Page 262 of Something Rad
ROBBIE
Cooper’s fingers thread into my hair, pulling hard enough to force my head back. I take the opportunity to catch my breath, then look down at her, grinning.
I can’t believe how long I kept her from touching my hair. It may just be my favorite thing now. She’s managed to wipe away any bad association I’ve ever had with it. There’s no chance I’m thinking of my dad or older brother when Cooper’s running her hands through my hair. Especially when she looks like how she does now.
Laid across my back seat, cheeks and lips stained red, with a dress the same shade of silver as her eyes, with the exact same glittery sheen present within them right now, bunched up around her waist, just for me.
I lean down, pressing a kiss just below her jaw, feeling her pulse spike beneath my lips as she arches into me.
“You know, you were the one that insisted we go to Prom,” Cooper breathes.
“Mhmm…” I hum against her neck.
“So, it’s funny how slim you’re insisting on making the chances that we ever make it inside.”
“Oh, trust me, I’ll have no issues getting inside.”
“But–”
Cooper starts to speak, but is quickly cut off by the press of my palm between her legs.
“Robbie,” she groans, chuckling as she throws her head back.
“And were we definitely firm on the attachment to this particular pair of tights?”
“Yes!” she confirms, shoving her dress down and trying to wiggle away from me. I let her, quickly moving to sit up and pulling her onto my lap instead. She blows out a breath, settling into me. “I mean it, Robbie. This is the only pair of pantyhose I brought, and you’ve already caused a run in them.”
“I like how you thought to bring clear nail polish in case you got a run in your tights but didn’t think to simply bring another pair of tights,” I tell her.
Cooper chuckles. “I probably should have known better, but I didn’t. So, if you plan to go inside for the dance, hands off the tights until it’s over.”
I wrap my hands around her back, pulling her closer. “And what happens when it’s over?”
“I guess we’ll have to go to find out.”
“Do you not think being in the parking lot for the last twenty minutes means that we technically went?” I ask.
Cooper leans back, grabbing her clutch purse from where it sits in the front seat. She pulls out her compact mirror and red lipstick, reapplying it. “No, Robbie, I don’t. But I also think you’re sounding a whole lot like somebody else that I know.” She presses her lips together, checking them in the mirror, then scrunches her nose. “Or someone that I used to know, I guess.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
She closes her purse, shrugging her shoulders and smoothing her hair. “Oh, I don’t know,” she says.
I tilt my head at her. “You’re still you, Cooper.”
“I know,” she nods, her voice low. “I just…”
I reach up a hand, cupping her cheek and making her look at me. “What?”
She puts her hand over mine, a smile light up her face. “I just think…you made me better. You know?”
My throat bobs, the corner of my mouth twitching.
No, I’m not sure that I do know, Cooper.
I pat the side of her thigh, giving her a gentle squeeze. “Ready to go in?” I ask.
“Let’s get this over with,” she winks, pressing a quick kiss to my lips before crawling off of me.
