COOPER
THREE WEEKS LATER
“Sutton! Slow down,”I yell between sharp inhales at Sutton.
She spins, her curls pulled into a ponytail, whipping her in the face, and runs backward. “Aren’t you the captain of the Frozen Four champions? Shouldn’t you be faster?” Her hands come out to her sides, palms up, and she shrugs.
I roll my eyes at her and speed up, pushing my sluggish legs to their breaking point to catch up with her. It helps that she slowed down. I may be taking our break a little too seriously. I’ve been to the gym, but have been giving my body a break. Focusing on finals, my friends, and Sutton.
Our semester ended last week. We both are staying on campus this summer, as of right now at least. Sutton hasn’t heard back yet about her interview with Team USA. She keeps trying to tell me she’s okay, but I still find her refreshing her email in the middle of the night or checking to make sure her ringer is on.
A step behind her now, I snatch her up in my arms.
“Cooper!” She squeal-laughs.
“Don’t test me, woman.”
“But it’s one of my favorite hobbies.” I set her down, and we start running again, side by side. “Want to go to the dock?”
It’s another mile before we get to the dock. We were sitting, looking out over the water, trading secrets and talking about nonsense, when I couldn’t get over how beautiful she looked. The sun came out from behind a cloud and painted her in this golden glow, and my hands were on her.
Fingers pulling at her scrunchie to release her wild curls. Mouth kissing up and down her neck, lingering and marking her collarbone—which I won’t be apologizing for.
Finding our feet, Sutton pulls off her tank top, leaving her in a sports bra that’s the prettiest shade of purple and complements her freckles, pushing her breasts together and up.
“Fuck, Sutton.” It comes out a growl as she reaches for my shorts. “Here?”
She nods. “No one comes out here except for Ch?—”
“Let another man’s name come out of your mouth right now and see what happens.”
“Ohhh. He’s jealous,” she teases.
“Jealous? That doesn’t even skim the surface of what I’ve been. I watched my best friends interact and have a relationship with you. Then I volunteered to help you fall in love when I was pathetically in love with you, Sutton. You’re mine, and my name is the only one I want you saying forever.”
“If you’d let me finish, I was going to say Cooper.”
“You weren’t.”
“It does feel better on the tongue.”
“You know what else will?”
We both go in for the kiss at the same time, our noses bumping. I roam her body, her hands roam only one part of me.
Her cell phone buzzes, and we both pause. It’s my least—and probably only one I’ll allow—favorite ice bucket that freezes whatever we are doing.
Sutton removes her hands from my shorts and pats the drawstring. “I’ll make up for it later.” She hikes one shoulder up, biting her lip apologetically.
“Check it.” I nod toward her running belt.
Time passes slowly, or maybe she’s just scared, as Sutton unzips the black pouch clipped around her waist.
Tomorrow is the deadline her professor’s friend, who works for Team USA, said that they’d follow up with her. Either way, acceptance or rejection, she’d be hearing from them.
“It’s from them.” Sutton flips her phone around so that I can see the notification.
Sutton, thank you for taking the time and dedication…
