Page 255 of Something Rad
She meets my gaze, her lips twisting to the side. “It would just be nice to have summer, you know? One last summer before having to start it all. Just…a few more months…”
Together.
She doesn’t say it, but I know it’s what she’s thinking, what she’s telling me with her eyes. And I have no idea how to respond to it. Because I couldn’t agree with her more. Summer with Cooper would be incredible. I’d give anything for a few more months with her. Hell, I’d give more than anything for just any more time I can get with her, period. But I know I can’t say that. I don’t even want to say that. Because it won’t make this any easier. And I’m not going to be the one to discourage her from doing what’s best for her, what she’s worked towards for so long. It’s not an option. In fact, I’m honestly shocked Cooper’s even acting like it is. That she’s seeming reluctant over it at all. This is all she’s ever wanted.
“I know, Cooper,” I tell her. I reach for her face, holding it in my hands and tipping it up so she has to look at me. I brush my thumbs across her cheeks, looking into the swirling grays of her eyes. “But you have to take it.”
Cooper’s eyes flick between mine, a muscle in her jaw flexing. She reaches up, pulling one of my hands away from her face, giving my palm a quick kiss before she drops it, stepping back and out of my hold.
I’m still standing in place as she turns around, folding the letter and shoving it into the back pocket of her jeans before she bends down and picks up a box of VHS tapes from the floor behind the counter.
“Would you mind helping me reshelve these?” she asks.
I tilt my head at her, wondering if I’m overthinking, but then Cooper looks up at me and smiles.
“What? Getting déjà vu?” she asks.
I snort, a smirk coming to my face. “Definitely not. You never asked me that nicely in the library.”
Cooper lets out a chuckle, ducking back down behind the counter. “Well, what can I say? Some things change.” When she stands back up, she has another box in her hands.
“They sure do.”
We look at each other for a moment, something passing over Cooper’s face that I can’t read before she clears her throat, moving around the counter and heading towards the shelves with her box in hand.
“Get started, Summers. If you’re gonna distract me at my place of work, you’re gonna have to help me make up the time.”
“Happy to help,” I say, grabbing my box and following after her. “As long as none of these movies belong in the romance or comedy aisle. Not sure how much help I’ll be to you if we end up there.”
fifty-three
SARA
“Baby, it’s going to be perfect.”
I bounce on my feet, trying to stand on my tip toes to sneak a glance.
“What if they got messed up?” I ask.
“How would they have gotten messed up?” Robbie asks.
“I don’t know,” I mumble, chewing on my bottom lip.
We move up a spot in line. Only three people left in front of us.
“You looked over every page like a thousand times, Cooper. You proofread every word, you reviewed every photo. You went through it with a fine-toothed comb.”
“But…I…Ugh,” I groan, running an exasperated hand through my hair.
Robbie's arms wrap around my waist from behind, pulling me into his chest so he can kiss the top of my head. “It’s going to be the best high school yearbook the world has ever seen.”
Fortunately, I don’t have any time to argue with him or stress over it further, because we’re next in line.
I step up, coming face to face with Mr. Hughes and Eugene standing behind the table. “Name?” Mr. Hughes asks as his eyes are still on the clipboard in front of him. But when he looks up just a second later, a huge grin spreads across his face. “Ah,Sara.”
“Hi, Mr. Hughes,” I smile, wringing my hands together.
Eugene comes up behind Mr. Hughes, handing him two yearbooks with sticky notes on them saying my and Robbie’s names.
