Page 68 of Can We Just Be Happy Now?

I didn’t realize the tension he was holding until his shoulders visibly relax. “Yes.”

“Was it always this far?” I ask Cooper with a heavy breath, skidding my foot against the paved path by the river until I come to a stop.

He skates back toward me with a laugh. “Both my house and the diner moved. Didn’t you hear?”

I roll my eyes, but it only makes his grin widen. “Come on.” He holds his hand out until I take it, immediately feeling the warmth and comfort it sends through me. I couldn’t have predicted this is exactly how I wanted to spend my birthday. “I’ll get us an Uber for the way back.”

“Thank goodness. I should not have to work this hard on my birthday,” I joke, stepping both feet onto my board and letting him casually pull me along.

“Oh, I’m sorry, princess. How dare I accept an offer that was your idea and expect you to follow through without complaining.” He chuckles.

“It’s okay. You can make it up to me with a strawberry milkshake.”

“Is that so?”

I smile, switching the grip on his hand to link our fingers together.

“You’re making it hard to skate,” he teases.

“You could let go.”

“Nah, I’m good.” He catches my gaze for a second before bringing his eyes back to the path.

When I’m away from him, things between us seem so complicated, but being around him makes being happy feel so easy.

Another ten minutes brings us to the entrance of the diner. Skateboard in one hand, Cooper opens the door with the other. He takes a step inside, but before pushing the door wide enough for me to get through, he pauses. He stares blankly at our table like there’s a movie playing on a screen in front of him. I wonder if it’s the memory that’s rolling for me.

Guilt washes over me. My touch to his shoulder startles him, and he turns back to me. “We don’t have to eat here, Coop,” I whisper.

He looks inside the diner again then back at me. “I’m good. Let’s make a new memory.”

“Okay.” I give him space to move forward on his own. I want this diner to be a good place in our lives again.

We slide onto the hard red seats of the booth where we always used to sit, stashing our skateboards under the table.

Shirley, the long-time waitress, doesn’t skip a beat in greeting us, her pink poodle skirt fluttering as she stops in front of our table. “Cooper, Sophie!” she exclaims, her eyes focusing on me when she adds, “It’s so nice to see you two here–and together.” I don’t look at Cooper for his reaction to her assumption. I don’t correct her either.

“It’s good to see you too, Shirley,” Cooper’s voice pulls me to look at him for a moment.

“What can I get for you? Cinnamon roll french toast and a vanilla shake?” There’s a look of hopefulness in her eyes like she’s cheering for our comeback and for everything to be normal between us. She’s seen our friendship progress as much as anyone else. It hit me the second I saw him today that I want him back–I mean I’ve never not wanted him back. I just feel ready for it now that I’m older and will be in college and can give him what he deserves.

“Yes, please. Strawberry, though. No compromises for this girl’s 18th birthday.” Cooper shoots me a wink. Every second that passes today only confirms my decision more.

“Oh! Happy birthday! One strawberry shake with extra cherries coming right up!”

I grin at Cooper before directing my smile at our favorite waitress. “Thank you.”

Chapter forty

COOPER

NOW

Cooper, 21; Sophie, 18

“Hey, Professor Everett. Do you have a moment?”

“Mr. Montgomery. What can I help you with?” my computer graphics professor inquires from the other side of his teaching podium.

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