Cooper. The mix of sweat, soap, cologne, and pizza made me shiver.
Despite my intention to keep Cooper at arm’s length, I could still feel him on my lips. Tasted him too so I didn’t brush my teeth that night. I fell asleep pretending he was a nice guy who wouldn’t use and discard me.
Chapter Six
Saturday was spent doing laundry and schoolwork while thinking about Cooper. By the time Sunday arrived, I fought the urge to bail on our date. Was it even a date? Should I tell him I was sick? Realizing he wouldn’t believe me, I decided to roll with this new direction in my life.
Unsure what to wear for lunch, I wanted to look nice without looking too nice. Settling on jean shorts and a loose gray top, I figured any more effort might create the wrong impression. Or maybe it didn’t matter. Likely, he would come around until I put out. Then, he would forget my name like his brother said.
As I waited for Cooper, Amy appeared in the living room and looked me over.
“I’m going out with a friend,” I told her.
“Okay.”
“I’ll be back early.”
“You’re an adult. You don’t need to tell me what you’re doing.”
“Oh.”
Amy retrieved a coke from the refrigerator and grabbed a pack of smokes before disappearing into her room. Much like with Cooper, I didn’t know what I wanted from my mother? Did I want space and freedom? Or did I want a caring woman who gave a shit if I ended up dead?
With Cooper, I found him sexy and interesting. I enjoyed his teasing, but also felt he was making fun of me. He possessed all of the power. The only control I had was the ability to say no to sex. Eventually, this power would fade and he’d move on.
It wasn’t like I could decide he was great and keep him. Forever wasn’t an option. Besides, he was the kind of guy who set off all of my alarms. When I saw his tattoos or those dark eyes dissecting me, I felt like I was back in the trailer during the ugly thing never to be discussed.
Logically, I knew Cooper never hurt me, but I also knew he had the power to do whatever he wanted. In this town, he apparently acted with impunity. Could beat up random guys, get me fired, and hunt down someone who messed with him or his surrogates. No fear of the law or any kind of punishment. He didn’t even need to show up to class. Cooper’s money and family meant Bailey’s comment about dumping me in a shallow grave might happen and no one would care. My mom sure wouldn’t.
Hearing Cooper’s motorcycle arrive, I thought to go outside and wait, but didn’t want to seem too excited. Pretending to be casual was lame too, so I grabbed my bag and opened the door to find him ready to knock.
Wearing a black tee and faded jeans clinging to his strong hips and thighs, Cooper looked hot. He also clearly skipped shaving since Friday and had thick growth, making him appear more menacing and honestly hotter.
His gaze rolled over my body before returning to my face. “You have really great legs.”
“Thank you,” I said, a little flustered. “Where are we going for lunch?”
Cooper waited for me to shut the door then he cupped the back of my head and leaned down to give me a soft kiss. His tongue explored my mouth for a second then he pulled back and smiled.
“You look sexy. Awake too.”
“You look sexy too,” I said like a dork.
Cooper laughed then stepped back and raised his arms. “What specifically do you like?”
My face had to be bright red because it was on fire as I lowered my gaze and smiled grudgingly.
“I like your shoes,” I said, laughing. “That’s what makes you stand out.”
Laughing harder, Cooper rolled back on his heels and checked out his black boots. “Yeah, I can see that,” he muttered, grinning at me. “Anything else?”
“Uh, that tattoo right there,” I said, pointing to his forearm.
“The ‘I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die’ tattoo? Are you a big Cash fan or do you like murder?”
“Cash fan.”
Cooper touched my chin
Despite my intention to keep Cooper at arm’s length, I could still feel him on my lips. Tasted him too so I didn’t brush my teeth that night. I fell asleep pretending he was a nice guy who wouldn’t use and discard me.
Chapter Six
Saturday was spent doing laundry and schoolwork while thinking about Cooper. By the time Sunday arrived, I fought the urge to bail on our date. Was it even a date? Should I tell him I was sick? Realizing he wouldn’t believe me, I decided to roll with this new direction in my life.
Unsure what to wear for lunch, I wanted to look nice without looking too nice. Settling on jean shorts and a loose gray top, I figured any more effort might create the wrong impression. Or maybe it didn’t matter. Likely, he would come around until I put out. Then, he would forget my name like his brother said.
As I waited for Cooper, Amy appeared in the living room and looked me over.
“I’m going out with a friend,” I told her.
“Okay.”
“I’ll be back early.”
“You’re an adult. You don’t need to tell me what you’re doing.”
“Oh.”
Amy retrieved a coke from the refrigerator and grabbed a pack of smokes before disappearing into her room. Much like with Cooper, I didn’t know what I wanted from my mother? Did I want space and freedom? Or did I want a caring woman who gave a shit if I ended up dead?
With Cooper, I found him sexy and interesting. I enjoyed his teasing, but also felt he was making fun of me. He possessed all of the power. The only control I had was the ability to say no to sex. Eventually, this power would fade and he’d move on.
It wasn’t like I could decide he was great and keep him. Forever wasn’t an option. Besides, he was the kind of guy who set off all of my alarms. When I saw his tattoos or those dark eyes dissecting me, I felt like I was back in the trailer during the ugly thing never to be discussed.
Logically, I knew Cooper never hurt me, but I also knew he had the power to do whatever he wanted. In this town, he apparently acted with impunity. Could beat up random guys, get me fired, and hunt down someone who messed with him or his surrogates. No fear of the law or any kind of punishment. He didn’t even need to show up to class. Cooper’s money and family meant Bailey’s comment about dumping me in a shallow grave might happen and no one would care. My mom sure wouldn’t.
Hearing Cooper’s motorcycle arrive, I thought to go outside and wait, but didn’t want to seem too excited. Pretending to be casual was lame too, so I grabbed my bag and opened the door to find him ready to knock.
Wearing a black tee and faded jeans clinging to his strong hips and thighs, Cooper looked hot. He also clearly skipped shaving since Friday and had thick growth, making him appear more menacing and honestly hotter.
His gaze rolled over my body before returning to my face. “You have really great legs.”
“Thank you,” I said, a little flustered. “Where are we going for lunch?”
Cooper waited for me to shut the door then he cupped the back of my head and leaned down to give me a soft kiss. His tongue explored my mouth for a second then he pulled back and smiled.
“You look sexy. Awake too.”
“You look sexy too,” I said like a dork.
Cooper laughed then stepped back and raised his arms. “What specifically do you like?”
My face had to be bright red because it was on fire as I lowered my gaze and smiled grudgingly.
“I like your shoes,” I said, laughing. “That’s what makes you stand out.”
Laughing harder, Cooper rolled back on his heels and checked out his black boots. “Yeah, I can see that,” he muttered, grinning at me. “Anything else?”
“Uh, that tattoo right there,” I said, pointing to his forearm.
“The ‘I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die’ tattoo? Are you a big Cash fan or do you like murder?”
“Cash fan.”
Cooper touched my chin
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