Page 17 of Liberty

I leaned on my board as I watched her walk back up the sand, grabbing her towel as she went.

I climbed on to my board and turned, paddling out. I needed to calm down before dinner. If I didn’t, I’d be in trouble.

Chapter Seven

Libby

I burst into the room, scaring Kylee, who was sitting on the couch. She looked up, eyes wide, then relaxed when she saw me.

“How was surfing?”

“Great, but that’s not important! He asked me to dinner!”

“Cooper?”

“Yeah!”

She leapt off the couch, walking toward my room. “You go shower and do your hair, I’ll pick your outfit. Okay?”

“Okay.” I nodded, hurrying to the bathroom.

I hadn’t felt butterflies in my stomach like this in so long. I was excited, and nervous, and I wanted it to be happening and be over at the same time.

I showered quickly and dried my hair. I didn’t usually wear makeup, but I’d brought an eyeliner and lipstick with me; I applied them carefully and walked out into my bedroom, wrapped in my towel.

Kylee had an outfit laid out on the bed for me—a pretty sundress I’d packed, one of her cardigans, and a flower clip for my hair. She’d even picked out a necklace and bracelet to wear with it, and a pair of sandals. She smiled proudly, gesturing to the outfit with both hands. “Ta-dah! What do you think?”

I smiled. “It’s perfect.”

“Good! Get dressed, huh? Don’t make him wait.”

“Okay, okay! I’ll show you when I’m ready.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

When I walked out of the bedroom ten minutes later, Kylee grinned. She got up and came closer, adjusting the flower in my hair before nodding. “Gorgeous. You look like a million bucks.”

I nodded and reached toward my purse for my phone. But it wasn’t there.

Right, it was in the safe.

I hadn’t thought about it all day.

“Hey, can you take a picture? Because I actually feel really pretty.”

Kylee had more self-control than I did. Her phone wasn’t locked up.

“Of course!” She grinned and went to get it, snapping a few pictures and showing them to me.

I did look really good.

I hoped Cooper would like it.

* * * * *

He was waiting at the bar, just like he’d said. He cleaned up nice; he was wearing jeans and a burgundy button-up, his hair combed back and still damp from a shower.

It was a good look on him.

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