“Maybe,” I mutter.
“Don’t worry. I think about it all the time.”
“You do?”
“Fuck yeah.” He gives me a heated look that goes right to my cock. “But I meant what I said. I want to be able to take my time with you. Hours and hours together. Just me and you, a bed and a lot of lube.”
“Talk dirty to me.” I roll my eyes.
He chuckles. “I’m saving all my good lines for when I’m fucking you into the mattress and you’re screaming my name, begging me to let you cum.”
“Thanks,” I grumble.
“For what?”
“For making me hard when we’re about to go have breakfast.” I shoot him a glare.
He bursts into laughter as he tosses his head back.
I can’t help but smile. I love seeing him like this. Happy because of something I said or did. I made him laugh, I made him smile. Me.
Another thing I’ve come to love is the fact that even though we’re dating now, our connection hasn’t changed. We still banter and Cooper still pokes at me in the fun, playful way he does.
It reminds me that Cooper and I were best friends first. To me, that means what we have is something stronger than just a crush on a cute guy, or falling head first, blinded by puppy love.
What we have is genuine and it’s the reason I feel more comfortable to be the real me. I can be open and honest, worry less about what he might think of me if I mess up or embarrass myself. Cooper has shown me time and time again that he’d never judge me, never make fun of me, and never make me feel like I’m stupid or weird.
He likes me for me, every odd part. Because of that, I know I truly love this man.
Have I told him that yet? No. I’m too afraid to say it first, because I don’t know if his brain works like mine. He could have intense feelingslikelove, but notinlove.
I’m just happy with the fact that he’s just as crazy about me as I am him. I can wait for him to love me back, just like he waited for me to come to terms with my feelings.
***
“So, Thanksgiving is this week.” Nina mentions randomly at lunch. “What’s everyone's plan?”
“We’re having a big dinner at my place like every year,” Ellie says. “Looking forward to it, but also not. So many people in the house can be overwhelming, especially with two small kids and a baby.”
“Mom and I are having a girls weekend away,” Val says, leaning over and taking another grape from my fruit cup. She grins at me before popping it into her mouth. “My stepbrothers all have something to do with their own families. I’m the only one who's single.” She pouts.
“Give it a few weeks and you won’t be,” Lexie says. “I’m in the same boat as Ellie. Big family dinner. The only difference is, I don’t like most of my family.”
Tabitha snorts. “You know, you could come to my place again if it gets too crazy.”
“Oh!” Lexie’s eyes light up. “Yes. Let’s do that.”
“How about you, Cooper?” Nina presses. I glare at my sister. Sneaky little shit.
“Not sure. We’re not big on Thanksgiving since my mom passed.” Cooper plays with the string on my hoodie. I’m sitting on his lap with his arms wrapped around me. He’s pressed up against my back with his head on my shoulder, yet somehow he’s still not close enough. “Sometimes I go to Ellie’s if Dad has to work, or is out with his buddies.”
“Well, if you’re not doing anything then you should come to our grandparents place with us,” Nina suggests.
My stomach sinks as soon as the question is out of her.
“Is that something you want, Blake?” Cooper murmurs in my ear, making me shiver.
Turning my head just enough to look at him, I answer, “I don’t want you to feel like you have to say yes.”
