Page 161 of Something Rad
Her voice comes into my head suddenly, the conversation of our rules replaying. The only two rules she really had.Don’t kiss her.Anddon’t make her look stupid.
Never in a million years would I have thought those two simple rules wouldn’t be possible to follow. Much less that a situation would occur where breaking one of the rules would be necessary to maintain the other.
I squeeze my fists tighter as I spin to fully face Cooper. I force myself to focus in on the crackling music coming from the record player in the corner, and all of the sounds of people around us slowly start to blur together, turning to a low pitched hum in the background, until all I can hear is TOTO’sHold the Line, the beat of it pounding in the deepest parts of my eardrums.
Then Ginger’s voice breaks through like nails on a chalkboard. “You know, it’s kind of weird how willing you guys were to kiss other people, but you’re so hesitant to kiss each other. I mean, that’s weird, right?”
The hum of people’s voices rise as several others audibly agree with Ginger.
Can’t say I blame them.
I see Denise take a step closer in my peripheral vision as she moves in front of me. “Kiss your girlfriend, Robbie.”
I narrow my eyes at her and she raises her blonde brows in challenge. I refuse to give in, looking back at Cooper. She stares back at me, her expression unreadable, landing somewhere on the scale between exasperation, fear, and anger.
“C’mon, man,” Brad speaks up. “We don’t have all night.”
I don’t respond to him, staying focused on Cooper before me, that being my safest bet.
Until Paul’s steps into the picture, sidling up just behind her.
“Denise,” he says, making Cooper flinch slightly, “are you thinking what I’m thinking?” He takes a step closer to her and my jaw instantly tightens.
I barely register Denise as she also takes a step closer to me. “What are you thinking, Paul?”
Yeah, what are you thinking, Paul?I fume in my head but can’t manage to say out loud.
“Maybe they’re each looking for a round two.” My brows knit together as Paul reaches for Cooper’s wrist. She pulls her gaze away from me to look down at where his hand wraps around her. “Whatcha say, Cooper?”
Three words.
All it takes is those three words and I’m seeing red.
Who the fuck does he think he is?
I start to take a step forward but stop when I feel a hand on my chest.
“Robbie, baby?” I tear my gaze away from Paul and Cooper to find Denise standing just to my side. Her hand drops from my chest, trailing down to grab my wrist.
Even though I used to wish I could dive in and take a swim inside of the bright blue depths of Denise’s eyes, they do absolutely nothing to hold my attention now. In fact, they suddenly seem entirely too shallow to even dream of it. I break her eye contact, looking down to where her hand is encircling my wrist. It doesn’t last long, however, as I quickly feel the heat of Cooper’s gaze and look up to find her eyes locked on where Denise is touching me.
Seeming to sense me watching her watch me, Cooper’s eyes snap up to meet mine with fire. I stare right back at her, my gaze only shifting when I see Paul’s hand landing on her shoulder. I grind my teeth together so hard they feel like they could crack.
I don’t know if I’m crazy, but the music suddenly seems so much louder. Like TOTO’s performing a live concert right outside the damn living room. I feel it in my chest. I feel it down to my toes.
I see Paul’s fingers flex against Cooper’s skin, and my gaze shoots instantly back to her face, immediately finding her stormy eyes.
Time seems to slow down. The air. The music. The people around us. The dot of sweat running down my back. The pressing together of Cooper’s ruby red lips. Seconds go by like hours.
One…
…Two…
…Three…
Then it's like a switch flips. We both shake out of Denise and Paul’s holds, darting forward.
Fuck rules.
