Chapter 7 #2
“Passenger controls the radio.” I cast him a wink, handing him my phone where I have my music app pulled up.
He takes it and starts scrolling as I pull away from his place, heading towards Lenny’s Bar.
A song comes on, and a grin takes over. “With A Little Help From My Friends” starts to play through the speakers, from the Across The Universe movie soundtrack.
Reaching over, I turn it up and cast him a smile.
He just sits there and looks out the window. I, however, start singing.
Out of the corner of my eye, I can see him watching me with a curious look. The grin stays on my face, my fingers drumming on my steering wheel.
Halfway through the song, my favorite part hits. I turn to Blake and start belting out, “Do you neeeed anybodyyyyy.”
He snorts out a laugh, shaking his head, that little grin making its way back to his face. I see it. Almost there.
I sing the next line, and cast him a look, telling him ‘come on and sing with me, you know the song’.
He mutters out a sad, “Could it be anybody?”
It’s not much, but I’ll take it. Looking back out the front window, I continue to sing, an odd but happy feeling flutters around inside me.
I like Blake. I like hanging out with him.
He might come off as a storm cloud, but he’s just a misunderstood person who was dealt a shitty hand in life.
It’s my new mission to make sure he knows just how much he’s worth people’s time. My time.
When we get to Lenny’s Bar, I pull in and park next to Chase’s truck.
We get out, and while we are walking toward the door, I notice Blake is nervous. “It’s going to be fine, I promise.” I bump him with my shoulder, chuckling. “I’d never let anything happen to you. Promise.”
He looks at me, his eyes filled with so many emotions I wasn’t ready for, and it nearly knocks the air out of my lungs. His eyes are asking if I’m serious. If I’d really do that for him.
Fuck. My fucking heart. I hate every single person out there who hurt this man, who made him feel less than. I wish I could find them and kick their asses.
When we’re inside, it’s not packed, like I expected it wouldn’t be.
“Coopy!” Val screams from across the bar. “You made it.” Her eyes grow, as does her smile, when she sees Blake. “My Blakey Poo!” She rushes over and throws her arms around Blake, squeezing him tightly.
His eyes look surprised and a little panicked, and as he looks at me, they seem to scream for help.
“Yes, yes. I brought Blake. Now, let the man breathe.”
“I’m so glad you came,” Val says, grabbing onto Blake’s arm, hugging it as she drags him over to the table where Lexie, Ellie, and Chase are sitting.
“Cooper, my man.” Chase gives me a bro hug, patting my back. “How have you been?”
“Good, good.” I nod.
“Brody says the team is the best it’s ever been. He’s sad to see you go next year.”
“I’m sad to go.” I chuckle.
“Could always stay an extra year and play some more,” Chase suggests.
I shake my head. “My scholarship is only for four years, and I don’t have the money for another year. Plus, with Blake’s help, I won’t need one.”
Chase looks over to Blake and gives him a nod. “‘Sup.”
“Hi.” Blake looks from Chase to me.
“Hey, Blake. It’s so nice to officially meet you.” Ellie steps in front of Blake. “I’m Ellie.”
“Hi.” Blake’s face softens. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“All good things, I hope,” she teases.
“Did you really date Cooper?” Blake blurts.
Ellie giggles. “Ah, not officially.”
“She did it to make us jealous.” Chase wraps a possessive arm around Ellie.
“No, I didn’t.” She rolls her eyes. “You know why I did it.”
Chase’s face looks remorseful. He looks at me. “Thanks for that, by the way. For keeping her safe and doing what you could to help my girl out.”
“I’d do it any day. She knows that, too.” I nod.
Ellie smiles up at me softly, and I give her a playful wink.
Blake is snatched up by Val, looped into one of her tangents that has Lexie rolling her eyes every few seconds and making a comment.
He seems amused by it, so I leave him be and talk to Ellie and Chase for a bit.
When Chase goes to order us some drinks, Ellie grins up at me, a mischievous smile on her face. “What’s that look for?” I narrow my eyes playfully.
“You like him, don’t you, Cooper Novak? You have the hots for your sexy tutor.”
“Don’t call him sexy,” I grumble.
“Oh my god, you’re so cute!” she gushes.
“Shh.” I look at Blake with a slightly panicked expression. “Do not out me, okay?”
“Okay, okay,” she says, softer. “But god, Coop, it’s so obvious by the way you can’t stop looking at him.”
“I’m only checking on him, making sure Val isn’t being too much.”
“Val is always too much.” Ellie laughs. “And we love it. By the looks of it, Blake does too. You have nothing to worry about. Now, admit it. Can’t hide from me, bestie.”
“Fine, okay,” I huff out low. “I like him. I think he’s fucking adorable and I want to eat him up.”
“I knew it,” she squeals.
“But I’m not going to do anything about it.”
“Why not?” she asks. “You’re not someone who gets crushes, Cooper. Blake must be a good guy to be able to sway you. Why wouldn’t you go for it?”
“A lot of reasons. We hardly know one another, he’s tutoring me, I’m friends with his sister, and I don’t even know if he likes guys.”
“Okay, fair.” She nods.
“Right now, I think the main thing Blake could use is friends.”
Her face falls. “What happened?”
“Not my story to tell.” I smile sadly. “Just trust me, okay? True friends. Real friends. That's what he deserves."
She smiles again. “And that’s what he’s going to get.”
Chase returns and hands us all a mix of random drinks, and I have no idea what he hands me.
My eyes meet Blake’s as he catches me watching him, and his face lifts into the smallest of smiles.
I down that mystery drink in two gulps, needing to remind myself to stand down. Friends only, Cooper. Friends only.
God, this isn’t going to be easy, is it?