Page 75 of Can We Just Be Happy Now?

“You have no idea,” I say before kissing her again, my arm wrapped around her squeezing her tightly. I definitely took advantage of the freedom Sophie wanted me to have, but damn did I miss her lips. No one else even comes close. I tangle my fingers in her hair as I deepen our kiss, reveling in her being here.

“Cooper?” I feel a quick pang of longing when she breaks our kiss, but my name coming off her lips sends a wave of bliss through me.

“What’s up, Soph?” I ask, running my finger along the edge of her face and tucking a curl behind her ear.

“Do you . . . did you . . . you know . . . experience college the past couple years?” The nerves in her voice are what make me realize what she means.

The truth makes me feel guilty, although I’m not sure why. “Is that something you really want to talk about?”

She stares for a moment, then nods.

“I had fun,” I say in an attempt to keep it vague. I know she can't handle details, and I don’t want to give them to her.

“With a lot of girls?” She bites into her lip nervously as she waits for me to respond.

I can’t help but chuckle. “I don’t know what your definition of a lot is, but to answer the question you’re not asking, I have had sex.”

“Oh.” She seems disappointed but recovers. “Okay, that’s good. I wanted that for you.” Her words didn’t exactly come out right, but I know what she meant.

I’m not sure I want to know her answer to the same question, so I don’t ask. “Are you excited for college?”

“Yeah, I am. I wish I was moving into the dorms, but it’s still going to be fun.”

“It’s as much fun as you make it,” I state the motto I try to live by.

“Chastity and I made a list.”

“Oh yeah? What kind of list?”

She retrieves her phone out of her cross body bag on the coffee table. She unlocks it . . . Wait. Is her code my birthday intentionally? I retain the thought to come back to later when she taps a few times and flips the screen toward me.

Pulling my hand away from her leg, I take her phone and examine the list. “Wow, this is quite the list. You’re going to do everything on here?

“Yup. I’m not outgoing like you are or have a fraternity to pull me out of my shell. So, I think this will help.”

“Alright, well, I can totally help with some of this,” I offer, hopeful I’m not overstepping or misreading what is happening between us.

“I was hoping you’d say that.” Her smile reminds me I’d do anything this girl asked of me.

“So . . .” I trail off, my curiosity winning. “You haven’t done anything on your list?”

She shakes her head. “No.”

I’m not sure if she caught my drift, and I’m torn between doubling down on clarification or not. I start with the chicken-shit way. “Have you been seeing anyone?”

She lets her head fall to my chest, her arm wrapping around my middle. I lock my arms around her waist, pulling her closer. It feels like we picked up right where we left off, and nothing could make me happier. God, I missed this girl, and not just for the physical stuff.

“I tried dating a little.” I can feel her words against my chest. “I didn’t want to be the only girl without a date to prom and stuff, you know?”

I sigh thinking about her being alone surrounded by a sea of high schoolers. I never experienced that, and I know she doesn’t mind being alone, but I still hate it for her. I rub my thumb across her hip. “I would have gone with you.”

“I know. It was okay. I had a few fun dates.”

“Just dates?”

She pulls back, confused about what I mean. Spit it out already, man. It’s not going to kill you if she’s had sex.

“When you say you haven’t done anything on this list . . . you mean you haven’t had sex yet?”

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