Page 12 of Cooper & Jake (Gomillion High Reunion #2)

The actual reunion party is later tonight; dinner, dancing, and some awards. I might be a little eager as I’m hoping to spend more time with Cooper later. One can hope, right?

“Earth to Jake-O,” Peyton says, waving his hand in my face.

I grab hold of his palm and flick it down. “You’re annoying,” I deadpan.

“You would think getting laid would have loosened you up more, but if anything, you’re wound tighter than before.”

“I am not,” I insist.

“Are too.”

“Am not.”

“Are—”

“Do you ever shut up?” I hiss, cutting him off. “I swear.”

“Oooh, feisty. And definitely wound tight.”

I scrub my palms down my face, sighing loudly.

Walking over to the bed, I sit down on the mattress.

“I’m fucked. Now that I’ve had my hands on him, how do I just say goodbye again?

I knew coming here might be a problem, but, fucking hell, I honestly didn’t think we would hook up with one another.

My expectations coming into this weekend were that if he showed up, we would probably say hi.

Maybe have a conversation or two and then go our separate ways. ”

“And what’s the problem with what happened?” he wonders, taking a spot on the couch on the other side of the bed.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’ve loved everything that’s happened with Cooper. From hanging out yesterday and having a late-night talk, to breakfast this morning, and— ahem —other things I’m not discussing with you. I’ve loved it all.”

“And?” he prompts, moving his hand in a please continue gesture.

“And… what if I want more? What if I can’t go back home after this weekend and just forget about him?

I did it once before, and yeah, it was hard, but it probably took me way longer to get over him than I’m ready to admit.

Now, I’m not ready to say goodbye, which is probably foolish because, once again, I’ve literally been back in his life for twenty-four hours. ” I sigh, realizing I sound pathetic.

“Why not stay a few extra days?” he suggests nonchalantly.

My heart beats wildly, his words swirling around. “What do you mean?”

“You don’t have to leave tomorrow. Hell, I can take care of everything at home for a few more days if you want to stay behind.”

“Stay behind,” I echo, my brain running wild with thoughts of what it would take to stay here for a few more days.

I mean, he’s right; he could easily handle the bar at home while I’m away.

And it’s not like there’s anything at home that needs my attention immediately.

Bailey is well taken care of right now. Staying here for a couple more days could give me the chance to befriend Cooper better.

At least more than just a few hurried conversations and hooking up. Could I actually stay longer?

“It’s a good idea, huh? I have those all the time. I don’t know why you don’t listen to me more often. All my plans are fucking perfect.” He shrugs, smirking at me as though he’s always right.

“You’re ridiculous. But you might be right,” I admit.

“ Psh . I’m always right.”

“There’s just one problem with your plan.”

“What’s that?” he asks, crossing one leg over the other.

“Figuring out when Cooper is leaving.”

Peyton waves his hand in the air. “Cooper is supposed to leave tomorrow, too. But don’t worry, I can help.”

“I hate to ask this, but what does that mean?”

“Don’t worry. I’ve got you, boo.”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m worried about.”

Peyton doesn’t say another word; he just shimmies his shoulders and pulls out his phone, texting away. “Just get ready. I’ll do the rest.”

Our entire graduating class is gathered together to take the group picture.

I might have been fashionably late, so I’m on the complete opposite side from Cooper.

He’s standing off to the right side in one of the front rows, while I’m on the left side way in the back.

I keep popping my head over, trying to get his attention, but he’s talking to the man next to him, who seems to be very enamored with Cooper.

My jealousy builds as I watch them talk and laugh while everyone else is getting ready for the picture.

The photographer holds the lens up, and while I should turn and face the camera, I don’t.

Nope, my vision is dead set on Cooper and the tall, hulky man next to him.

They both stop talking and face the person taking photos while they snap away at pictures.

Once they’re done, they wave to let us know we’re able to move around, and Cooper and the man find each other once again.

It’s fine. Everything’s fine. I’m fine.

I leave the crowded area and head over to the tables where they’re passing out yearbooks.

After giving them my name, they hand me a small book with a picture of Gomillion on the outside.

I walk away from everyone, finding an empty bench off to the side.

I’m just flipping the cover of the book open when a shadow looms over me.

“This spot taken?” Cooper asks, smiling down at me.

“You don’t want to go sit with that guy you were talking with earlier?” Cooper doesn’t say a word, just raises an eyebrow expectantly. I sigh loudly and shake my head. “I’m kidding. No one’s sitting here. It’s all yours.”

“Damn, you’re as jealous now as you were back in high school.”

“I was never jealous in high school,” I mutter, avoiding eye contact because I was, in fact, resentful of every guy who tried to give any attention to Cooper.

“Bullshit,” Cooper laughs, bumping his shoulder into mine. “I don’t know; I always found it sexy as hell that you would get so jealous.”

“Do you still find it sexy?”

“Is this you admitting you were jealous?”

“No,” I mumble, rolling my eyes. “Who was that anyway?”

