Page 19 of Make Me Yours
I felt an unexpected pang, like I’d been hit in the stomach.
“Hi.” Her mouth turned up in a small smile, before she trained her eyes to his feet. She had mousy brown hair left unstyled and wore little to no makeup. She looked eighteen, maybe nineteen years old.
“Maggie’s a greeter at the mega-mart,” his mom added.
“That’s nice,” Cohen said, managing to sound sincere.
I didn’t know what was so nice about it, but I kept my mouth shut.
I couldn’t help but notice Maggie looked down at the floor.While the adults were speaking, I mused.
“This is my good friend, Easy E,” Cohen said, placing his hand on my shoulder.
I elbowed him in the side and we both laughed. His mother frowned. And Maggie looked from Cohen to me, then back to Cohen again, not understanding the inside joke. “It’s nice to meet you…Easy…”
“Call me Liz,” I interrupted offering her my hand. She returned my handshake with a limp-noodle grip.
Though I knew I shouldn’t care, somehow it would bug me to see him end up with someone so distinctly lacking in a personality. Plus, she was too young for him. He grew up taking care of his mother and sister; he wasn’t your typical twenty-one-year-old college junior. And he needed someone strong and worthy of his love.
“Liz?” Cohen interrupted my thoughts.
“Hm?”
“You ready to go?”
“Oh, yes.”
“It was nice meeting you.” I nodded to the meek girl, and let Cohen’s hand on the small of my back guide me toward the exit.
After dropping off his mom and sister, we were back on our way into the city. During the drive, I couldn’t help but reflect on the fact that that Cohen’s willingness to introduce me to his mother was unexpected. I felt like my own family background was best pushed under the rug and not dealt with. Ashlyn hadn’t even met my parents in all the years I’d known her.
“What are you thinking about?” Cohen patted my knee, drawing me out of my serious line of thinking.
“I was just remembering that you owe me breakfast. I’d like pancakes. Now, please.” I smiled, letting some of the tension fall away.
He chuckled. “You got it. Let’s just ditch Boo Boo first.”
If only it was as easy to ditch bad memories.I shrugged that thought off and instead pictured a stack of fluffy flapjacks oozing with butter and syrup. Pancakes weren’t a cure-all, but sharing them with Cohen would certainly make my day a whole lot better.
Chapter 7
I was sitting in the center of Cohen’s bed, jabbing frantically at the buttons on the game controller, and waving my arms wildly as if that would control the race car on the screen, when my cell chimed signaling the arrival of a new text message.
I dropped the controller and reached for my phone, ignoring Cohen’s chuckle as he calmly maneuvered his car around the track, easily beating me in the game.
The message was from Ashlyn, asking if I wanted to go to the mall to get some things for our upcoming weekend at the lake. I cringed. I’d forgotten I’d agreed to go, and as the date got closer, I started to regret saying yes. Being around Ashlyn and Aiden’s loving relationship was hard on me for reasons I didn’t care to explore.
Inspiration struck and I sent her a text.Would it be okay if I invited Cohen this weekend?
Yeah, good idea! Your room has bunk beds too,she replied.?
I left out the detail that Cohen and I had been sleeping in the same bed for over a week now. I turned to Cohen, putting on my sweetest, most persuasive smile. “Would you be interested in coming to the lake with me and my friends this weekend?”
He nodded. “Sure. Sounds cool.”
And suddenly a shopping trip with Ashlyn sounded perfect. Though Cohen was fun and easy to be around, I needed some space from him—well, mostly from my unrequited attraction to him. And I could get some sexy clothes to bring along. I bit my lip to avoid grinning.
Cohen flipped through the menu screen and chose another course.
