on that or not. It was something I’d probably end up discussing with Erin. We hadn’t touched on my relationship with the guys as much. Not when we’d focused on Maddy to a great extent and on Mitch and those events.
Ian had brought over one of his guitars and asked if he could just keep it there rather than take it back and forth. Archie and Jake stole my car Saturday afternoon to change the oil and the fluids in it, and I only found out after the fact. Before I could discuss testing with Archie or Coop, Jake announced over dinner that they needed to get it done if they hadn’t.
That earned me a pair of speculative looks from both of them, and I just tucked into my food and focused on that. I wasn’t one hundred percent ready to discuss all of the whys and stuff. Not yet. There were other conversations I needed to have.
Things we needed to decide between us and with everyone. A lot of things I didn’t want to leave up in the air or to chance.
Monday, we kicked off a new routine with Ian and Jake no longer having practice. They decided of their own accord to go running before school, and Archie went with them. Coop hung with me, both of us a little bemused by this running.
Even more when Jake said I could go with them when I was feeling better.
Um, yay?
“So, Trina has a date on Wednesday.”
I stared at him. “He actually still asked her after you guys talked to him?”
Nose wrinkled, Coop stared at me. “No, Auburn is out. Walked away. Smart.”
I didn’t roll my eyes, but it took actual effort. “Then who does she have a date with?”
“Kid in her grade.”
“Okay, that’s better, right?”
“Same problem, kid’s just shorter.” Coop grousing had to be one of my favorite things ever. Wasn’t going to tell him that, though. I slid my feet over to rest in his lap, and he dropped a hand down to wrap around my ankle. “She asked if we’d do the double-date thing.”
“Uh huh.”
“So, I told her I’d talk to you.” He didn’t quite meet my eyes as he took a large swallow of his coffee. “And if you were feeling up for it, we could go with them. But if not, she’d have to reschedule.”
I took a bite of my chocolate covered donuts—the guys had seriously not been kidding about the chocolate shopping. We had chocolate everything at the moment. It was a little bit like heaven. “Okay.” After waiting a beat for him to continue, I curled my toes against him. “Are you going to ask me?”
“Nope,” he told me, a grin curling his lips. “First, I said I’d talk to you, which I have done. Second, our next date is not going to be double-dating with my sister and the boy she likes. Mom can go keep an eye on them, she already said she would if I didn’t want to do it.”
Propping my chin on my fist, I studied him. “You’re adorable.”
He snorted.
“Has it occurred to you that Trina wanting us to go on the double-dates with her is a way to get you to spend more time with her?”
The scowl reappeared. “Don’t try to use your logic on me.”
I chuckled. “Coop, she adores you, and you’re always over here. She might be feeling a little ignored.”
His shoulders dropped, and he tilted his head back. “You want to go on the double-date with them?”
“Not particularly, but I will.”
I poked him with my toes gently, and he gave my ankle a squeeze. “I’ll think about it and see how you’re doing tomorrow. You were not comfortable yesterday.”
“The first two days are always the worst.” But I appreciated the sentiment regardless.
Cutting a look at the clock, he glanced back to me. “The question about whether we’ve all been tested—is that because I almost forgot the condom that one day?” Genuine worry reflected in his eyes. “I’m not going to risk you. You know that, right?”
“I do,” I assured him. “And it’s partially because of that, and partially just…I’m having sex with three of you, and there’s a real chance Ian and I might start having sex too—that’s me having sex with four guys on a fairly regular basis.”
“You’re worried about us.” He nodded once. “Fair point. Also, very you.” I rolled my eyes, but he leaned forward. “It is very you. You start worrying about all of us. You’re worried about whether Bubba is