Chapter 11
Cooper
My shoulders slump as frustration takes hold. We were so close to winning!
This is our second loss this season, and while I know it’s not the end of the world, and we still have more games to come, it still doesn’t feel great to lose.
The other team celebrates, pure excitement and joy on their faces.
“You played well, boys!” Coach says. “Don’t let this get you down. We’ll get them next time.”
Taking off my helmet, I shake out my sweaty hair. My side aches from the tackle I took and I think I pulled a muscle in my calf.
Grabbing a bottle of water, I down half of it before wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. My eyes search for him like they do every game.
I find him sitting with the girls, his attention on me, and I can’t help but smile. A little bit of the disappointment from our loss slips away as that new permanent flutter for Blake takes root deep in my stomach.
It’s been a month since Blake started tutoring me, but he’s more than just my tutor. I can confidently say that he’s my best friend.
And I can also confidently say that I’ve fallen so hard for this guy that I’m a pancake of mush for him.
Every time he laughs, smiles, hell, even his smell has me practically going into heat. It’s honestly very unhealthy, yet I don’t think I care.
I know there's a good chance I’ll get hurt. It doesn’t do anything to stop the feelings, though.
Blake and I have gotten to know each other pretty well already. He’s come over to my house, and I’ve gone to his. He’s met my dad, who adores him, and his mother is the sweetest.
I found out that Blake is demisexual and that he’s never had romantic feelings for anyone in his life. Not even attraction to someone.
The hope in his eyes when he told me he wishes to find that one person he connects with on a level, that has him feeling all the things he’d like to experience, compelled me to beg the gods that I’m that person.
The thing is, though, that even if I’m not, it doesn’t change anything for me. Blake is my friend first, and I intend to keep him in my life. Even if it’s just as we are now.
Still, I can’t help but get a little spark of hope that maybe, just maybe, I might have a chance based on the way he looks at me, watches me. But I could be reading into it and seeing only what I want to.
Either way, I’ll be patient with him. He doesn’t know how I feel, and I don’t plan on telling him. I don’t want to pressure him or make him feel awkward or uneasy.
Right now, he needs a friend, and damn it, I’m determined to be the best damn friend.
Val leans over and says something to Blake, pulling his attention from me. He nods his head, casts a quick look at me, then follows the girls.
Heading to the locker room, I shower quickly so I don’t keep my friends waiting. When I’m finished, I find them waiting for me outside.
“Heeeey.” Val rushes over to me, throwing her arms around me. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s just one game.” I chuckle, patting her on the back.
“I know, I just hate seeing you lose. You get all pouty and moody. I think you’re spending too much time with Blake. You’re starting to rub off on one another.”
I’ve been doing a lot of rubbing off, but it’s not on him.
Fuck me. Now is not the time to be thinking about sex. Or Blake. Or Blake naked. Naked Blake under me with my mouth around his cock.
I take a step back from Val, hoping she doesn’t feel my growing erection, and bring my football bag up to cover myself.
“You okay?” Val asks, brows furrowing.
“Peachy.” I chuckle.
“So, no celebratory party at the football house, I guess.” Val pouts.
“Like you need a reason to drink. I think you need to stay away from parties for a while,” Lexie huffs.
“Alright, fun police.” Val rolls her eyes.
“How about you all come over to my place?” Ellie asks. “The kids are with Theo’s parents tonight. And honestly, I could use a night to just hang out with my friends.”
“Yes!” Val grins. “I love your pool.”
“Thanks.” Ellie laughs. “Nice to know you’re friends with me for my pool.”
“And your game room, duh,” Val jokes.
“What about you, Cooper? You up to hang out?” Ellie asks.
My eyes instantly go to Blake. I want to go, but not without him. If he says he’s ready to call it a night, I’ll take him home.
Blake’s brows furrow. “Why are you looking at me like that?” Blake mutters.
My lip twitches. Someone’s a feisty little kitten tonight. “What do you say, Latte Boy? Are we ready to call it a night, or do you wanna go for a swim?”
“I don’t have a suit with me.” Blake shrugs.
“We have lots in the pool house. You can borrow one,” Ellie tells him. “Cooper does it all the time. Same with the girls.”
“I mean.” Blake rubs the back of his head. “Isn’t it too cold to go swimming? It’s the middle of October.”
“Heated pool, silly.” Val laughs.
“If you don’t want to go, it’s okay. We don’t have to.” I give him a soft smile.
Blake has gotten better with the socializing thing, but sometimes I can tell he gets overwhelmed.
