“Thanks.” Ellie laughs. “Nice to know you’re friends with me for my pool.”
“And your game room, duh,” Val jokes.
“What about you, Cooper? You up to hang out?” Ellie asks.
My eyes instantly go to Blake. I want to go, but not without him. If he says he’s ready to call it a night, I’ll take him home.
Blake’s brows furrow. “Why are you looking at me like that?” Blake mutters.
My lip twitches. Someone’s a feisty little kitten tonight. “What do you say, Latte Boy? Are we ready to call it a night, or do you wanna go for a swim?”
“I don’t have a suit with me.” Blake shrugs.
“We have lots in the pool house. You can borrow one,” Ellie tells him. “Cooper does it all the time. Same with the girls.”
“I mean.” Blake rubs the back of his head. “Isn’t it too cold to go swimming? It’s the middle of October.”
“Heated pool, silly.” Val laughs.
“If you don’t want to go, it’s okay. We don’t have to.” I give him a soft smile.
Blake has gotten better with the socializing thing, but sometimes I can tell he gets overwhelmed.
He hasn’t gone to a party since everything went down with Mickey, and neither have I. I was never much of a party person unless it was with my friends. I’d rather stay at home playing video games with Blake than mingle with people I don’t know or care about.
“Who’s going to be there?” Blake asks me, not Ellie.
“Most likely just the girls and Ellie’s partners. They don’t hold big parties at their place, not with the little ones around all the time.”
“Okay.” Blake nods.
“Yeah?” I can’t help but grin.
“I mean, it’s been a while since I’ve gone swimming, but it could be fun.”
“That’s what I’m talking about.” I chuckle, wrapping my arm around Blake. “We’re in.”
“Yay!” Val cheers.
“I’m going to find Brody and Rain. We’ll meet you there. Chase, Jax, or Theo will let you in.”
We head toward the parking lot, and it’s not until Lexie gives me a look that I realize my arm is still around Blake’s shoulder.
He fits perfectly at my side, and hey, I like touching him. He smells good tonight, too.
Would it be weird if I started asking him to wear my hoodies so they can smell like him? Yeah, okay, now that I think about it, that's a little much.
He hasn’t moved or stiffened at the contact. If I move now, I don’t want him to overthink it.
When we get to my car, Blake looks up at me through his thick black lashes, and it literally takes my breath away.
“Why did you ask if we were ready to call it a night?” Blake asks me, twisting to get a better look at me, causing my arm to drop.
“I didn’t want to just assume you’d wanna go. I thought I’d ask first.” I shrug, shoving my hands in my pockets.
He wraps his arms around his waist, snuggling into his hoodie. It makes me want to pull him into my arms to keep him warm.
“Yes, but you asked ifwewere done for the night. Not ifIwas.”
