Page 97 of Relief Pitcher

“Just likeTitanic!”Ethan and Dom groaned as soon as Austin shouted the words. It’d been an ongoing argument between us since the movie had come out when we were kids.

“There was plenty of room for both of them,” I insisted.

Austin rolled his eyes. “We’ve gone over this countless times. The door didn’t have the buoyancy. There was no way it would’ve kept them both afloat.”

Austin and I went back and forth, talking over each other.

“You both are kinda right,” Coop said. We shut up and turned to him. “There was aMythBustersepisode where they did an experiment about this. If they had attached Rose’s life vest underneath it, that would’ve fixed the buoyancy issue, but they might’ve gotten hypothermia from the water trying to do it.” Coop shrugged and popped a carrot into his mouth.

“God, your brain is so sexy. That’s why I love you.”

The room went silent. As I replayed my words, my eyes grew wide.

Dom stood. “Lost another one to the dark side. Just you and me, Seth.”

Seth stood too. “I, um, have fanfic to read.”

“Parker, I need your help to check the light that burned out in the garage.” Ethan and Parker made a hasty exit.

“Uh, Caleb, can you keep me company while I vacuum the bathtub?” Austin made a helpless gesture at Caleb as they hurried out.

I turned back to Coop to face the music. The feels from the Hallmark movie had gotten the best of me, and I’d blurted it out at the worst time. Watching them was a completely different experience now that I could empathize with what the characters were experiencing.

Coop grabbed my hand, and I braced for the kind letdown.

He stared intently into my eyes. “You don’t have to say it because you feel obligated. There’s no playbook we have to follow. I know you’re new to this, and I don’t expect those words from you on any timeline.”

My shoulders dropped from my ears. This sweet, sweet man with his sweet, sweet ass. I climbed onto his lap. It was my new favorite seat.

“I might be new to relationships, but I’m not new to love. I know what that feels like. Well, platonic love, at least. I’ve never been afraid to acknowledge the love I feel for people. When it comes to you, I experience the same, but it’s amplified. I feel the kinds of things my parents, Austin, and Ethan talk about. I know it’s romantic love, and I’m not afraid.”

Tears welled in Cooper’s eyes.

“I love you,” I said earnestly while holding Coop’s face in my hands so he could see how serious I was. “Falling in love with you was as easy as taking down a bag of Tillamook squeaky cheese.”

“I love you too, you absolute weirdo. You’remyweirdo.”

EPILOGUE

TYLER

A coupleof years later

“Are you sure about this?”Coop fixed the collar on my shirt.

“You wore the cologne I love.” I leaned in and sniffed his neck. “You trying to drive me wild?”

“Always.” He kissed my forehead.

I sighed happily. “I’m sure about this. Thought I made it clear I’m not going anywhere.”

Coop kissed me silent. “Not what we’re doing buthowwe’re doing it. Are you sure you don’t want more?”

“This is perfect. It’s us.” I wrapped one of his long waves around my finger. “You look so fucking good with your hair down. Have I told you that before?”

He smiled widely. “A time or two.”

“All right. Off to the gallows then. If someone tries to kill us, I’m using you as a shield.” I swatted Coop’s ass.

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