He hasn’t gone to a party since everything went down with Mickey, and neither have I. I was never much of a party person unless it was with my friends. I’d rather stay at home playing video games with Blake than mingle with people I don’t know or care about.
“Who’s going to be there?” Blake asks me, not Ellie.
“Most likely just the girls and Ellie’s partners. They don’t hold big parties at their place, not with the little ones around all the time.”
“Okay.” Blake nods.
“Yeah?” I can’t help but grin.
“I mean, it’s been a while since I’ve gone swimming, but it could be fun.”
“That’s what I’m talking about.” I chuckle, wrapping my arm around Blake. “We’re in.”
“Yay!” Val cheers.
“I’m going to find Brody and Rain. We’ll meet you there. Chase, Jax, or Theo will let you in.”
We head toward the parking lot, and it’s not until Lexie gives me a look that I realize my arm is still around Blake’s shoulder.
He fits perfectly at my side, and hey, I like touching him. He smells good tonight, too.
Would it be weird if I started asking him to wear my hoodies so they can smell like him? Yeah, okay, now that I think about it, that's a little much.
He hasn’t moved or stiffened at the contact. If I move now, I don’t want him to overthink it.
When we get to my car, Blake looks up at me through his thick black lashes, and it literally takes my breath away.
“Why did you ask if we were ready to call it a night?” Blake asks me, twisting to get a better look at me, causing my arm to drop.
“I didn’t want to just assume you’d wanna go. I thought I’d ask first.” I shrug, shoving my hands in my pockets.
He wraps his arms around his waist, snuggling into his hoodie. It makes me want to pull him into my arms to keep him warm.
“Yes, but you asked if we were done for the night. Not if I was.”
“So?” My lips quirk into a small smile.
His face scrunches in that adorable grumpy way. “Even if I said no, you could have gone with your friends.”
“I know.” I chuckle.
“What if I said I didn’t want to go?”
“Then we wouldn’t have gone.” I shrug.
“So you wouldn’t have?”
“Maybe. Depends on if you were just not interested in going to Ellie’s, but still wanted to hang out with me.” I wink.
“You’d miss out on hanging out with your friends, to hang out with me instead?”
“You’re my friend too, Blake,” I huff.
“But so are they.”
“Blake.” I put my hands on his shoulders. “I can see your mind overthinking things. It’s not a big deal. I’d rather hang out with you; you’re fun. We play video games. And honestly, I don’t have a lot of guy friends, so getting a break from all the girly gossip is nice.”
“I don’t want them to think I’m stealing you away,” he mutters, his eyes casting down.
“Blake.” I gently grip his chin and tilt his head to look at me. “You’re not stealing me away from anyone. They’re not going to be mad that we’re hanging out. Trust me. Wanna know a secret?”
“Okay?” He blinks, licking his lips. Those pink, kissable lips.
“Unless it’s a weekend, I don’t hang out with anyone. Haven’t for years.”
His brows raise. “What do you mean? We hang out all the time. Not just on the weekends.”
“That’s because, thanks to you, I’m not spending all my free time drowning in schoolwork. For the first time, I have free time to breathe.”
“Then why not hang out with your friends more?”
“Because I’d rather spend the time with you. I’m sorry to break the news to you, but you’re my best friend. I don’t make the rules, but that’s just how it is.” I shrug. “Best friend status trumps everything, and that’s who gets most of my time.”
“I thought Ellie was your best friend?” he grumbles back, but he can’t hide that little blush on his cheeks.
“She is, but she doesn’t have a lot of free time. She’s got three kids and five lovers.” I chuckle. “She’s a busy girl.”
“What about Lexie and Val?”
“Also, best friends, but they are closer with one another than they are with me. They do everything together.”
“Tabitha?”
“Another good friend. But she has a complicated life that even the girls don’t know the full details of.”
“Oh.” He blinks, not seeming to know how to act.
“You don’t have to hang out with me all the time,” I tell him. “If I’m overstepping or putting pressure on you, just let me know. I know I can be a lot.” I rub the back of my neck awkwardly. “Sorry.”
“No,” he rushes out. “No, it’s not that.
I, ah, I like hanging out with you. I’m just..
. not used to it,” he grumbles, leaning against the car, his head dropping again.
“I know. It makes me look like a pathetic loser. A twenty-two-year-old man in college who didn’t have any friends until a few weeks ago. ”
“Hey.” My voice grows a little hard. Not because I’m angry at him, instead I’m angry at everyone who felt the need to hurt him in the past.