To be fair, you were renting it until I came back.
NICO
I think it’d look awfully suspicious if we were suddenly friendly considering that ring on your finger should be mine.
NICO
Also, you all know it’s obnoxious. Right?
Cooper smirked and looked at the obnoxious championship ring on his middle finger
COOPER
We’re still celebrating.
NICO
It’s tacky.
COOPER
If you don’t get your ass over here and have a drink with me, I’m going to beat your ass.
NICO
Can’t wait.
COOPER
NOW!
NICO
On my way!
COOPER
Good boy.
Cooper pocketed his phone, grabbed his champagne, and leaned over the railing. A flock of yellow-legged gulls overtook the sandy beach and squealed a melody Cooper couldn’t understand.
“Hey asshole,” Nico said, coming to a stop beside Cooper with a mixed drink in hand.
Cooper smiled and instantly noticed the new tattoo behind Nico’s ear—three tiny black birds. “Hey loser.”
Nico shook his head, but try as he might, he couldn’t hide the smile wrinkling over his perfect, kissable fucking lips. Nico’s eyes darted to the side and he took a measured step back from Cooper. “People are looking at us.”
“That’s your paranoia,” Cooper said, eyes fixed on a pair of gulls screaming at each other in a full domestic dispute. “You just assume everyone knows what we know. Be cool.”
“As soon as this shindig is over, I’m coming to your room.” Nico glanced over his shoulder and then back to Cooper. “I’ll make up a lie for my date and say the boys are going out on the town.”
Jealousy was a new emotion for Cooper. He’d been blessed to have never been burdened by it. With Luke, there was nevera doubt in his mind. Luke was his. He was Luke’s. Nico was different. For starters, they weren’t together in the same way people who were together were. Secondly, the majority of their time was spent on opposite sides of the country. Thirdly, Nico was bisexual and had been with numerous women since this thing between them first started. Nico was always ready to pull the trigger on this thing, and Cooper was always the one making that extremely difficult. The jealousy he felt like a warm heat in his heart was a product of his own faults.
He gritted his teeth as he asked, “How long have you been seeing this girl?”
“It’s a new thing.”
Cooper locked eyes with Nico. “You fucked her yet?”
