Page 82 of Can We Just Be Happy Now?

THEN

Cooper, 20; Sophie, 18

“You look great,” I assure Sophie as she stands in front of the bathroom mirror tugging her black spandex shorts further up her stomach. The movement makes them look shorter, and she frowns in the mirror. I expected her to be nervous about skinny dipping yesterday, but I’ve noticed in the past few weeks that she has developed a few insecurities no matter what she’s wearing. I’m not sure if it has to do with starting college soon or just growing up, but I’m doing my best to help her work through that. That’s what today is for.

“Are you sure?” She twists her hands together in front of her, her arms blocking most of the bare skin between her shorts and light pink sports bra.

“I’m positive. There’s nothing to be nervous about. Hardly anyone will see you, but anyone who does is damn lucky if you ask me.” I kiss her forehead before tugging one of her hands until it untangles from the other and pull her toward the door.

With one hand, she fidgets with the hem of her shorts the entire drive. Her other arm is tightly hugging her waist, covering most of the bare skin on her stomach. As I pull into the parking space outside the small strip mall, I worry she might not go through with this.

Leaning forward to look through the windshield, Sophie shakes her head so dramatically I’m certain she might scramble her brain. “No way. Uh-huh.”

“Look at me.” I get her attention with my thumb brushing across her cheek. She glances quickly at me, but then returns her gaze to the sign outside the building in front of us. It’s black with a neon pink picture of a girl dancing on a pole. “It’s a beginner class. Everyone is new like you. They keep the lights low and the instructor is really encouraging and helpful.” I researched a couple of the places in town to make sure I brought her to the one that would give her the best experience.

“I’m going to fall. I’m not in shape at all. I can still hardly skate to the diner without dying.”

“Who cares if you fall, Soph? You know how many times I missed passes in football? Got tackled by people smaller than me? You remember that one time I tripped over . . . nothing? Literally nothing, Sophie.” I laugh at myself, and it earns a half-hearted chuckle from her.

“I remember.” She bites back a grin.

Fuck, I love this girl. I would do anything for her, especially if it means forcing her to do things she doesn’t believe she can. I want to tell her, but the thought that she could leave again without warning scares me out of it. I’ll focus on this obstacle for now. “You’re going to kick ass. I can’t wait to hear about it. I’ll be back to get you in an hour, okay?”

She nods, her chest a little higher. My words shoot straight to her confidence sometimes, and it’s one of my favorite things about us.

Chapter fifty

SOPHIE

THEN

When I push through the tinted glass door, Cooper’s 4Runner is parked directly in front of me. He looks up from where he’s leaned into the driver’s side door. I run toward him, hardly giving him time to slip his phone in his pocket.

Feeding off my excitement, Cooper scoops me up and twirls me around before setting me on my feet. “Hey, Soph.”

“Cooper, that was so much fun! I even climbed up part of the pole before I slipped off, but it didn’t hurt.” I don’t have time to take a breath, so my words all rush out. “OH! And my core is way stronger than I thought. Maybe skateboarding is helping. I kind of sort of did this thing where I held my whole body up with my legs. I fell again, but it’s fine. I’m not that far away from doing the splits either. I’m totally going to practice.”

His grin continues to widen the more I ramble.

“What?”

“Nothing. I’m proud of you.”

The encouragement activates the butterflies in my stomach. His praise has always meant more than anyone else’s.

“Thanks, Coop.” Maybe it’s the compliment or the endorphins running through me, but before he can reply, I press him against his car door. He follows my lead without hesitation. His fingers thread through my sweaty ponytail, his lips press against mine, and his tongue easily finds its way to dance with mine. I savor every second of his kiss, pulling closer with a grip on the strings of his hoodie. He breaks our kiss, and I’m torn back to reality, having already forgotten we were in public.

“Okay, onto the next one,” he declares.

“Already? We don’t have to do the whole list in two days!”

He shrugs. “I know, but it’s fun.”

“Is there anything you want to do? Do you have a list?”

“Your list is my list. I like seeing you happy. Let’s go.”

“Okay, fine. Onto the next thing,” I concede, reaching for the dial on his dash to turn up the music and keep my pole dancing high.

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