Page 4 of Cooper & Jake
“Nah, just if I weren’t married.”
We both laugh hard, Taylor curling into my side. I first met her when we were both working at the vet clinic in our town. She worked behind the desk as a receptionist, and I assisted the veterinarian while I was in school. We became inseparable pretty easily, not going more than two days without seeing one another. When I received the invitation for the reunion, I wasn’t going to come until she convinced me I would regret it if I didn’t. Her husband, Jared, wanted her to have a small vacation, so she came with me to my little hometown. I’m not sure how much ofa holiday she’s going to get, but I’m thankful to have her by my side. Especially right now.
I sit down at the table while she walks up to the counter to order. I close my eyes, my mind going straight to Jake. Fuck, he looked good. Really damn good. He has short, black hair and a bulkier build, but he’s still just as sexy as before. His blue eyes shone brightly as he stared down at me with concern etched on his face. He was so damn close to me, and yet he seemed so far away. I’ve dated plenty of men since Jake, but he’s always been the one man I’ve compared everyone else to. Why? I have no damn idea.
Which is stupid, right?
We were teens when we were together. We didn’t even know what it was like to experience life. And yet, he’s crossed my mind throughout the years. Far more times than he should have, if I’m being honest.
Maybe it’s because I had every intention of following him. My plan was to attend the same college as him, but the accident stopped me from leaving. I never even told him what had happened. I just disappeared from social media, abandoning it all. Back then, I had bigger worries. And now that I’ve seen him, emotions have flooded back. Bringing me back to how I felt twenty years ago when he first left.
“What should we do today?” Taylor asks, taking the seat across from me. “Wait, when do the official activities start?”
“Most things start tomorrow. So we’re free to do anything we want today.”
“Hiking?”
“You’re speaking my love language. Yes, let’s go hiking.”
An hour later, Taylor and I are pulling into the parking lot at the entrance to Yellow Branch Falls. This scenic spot has a waterfall and offers the most spectacular views. And back in high school, it was the ‘it’ spot for drunken parties and make-out sessions. Jake and I may have come here a few times, but luckily, we were never caught in a compromising position.
I wonder if Jake is still into public sex.
Shaking my head, I scold myself. Don’t worry about what type of sex Jake is into, Coop. It doesn’t affect you. Not anymore.
“Okay, I knew this place was going to be amazing, but hell, this is beyond what I imagined. How much further are we from the waterfall?”
“About fifteen minutes, if I remember correctly. Once we hear the splashing of the water, we’ll know we’re close.”
“Splashing, rushing water equals a waterfall… what a concept.” Taylor snarks, smiling as she pushes past me.
“Hey, no need to be bratty.”
“If I’m not bratty, then I’m not Taylor.” She turns around, walking backward, and sticks her tongue out at me.
We’re quiet as we finish the walk up to the waterfall. My gaze is constantly looking around, remembering the last time I was here. It was graduation night, and Jake and I had had sex under the stars as we did many nights. I was lying on his chest, and we were talking about the future. Yellow Branch Falls was one of our favorite places to go. It’s hard for teenagers to find private places to sneak off to, so this was ours.
As we round the corner, indistinct voices hit my ears.
“Fucking fuck, fuck,fuck. What the hell, Jake? Why am I wheezing?”
“You’re such a damn baby. It wasn’t even that bad of a hike.”
Taylor and I enter the clearing to see Jake and the man he was with standing in front of the waterfall. Jake is rubbing the other guy’s back while the man is bent over, his hands on his knees as he’s breathing heavily.
“Seems we had a similar idea,” I say, wanting them to know they’re no longer alone.
The bent-over man looks up at me, a grimace on his face as he keeps trying to catch his breath. “How are you two not out of breath? That hike was a trek! Jake-O said it’ll be simple. Simple, my ass. I am not out of shape, but fucking, fuck, fuck!”
“Please excuse my friend, the baby.”
Friend.
Not his husband. Not his boyfriend. Hisfriend.
Which doesn’t matter at all.
Except inside, I might be doing a little happy dance.
