Page 79 of Can We Just Be Happy Now?

Smiling, I point out, “I don’t think that was the skinny dipping we meant when we added it to the list.”

He shrugs, pulling my lips to his. “You’re just an overachiever,” he says against them before kissing me.

We spent another hour in the cool water, holding each other, kissing, talking. The two times we might have been within sight of someone, Cooper shielded me like he was the Secret Service. Eventually I was ready to swap our waterbed for a real one, and we left.

“It’s not even dinner time,” I point out the obvious as Cooper pulls into his driveway. “I thought you told my mom we’d be out all night.”

He shifts into park, pulling the key from the ignition as his gaze meets mine. He smirks. “I just wanted to sleep with you.”

My eyes spark.

“Actual sleep, Soph.” He chuckles. “You don’t make my job easy, you know?”

“I know, that’s the point,” I sass. “My only goal in life is to become irresistible to you, really.” I fight the grin on my face, but it’s impossible.

Shaking his head, he reaches for the lever to open his door. “You succeeded at that a long time ago.”

Chapter forty-seven

SOPHIE

NOW

Cooper, 21; Sophie, 19

After retying the knot in the green Duck T-shirt of Cooper’s, I tug on the hem of my jean shorts from where they gave me a wedgie. I’m thankful it’s the end of June and not totally freezing out anymore even though I’ve worked up a sweat cleaning. I scan the kitchen. Almost done. I find the counter spray and paper towel under the sink and complete the final touches.

Standing to examine my work, Marcus’ well-built frame shadows me. His deep brown hair is tied into a messy bun at the back of his head although he looks much more put together than when I go with that hairstyle. His tight black jeans and gray V-neck complete his signature look.

“Wow,” he says. “It looks great in here. You didn’t have to clean. Thank you.”

“I wanted to help for your party tonight. It’s the least I could do. I appreciate you letting me stay here, Marcus. In case I haven’t made that clear.” I’ve been here for three months now, and it’s been better than I even imagined.

“It’s too quiet here without Dean anyway.” He pulls me into a hug, rare but comforting, the same way it would be from my brother.

Before I have a chance to respond, he pulls back, moving to the space behind me. “What’s that?” He examines the carrot cake on the counter that’s cooling, waiting to be frosted.

I grin. “That’s for you. Dean said it’s your favorite. There’s walnuts too.”

“Now this is my kind of rent payment.” He picks a chunk off the side of the warm cake. I’ve been tutoring a few high schoolers. It’s enough for gas and book money, but nothing substantial enough for rent. Marcus insisted he wouldn’t take payment from me anyway, even though I know Dean used to contribute.

He shoves the bite into his mouth, turning back to me. “Thank you,” he says after he swallows.

“You’re welcome.”

Marcus lists off everything he’s going to do before the bonfire party he’s hosting tonight while I frost his cake. Once I’m finished and it’s in the fridge, I go to change.

I’m tempted to leave Cooper’s T-shirt on in hopes he’ll see it as a claim that I’m his. Although if he’s mad, he might take it back, considering I think he forgot I have it. I definitely don’t want that. Standing in front of my closet, the plastic hangers scratch against the rod as I slide each one to the right, inspecting every dress I own. I always wear sundresses. There’s nothing special about them. And it’s what Cooper always sees me in. He either gets that or the lazy side of me that’s reserved only for a select few. Maybe that’s part of the problem. Maybe it’s that I stopped trying to impress him and now he’s not impressed. The little black dress I wore on my birthday two weeks ago is tucked in the far left of my closet, and I slip the straps off the hooks on the hanger.

Cooper didn’t say anything about the snapchat I sent him in my underwear. It was the first one I’d ever sent to anyone. Even though nerves sunk in the second he opened it, I thought he’d make me feel good like he always does. But he didn’t say anything. So, after I posted the picture of me and that guy on Snapchat and he saw it but didn’t reply, I went and found someone else to compliment me. It didn’t work. I mean, plenty of guys checked me out. I ended up dancing with a couple of others and didn’t buy my own shots the rest of the night. But none of it mattered. It’s Cooper’s reaction I wanted. It’s his opinion that means something to me.

The only thing I can focus on is who I want to be with, wondering what he’s doing without me, praying to a god I don’t even believe in that we’ll be together again because my life feels boring, mundane. And the only thing that makes me feel alive is him.

Shimmying into the thin black cotton, I run my hands over the fabric and smooth it out. Standing in front of the full length mirror I have propped against my wall, I yank the elastic from my hair, my messy bun falling into kinky waves. I run my fingers through it. Hmm. It looks good without effort for once. Sexy.

Sitting on the carpet, I darken my makeup until my reflection looks like something Cooper hasn’t seen before outside of a dark and grainy Snap. I hope this works.

Chapter forty-eight

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