“Brett. Remember him? He’s here with his wife and three kids. So, no, I don’t think he was flirting with me.”

“ Psh . Sure.”

“God, you’re so ridiculous,” he cackles, tossing his head back. Fuck, I want to lick up and down that throat. Suck on his pulse point and drive him wild, have him begging and pleading for my cock while I take him apart.

Clearing my throat, I squirm in my seat. “Fine. I might have been a wee bit jealous. Can you blame me, though? My dick was inside you less than four hours ago.”

“Trust me, Jake. I have not forgotten that at all,” he replies, his voice husky. “It’s been on a constant loop in my mind since you left.”

“Good.” I puff up my chest a little at the thought of him thinking of me the whole afternoon because he’s been on my fucking thoughts nonstop.

“Can you believe we finally got our yearbooks? Like, I’m low-key scared about what picture they used for me. I wasn’t the cutest back then.”

“Bullshit, you were sexy as fuck, Cooper. Then and now.”

“Thanks.” His cheeks pink up, and I lean forward, placing a kiss on his lips.

“Sorry,” I murmur when I pull away.

“Never be sorry. Kissing me is never something you should apologize for.”

“Let’s look at the yearbook,” I tell him, changing the subject. If I kiss him again, I’m going to try to drag him back to our hotel, and we still have a lot of things to do today. I reopen the yearbook, flipping to my last name. “Oh god, no.”

“Let me see,” he says, taking the book out of my grasp. “Oh my god, you look so good, Jake. I can’t believe they let you keep that damn hat on your head for the pictures.”

“I refused to take it off. My mom wanted me to dress all nice with a stupid tux, but there was no way I wouldn’t add my own touches to it. Now that I’m seeing the photos, I’m glad my mom never saw these; she would not have been happy with me. I look like a tool.”

Cooper chuckles, shaking his head. “This is exactly how I always remembered you. You still look so much like that young guy from back then. You’re just older and wiser.”

“Same as you. Older, wiser, and definitely been through some things that most people don’t have to go through. But still just as gorgeous as you were the day I met you.”

Cooper blushes and whispers, “Thanks. Now let’s look at mine.” He flips a couple of pages, then finds his image. “Oh my god, ew ! Why would they use this picture of me?”

I look over to see why he’s freaking out. “That’s exactly how you looked, Cooper.” I stifle a laugh when he looks at me wide-eyed. “What?”

“I did not look like this. What was I wearing? And am I wearing a choker? And one earring that’s dangling? Oh my god, this is photoshopped. It has to be.”

“Nope,” I laugh, tapping the picture of him in the book. “That’s just how you dressed. And it’s one hundred percent how I remembered you all these years.”

“Yuck. I’m moving on. Let’s see what other pictures are in here.” Cooper scans a few more pages, taking his time to look at each one closely. When he sees someone he recognizes, he calls out their name to show me. “Oh, wow. It’s us.”

I grab the yearbook to look at the picture closely.

Sure enough, there’s a picture of the two of us.

I can’t remember when it was taken, but it looks to be on the steps outside the school.

We used to sit on those stairs all the time.

My arm is wrapped around Cooper, and he’s snuggled in close to me, cheesing hard at the camera.

I’m not looking toward the lens, my gaze is focused on Cooper, a love-sick expression on my face.

It’s probably the same look I have when I look at him now.

“Damn, we look so young,” I say, feeling sadness over the life I thought I was going to live back then.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my damn life.

It’s almost perfect. But it’s definitely missing something.

Or someone. I’ve always been content with it only being me, but now my mind is starting to wander.

Thinking things it shouldn’t be considering.

Like what it would be like to come home to a person after a tough night at work, walking into my bedroom, and being able to snuggle up and talk to them about the day I had.

Or hell, even dinner at home. Most nights, I end up eating dinner at the bar because it’s easier and not as lonely as sitting at my empty table in my kitchen that no one ever sees.

“I happen to think we’re more gorgeous now. Well, at least you are.”

“Stop trying to flatter me. You’re the one who’s even more gorgeous now.” I tell him, clapping the yearbook shut. “Do you have any plans before the rest of the activities tonight?”

“I don’t think so. Wait, hold on.”

He takes his phone out of his pocket and starts typing away.

I glance away, looking out toward the school in the distance.

The sun is shining brightly, and it reminds me of home.

Gomillion isn’t as small as Cedar Creek, but it’s still a tiny town.

I wonder if Cooper’s town is like this or if he lives in a city.

I don’t think I could live in a huge city again.

I did it a few times, and it wasn’t for me.

“So, uh, Taylor and Peyton are waiting for us to go to dinner if you’re down? Taylor said it’s in case we don’t get to eat tonight. Plus, we have time to kill,” he says, locking his phone screen and putting it back in his pocket.

“Since when are Peyton and Taylor best friends?”

“I’m guessing the second we both ditched them for one another.”

“Ah yeah, that’s it.” Standing up, I reach my hand out to him. “Come on, let’s go meet our friends before they disown us for leaving them alone all weekend.”