Page 26 of Cooper & Jake
“I didnotlook like this. What was I wearing? And am I wearing a choker? And one earring that’s dangling? Oh my god, this is photoshopped. It has to be.”
“Nope,” I laugh, tapping the picture of him in the book. “That’s just how you dressed. And it’s one hundred percent how I remembered you all these years.”
“Yuck. I’m moving on. Let’s see what other pictures are in here.” Cooper scans a few more pages, taking his time to look at each one closely. When he sees someone he recognizes, he calls out their name to show me. “Oh, wow. It’s us.”
I grab the yearbook to look at the picture closely. Sure enough, there’s a picture of the two of us. I can’t remember when it was taken, but it looks to be on the steps outside the school. We used to sit on those stairs all the time. My arm is wrapped around Cooper, and he’s snuggled in close to me, cheesing hard at the camera. I’m not looking toward the lens, my gaze is focused on Cooper, a love-sick expression on my face. It’s probably the same look I have when I look at him now.
“Damn, we look so young,” I say, feeling sadness over the life I thought I was going to live back then.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my damn life. It’s almost perfect. But it’s definitely missing something. Or someone. I’ve always been content with it only being me, but now my mind is starting to wander. Thinking things it shouldn’t be considering. Like what it would be like to come home to a person after a tough night at work, walking into my bedroom, and being able to snuggle up and talk to them about the day I had.
Or hell, even dinner at home. Most nights, I end up eating dinner at the bar because it’s easier and not as lonely as sitting at my empty table in my kitchen that no one ever sees.
“I happen to think we’re more gorgeous now. Well, at least you are.”
“Stop trying to flatter me. You’re the one who’s even more gorgeous now.” I tell him, clapping the yearbook shut. “Do you have any plans before the rest of the activities tonight?”
“I don’t think so. Wait, hold on.”
He takes his phone out of his pocket and starts typing away. I glance away, looking out toward the school in the distance. The sun is shining brightly, and it reminds me of home. Gomillion isn’t as small as Cedar Creek, but it’s still a tiny town. I wonder if Cooper’s town is like this or if he lives in a city. I don’t think I could live in a huge city again. I did it a few times, and it wasn’t for me.
“So, uh, Taylor and Peyton are waiting for us to go to dinner if you’re down? Taylor said it’s in case we don’t get to eat tonight. Plus, we have time to kill,” he says, locking his phone screen and putting it back in his pocket.
“Since when are Peyton and Taylor best friends?”
“I’m guessing the second we both ditched them for one another.”
“Ah yeah, that’s it.” Standing up, I reach my hand out to him. “Come on, let’s go meet our friends before they disown us for leaving them alone all weekend.”
10
COOPER
Holy shit.So much has happened today, and it’s not even over yet. When I first met up with Jake for breakfast, I had no intention of dragging him back to my room. Did I want to get my hands all over him? Of fucking course I did, but I wasn’t planning on it. Then, after he took me apart, he worked my body deliciously by giving me a massage.
I rub at my wrist, remembering the tie he used to secure me to the bedframe. God, he was perfect. The way he handled me with dominating care, and how it felt every time he struck my ass. Fuck, if I don’t stop thinking about earlier, I’m going to get hard as hell with no way to take care of it.
My mind drifts to just a little while ago, after our group picture. Even in high school, Jake got jealous so easily. He never reacted badly, oh no, he would just remind me who I belonged to. Shoving me up against the lockers to make out with me, grabbing me around the waist from behind, and glaring at the person who was talking to me, or taking my hand and dragging me away as I called out a goodbye to whoever I was speaking with. Of course, as soon as he got me alone, he would kiss mewildly, not letting me come up for air until I was a whimpering mess in his arms.
I squirm in my chair, my mind coming back into focus when Taylor says my name again. “Hmm?” I ask, glancing around the table.
Jake and I ended up meeting up with Taylor and Peyton at one of the restaurants on Main Street. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until we walked into the place and the aroma of delicious food hit me full force. But after stuffing my face, I started thinking about the whole day, and I completely drifted off from the conversation.
“Did you hear what Peyton was saying?” Taylor asks, widening her eyes dramatically in my direction.
“Oh shit, no. I zoned out. Sorry, what were you saying?”
“I just said, Jake decided he might stay behind a few extra days and see the rest of the town without having to worry about all the reunion things happening.” I look at the spot next to Peyton, noticing Jake is no longer sitting next to him. “He went to the bathroom when you started daydreaming. But anyway, as I was saying,”—he leans across the table, getting up close and personal with me—“I convinced him he should remain for a few days. See what other things in town have changed. Taylor mentioned you might have some spare days up your sleeve as well.”
I look over at Taylor, who smiles widely and then shrugs her shoulders. “Hey, you don’t have to come back right away. It’s not like you have a husband and kids waiting for you.”
“I can’t just stay behind,” I tell them, looking from one to another. “Isn’t that creepy? To be like, ‘We haven’t seen each other in years, but hey, wanna stay and hang out longer?’”
“What’s wrong with that? I told Jake he should stay behind, and he was all for it.”
“He was?” I ask a little too excitedly. “Like he wasn’t planning to stay longer before, but he is now?”
“Yep,” he says, popping the p dramatically. “I might have brought up how you both could hang out for a few more days and get to know one another better.”
