Page 70 of The Off-Limits Rule: Extended Edition

“I’m staying here and having pancakes with you and Levi, because contrary to what Drew thinks, I am capable of commitment, and I do trust myself with this. I’m all in with you and Levi.” He extends his arm and points a finger at me like he’s a star quarterback and I’m going to be the one catching the ball. “And you and I start now.”

“Umm! Likenow,now?!” I hop from the bed and trail after Cooper, who is headed for the door. “Wait, wait, wait! Shouldn’t we think about this for a minute?! Form a nice plan? Maybe have you go put on a button-down shirt and arrive with flowers—for Drew, of course—and then we can all talk about it over breakfast?Oh gosh, Cooper, at least put a shirt on!” All my protesting is pointless.I’m trying to grab his belt loops to hold him back, but he’s just dragging me along like a barefoot skier.

He throws the door open with gusto, his sinewy muscles rippling with the movement. Cooper pauses for only half a second to listen for any signs of Drew until we both hear the sound of water running in the kitchen. He gives one distinct nod, then starts heading for the stairs. I’m taking them in rapid succession right behind him while frantically whisper-yelling, “Cooper!Cooper!Stop. This is not going to go over like you’re hoping.Gahhhhh,please go slower. Come back to bed.Let’s make love!”

Not the slightest pause.

I guess this is really happening.

Chapter 31

Cooper

“Drew,” I call out before I even make it to the kitchen, because I’m just itching for a fight now.

I hear Lucy groan behind me and offer up some prayers of protection as we round the corner.

Quickly taking in my surroundings, I stop in the threshold, and Lucy bumps hard into my back. “Ouch.Brake lights next time.” She puts her hands on the outsides of my biceps and peeks around me like a little baby bear.

The coffeepot is in Drew’s hand, hovering unpoured over his mug, jaw hard and flexing. There’s a moment where we both do nothing but stare at each other, and if my adrenaline wasn’t pumping through me in unhealthy quantities, I’d probably regret my decision. Drew takes me in from head to barefoot toes and the wordangrywrites itself in a thought bubble above him.

“Drew,” I say, making the first attempt at conversation. “We need to ta—”

“What are you doing in my house right now?” Oh, that isnota happy tone.

“That’s what I want to—”

“And where is your freaking shirt? And your socks. And your shoes.”

He’s not actually worried about my socks and shoes; he’s just wanting to point out that I’m far too naked to be in his home right now with his baby sister holding on tome.

Lucy squeezes my biceps, and it gives me the courage I need. “I spent the night here last night.”

Drew’s nostrils flare, and he swallows dangerously. I want him to set down that mug. I think it’s about to shatter under his white-knuckled grip. “You slept with my sister?”

Thankfully, he turns and sets down the mug and coffeepot—except now his hands are free to strangleme.

“Not in the way you’re suggesting, but I will sleep with your sister in the way you’re suggesting at some point.”

Lucy’s fingers bite into my arm. “Not helpful,” she hisses atme.

“I told you to stay away from her,” Drew says, his voice somehow getting closer even though he’s staying put.

Lucy pushes around me this time. “Okay, enough of your macho talk. I’m my own woman, Drew, and you can’t tell men to stay away from me like you own me.”

“Luce.” My tone is soft and pleading, begging her to let me deal with Drew. Her sharp blue eyes cut to me and melt. She gives me a single nod before I turn my gaze back to my friend.

“What was that?” He has scary eyes bouncing between me and Lucy, and he wiggles his finger between us. “That little silent communication. What was that? Because to me, that looked an awful lot like two people who have been talking about something for a long time.”

I nod. “That’s exactly what it was. Look, I’m sorry I went behind your back, and I tried as hard as I could to not see her, but—”

“But you did what Cooper does best and did exactly what you wanted.”

“Drew!” Lucy says in a warning.

I point at Drew. “That—why do you say stuff like that about me? Dude, you’ve known me one year. You’ve barely scratched the surface of who I am, and yet you’re acting like you’ve known me my whole life. Why did you just shut me down when I first approached you about Lucy? We could have talked. I could have told you I went through a really hard breakup before I moved here, had a long-term, serious relationship and wanted her to marry me. I have a whole life I lived before I met you, but for some reason you’ve been content to just know me in the now and let that be enough.”

Drew isn’t swayed. He folds his arms like a defiant child. I think he’ll stomp a foot next. “I do know you. I lived with you, remember? I saw the parade of women you brought through here—”

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