Page 2 of After All This Time (A Time For Love #2)

Liam

" I think Katie is gonna break up with me,” Coop huffs out as he tries to break through my defense with his dribble, the ball smacking on the hot concrete that lines the ground of the small basketball court next to the park.

His words temporarily stun me, which is what this goddamn brat probably wanted to achieve when he spewed that out mid-game, no doubt.

He feints left, but I know him better than that. He’s always trying to make me fall for his tricks as if we haven’t been best friends and in each other’s pockets for more than a decade.

I know every move he’s going to make before he’s even thought about it. But he likes to see if he can make me move the way he wants me to, and I let him believe that he has a shot at it.

For just a split second, I let him have his taste of victory before my hand shoots out and scoops up the ball, just as he’s about to cut to my right.

He squawks in outrage as I steal his too short-lived glory and shoot the ball with nothing but net.

I’m breathing hard, the sweat from the hot as fuck afternoon dripping into my eyes. I run my fingers through my hair, pushing it backwards in the hope that a breeze will blow some relief on my forehead, before I turn to look at a suspiciously silent Cooper.

He’s right where I left him, his blue eyes boring into mine, his hands perched on his hips as he catches his breath, too. His black hair is almost spiky from the sweat, and he would look ridiculous if not for the daggers he’s shooting at me with his eyes.

I can’t help but chuckle at the expression of indignation on his face.

“Don’t look at me like that. You did it on purpose.”

“Excuse me?” he scoffs.

“No, you’re not excused.” I approach him until I’m close enough that he has to tilt his head slightly to look me in the eyes. We’re both tall but he’s a few inches shorter. “You dropped that when you did because you wanted to distract me. It’s not my fault you didn’t succeed.”

“Wow. That you’d think I could be capable of something like this,” he says, shaking his head. “I’m hurt.”

“You can’t be hurt if it’s true.”

I hold his gaze in a silent stare-down until he breaks it with a huff and a sigh.

“Okay, you’re not completely wrong. But I do think that she’s gonna break up with me.”

We move towards a bench, shielded in the shade of a tree, and gulp down the water from our bottles. The thirst is stronger than I thought.

Or perhaps I’m trying to wash down the faint bitterness this conversation leaves in my mouth.

“How do you figure?” I ask him as I swipe the back of my hand over my mouth, catching a few stray drops. “Did she say anything?”

Coop shakes his head, a small frown between his eyebrows.

“Not really. But it’s the vibe I’m getting, you know? Whenever I try to talk to her about making some plans now that we’ve graduated, she evades the subject. I mean, we’re supposed to head out to completely different directions after the summer. Shouldn’t we talk about it?”

Frustration radiates from him and seeing him this troubled makes me stiffen immediately. I can feel my jaw tick with the need to jump in but before I can say anything, he lets out a humorless laugh.

“It’s not like I want to pledge my eternal love for her, for Christ’s sake, it’s just a conversation.” His shoulders droop slightly and I know I’m not going to like whatever comes out of his mouth next. “Sometimes I think...” he trails off, shaking his head.

I take a step closer, the pressure in my throat making it almost impossible to speak normally. “You think what?”

He lifts his gaze from where he let it fall, and pierces me with his cerulean eyes.

I watch him swallow, before he admits, “I think that all she sees, that all most people see, is the fun, goofy guy who doesn’t take things seriously. And I am all that, sure. But...” he trails off once more, but he doesn’t have to go on for me to know what he’s implying.

That he’s not just that. That he’s a lot more.

My palm wraps around his nape before I’m even aware of the action.

“I want you to listen to me carefully. Can you do that?” My voice is low, dropping several octaves, until my words are for his ears alone.

Cooper nods imperceptibly, never averting his gaze.

“Good,” I tell him with a slight squeeze on his nape.

“You don’t owe your time or any part of yourself to anyone who doesn’t appreciate it for what it is.

If things with Katie aren’t sitting well with you the way they are right now, do something about it.

But never,” I punctuate the last word with a firm squeeze, “never put yourself down. You got me?”

He looks at me steadily and calmly, which is different from the ball of chaotic energy that usually consumes him.

“I got you.”

Satisfied that my message has been received, I release him, taking a couple of steps back.

“Plus, you can always ask your sisters for advice.”

The tension breaks as he visibly shudders at the mention of his 16-year-old twin sisters, Ginny and Lizzy.

“Yeah, no. If I ever wanna get eviscerated I’ll try to find more pain-free ways, thank you,” he says, but his words cannot hide the love and affection he has for them.

“Well, I hope I don’t let anything slip out to them. I’d hate it if your suffering happened because of something I said.”

The betrayal on his face is enough to make me bite the inside of my cheek to stop my smile.

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Oh, I’m pretty sure I would.”

“But you’re my best friend. You’re supposed to be on my side.”

“I am always on your side. I actually think they could help you get some perspective.”

He aims a blank stare at me that makes it harder not to laugh.

“I’m pretty sure their answer would be to either go egg Katie’s car, or swap her shampoo and conditioner bottles.”

“See? Perspective.”

Cooper keeps his blank stare for a few seconds longer before we both bark out our laughter at the image.

The sun is about to set and a faint whiff of tepid air ruffles my hair.

I notice when our chuckles die down and Coop’s hand settles on my shoulder. His humor is still there in his expression, though there is still a subtle undertone of wistfulness.

“Thanks, Liam.” He doesn’t say anything else and he doesn’t need to.

He doesn’t need to thank me. He should know that he’s great just the way he is. That he’s more than enough.

He should know that he’s everything.

***

That night after I get home, the weight I carry on my shoulders feels heavier than the day before.

After Cooper and I rested for a bit, we headed home, making plans to talk tomorrow.

My dad was waiting for me to have dinner together, like we do almost every night, since it’s just the two of us. We talked about the mystery novel he’s been reading, and I let him go wild with his theories and speculations like he loves to do, chipping in here and there with my own speculations.

This has always been kind of our thing, but today my thoughts have been all over the place.

As I lie sleepless, my mind wanders to the day I first met Cooper and Nate.

Nate is great. Nate is my buddy, the friend I can always count on to have my back. Even if it gets our asses kicked.

But Coop.

Coop should be what Nate is. Coop expects me to be what Nate is.

But he’s not. And I’m not.

And every day it becomes harder and harder not to let myself slip.

My hand still burns where I touched the skin on his nape. I clench my fist hard, to preserve the sensation a little while longer. Or maybe to smother it until it’s gone.

All I know is I’m already slipping.