She shrugs. “You’re inmyseat. And also, Cooper tells me siblings annoy each other, and you’re the closest I have, and I also don’t like the look you’re giving to the guy who scared the shit out of me in a mascot costume last night, so…”
Levi glares at me. “You have the fucking secret missing mascot costume?”
I gape at Waverly. “Did you just sell me out?”
She laughs so hard she almost chokes, and Levi, Giselle, Dad, and I all trip over ourselves to find her something to drink.
“What are you doing?” My mom hollers from the kitchen. She hustles in looking horrified. “What are you doing to Waverly? This is her day off.Quit tormenting her. You poor thing. Here. Cooper said you love green tea.”
Waverly stops coughing long enough to smile at my mom, who’s shoving a to-go mug from The Muted Parrot, Mom’s coffee shop, at her. “I do. Thank you, Libby.”
Mom fusses.
Dad fusses.
I fuss.
Giselle hovers and Levi watches us all, until he shoves to his feet, shaking his head.
“Whatever it is, don’t do it,” Waverly says.
I want to punch him for having a silent language with my girlfriend that I can’t have because we’re never in the same fucking place at the same fucking time.
He shakes his head again. “I’m leaving. Promised Ingrid I’d get Hudson from aftercare. You’re in good hands here. You need anything else, call me.”
“Levi?” Waverly prompts.
My friend looks at me.
And I suddenly get it too.
He never thought he’d see the day Cooper Rock would fall. Definitely not fall this hard. And never,everfor a woman so high above him in the stratosphere that it’s a small miracle she’s sitting here, with me, in my dad’s small-town restaurant, fitting in as naturally as if she were born here.
“Don’t make that face at my son,” Mom tells Levi. “We havealwaysbelieved in him, and we don’t tolerate anyone who doesn’t. Even the fancy-pants big-shots like you.”
“Just gonna take a minute, Mrs. Rock.” He smiles at her.
Waverly drops her head against mine. “Your parents are adorable,” she whispers.
“Wanna borrow them? Anytime. Say the word.”
“Can I borrow you for a while first?”
“Absolutely.”
She smiles and kisses my cheek, and yeah.
I’m so fucking deep in the hole that is love that I don’t know if I’ll ever get out.
And I don’t care.
34
From the text messages of Team Wooperly
Waverly:I’m back in LA, safe and sound. Amazing game tonight. I can’t believe there’s only two weeks left in the regular season. I told Hiramys to rearrange my schedule so I can make at least one of your playoff games, but things will be TIGHT. *frowny face emoji*
Cooper: It feels like you’ve been gone for seventeen years.
