if she’s trying to calm an angry bear and, in a way, I guess she is.
“Fuck.” I run my fingers through my hair, letting her words sink it.
“She’s been trying not to think about it,” Tessa adds.
“That’s all I’ve been able to think about. I’ve considered asking her to come with me a million times.”
“Think about that, Reeves. Don’t you want her to be happy? Fuck, man, it’s not all about you.”
“I know that,” I grind out. “I know it’s not all about me, but I also know Reese and my leaving is going to be hard on her. Hell, it’s going to be hard on me. I didn’t say I was going to ask her to come with me, just that I thought about it.”
“I think the two of you need to talk, Cooper.” Tessa gives me a soft smile.
“You should tell her,” Nixon says pointedly.
“I know. I’m going to apologize.”
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.” Nixon stares me down.
“Fuck, not this shit again.” I know exactly what he’s thinking, and he’s wrong. I don’t know what I have to do to prove that to him.
“What did I miss?” Tessa asks Nixon.
“He’s in love with her.” He says the words casually, as if we’re discussing the damn weather. As if it’s a foregone conclusion.
“Oh.” Tessa’s eyes grow wide. “Is that true?”
“Yes. I love her.” Tessa opens her mouth to speak, but I beat her to it. “She’s my best fucking friend. Yes, she has a pussy, but I’ve never been privileged to see it, and I don’t plan to. That’s because she’s my best fucking friend,” I say again. I don’t tell them that I’ve fantasized about seeing her pussy, feeling it, tasting it, but I’m a guy. I’m young, and it’s been… a while since my cock has seen any action. A long fucking while. Reese is beautiful and sexy, and even though she’s my best friend, I’d be blind not to notice. Who am I kidding? I’ve always noticed when it comes to her. I just learned to keep that shit in check.
“Cooper,” Tessa starts again, but I hold my hand up.
“I have to go find her. I need to make sure she’s okay.” Without another word, I take long strides as I make my way to the kitchen. I find Reese sitting on the floor in front of the dishwasher with a bottle of vodka in her hands. She’s drinking right out of the bottle.
“Hey.” I crouch down to face her.
“Hey.”
I point to the bottle. “How much of that have you had?”
“Just… a couple of drinks.” She hugs the bottle to her chest like she knows that I’m going to take it away from her. She would be right.
“Why don’t you let me take that?” I reach for the bottle, and she hugs it tighter.
“No. I’m not done with it.”
“Reese.” I move a wisp of hair from her eye, tucking it behind her ear. “Remember the last time you were miserable.”
“I know, but I’m miserable now too.”
My heart lurches in my chest. “Why?” I ask softly.
“You’re mad at me. You’re never mad at me. And… I’m mad at you too, and I’m never mad at you.”
I exhale. I can work with this. “Why don’t we leave the bottle down here, and we can go upstairs and lie down?”
“This is your party.”
“Nothing is more important than you, Reese. Surely, you know that by now?” Her green eyes shimmer with tears, and she nods. “Come on, you.” I take the bottle, which she lets me do, and set it on the counter. I then offer her my hand and help her stand. She wobbles on her feet, and instead of risking her falling, I lift her into my arms, bridal style, and carry her out of the kitchen. I don’t make eye contact with Nixon or Tessa when we walk past them. I don’t need to hear anymore. They’ve said their piece, and I heard them loud and clear. Right now, all I want to do is get her upstairs and away from all these drunk assholes. And maybe when she sobers up, we’ll talk. Talk about all the things we’ve been avoiding. Namely, me leaving. Maybe I’ll get the courage to broach the subject with her.
Maybe.
“Do you need to use the bathroom?” I ask once we reach the top of the stairs.
“No.”
I walk on past and down the hall to my room. Once inside, I carefully lower her to the bed, then go back