Page 99 of Out for the Night

“I’ll go with savory.” Matty took the pizza.

“Great. Because I really want that cookie.” Coop broke off a piece for himself, which he knew would cost him at the gym. He moved behind Matty and kissed his neck, before realizing they had company.

Aditi waved from Skype. Coop backed off the PDA with her brother.

“Always a pleasure,” Coop said to her. He enjoyed crashing their Skype calls, not just for the boyfriend points he’d score with Matty.

“We were having a quick chat as a I wrap up things here.”

“Slacker.” Coop gave Matty’s ass a secret squeeze off-camera. He loved making his boyfriend blush.

“So Coop, what are you up to this summer?” She asked.

“Working at CVS. Living the big life,” Coop deadpanned. It wasn’t glamorous, and he wondered whom from high school he would run into. He didn’t care, though. High school was over, and he had realized that trying to get his former classmates’ approval was such a waste of energy. He’d rather use that mental energy on rapping, or Matty, or even his courses.

“There’s this cute guy from my school who works at our CVS. If you meet him through some CVS Convention, you need to give me all the details,” Aditi said.

“There is no CVS convention, Aditi. And I doubt he’ll come into contact with any CVS employees from Texas,” Matty said.

“It was a joke,” she said. “One of those things people say that the other person is supposed to laugh at.”

Coop and Aditi shared a look.This guy. But they would both do anything for him. Coop massaged Matty’s shoulder.

“Never change, Matty. Never change.” Coop kissed his head. “How is your mom doing?”

“She’s making good progress,” Aditi said. A knowing smile crossed her lips.

“I can’t wait to see her when I come home next week.”

“Can’t…wait…to…see…you.” A strained, creaky voice came from off-screen. Matty’s squeezed Coop’s hand in hope.

His mom wheeled herself next to Aditi. Half of her face drooped, but Coop could see she was full of spirit bubbling under the surface.

“Mom!”

“Hi…Matty.” Each word was like a pull-up for her.

“She’s been taking speech lessons and going to physical therapy everyday,” Aditi said.

Matty couldn’t say anything. Coop watched him stare at the screen.

“I got a position on this really cool public health project. And I’m going to end my first year with straight-A’s. College is going really well so far.”

Coop could hear in his voice how badly Matty wanted to make his mom happy. He wanted to be this ray of sunshine for her path to recovery.

“I’m…proud…of…you.”

“I couldn’t have done it without your support, Mom.”

Coop didn’t want to interrupt this family moment, but he felt like the odd man out just standing there.

“It’s great to meet you, Mrs. Kapoor. I’m Coop.” He waved at the screen. “I’m a friend of your son’s.”

She blinked in recognition.

“Actually, Mom.” Matty’s hand was still squeezing Coop’s. “He’s my boyfriend.”

She blinked with something more than recognition that time. Aditi face was shocked enough for the both of them.