastity is my only friend. I don’t mind, but as much as being around people I don’t know stresses me out, I know I’ll feel so alone in college if I don’t make some changes and get out of my comfort zone. It won’t be easy to be together all the time like we were in high school.

I fling myself dramatically back on my bed. “You’re right. I hope I can keep up with you! I just wish I was outgoing like you are. And brave. And confident. And fun.”

“Sophie, you are those things.” I glance at her, her wild black ringlets are as spunky as her personality. I think one of the reasons I love both her and Cooper is because they are extroverted, unreserved–the life of the party I sometimes wish I was. I just don’t feel comfortable around many people to be myself. “I’m going to prove it to you,” Chastity adds once she realizes I’m not going to agree. “Let’s make a freshman year bucket list–things we both have to do to make sure we’re making the most out of our college experience.”

“Okay, I could probably manage that.”

“Yes!” she cheers, rolling to her stomach and pulling her phone from the nightstand. “That was so much easier than I thought. This will be great for you, I promise.”

“I know,” I laugh nervously. “I want to get out there. I think this will help.” I roll to my side, propping my head up with my hand.

“It will. I’ll make sure of it.” She opens the note section and types Sophie and Chastity’s College Bucket List. “Okay, item number one is easy. Get drunk.” She types the words before getting confirmation from me. We’ve already talked about this one. Neither of us has had even a sip of alcohol before, but we want to see what the hype is about.

“Okay, item number two,” I add. “Have sex.”

“Whoa. You’re really going for it, huh?” She laughs.

I shrug. “Dad keeps telling me I need to get out there more–that this is the time in my life to experience everyone and everything before life takes away my options.”

“I’m pretty sure by ‘everyone and everything’ he didn’t mean guys and their beds. But yes. We are definitely losing our virginity this year.” She adds it to the list. “You know what I want to do but have been totally afraid?”

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