Page 34 of You Can Make Me

Denny threw his empty water can at Gene, and Sam burst out laughing—but I had a flash of memory. No, it couldn’t be the same two old ladies. I’d have to ask Denny about them later.

“Come on, sweetheart. Behave,” Sam said, scolding Gene. “Denny, I fully support you in all things. Whether you’re bisexual, pagan, or even a vegan, I’ll always love you.”

“Lapsed vegan,” he said, with mock seriousness. “And I love you, too, even if your husband is a pain in my ass.”

Gene sprang off the couch, and I pulled my feet back just in time before he plopped onto Denny’s lap. Gene held his face while he kissed him repeatedly. Denny groaned, pushed him away half-heartedly, and wiped at his face.

“God, why the kissing? Always the kissing! Sam, is he this slobbery with you?”

She laughed so hard she started sucking in breaths, sounding very near to a seal.

As soon as Gene was up, I turned myself around and placed my head in Denny’s lap. When he looked surprised, I reached up and patted his cheek. “To protect you from Gene’s kisses.”

His warm smile as he gently threaded his fingers in my hair nearly stopped my heart.

This man was a precious gift, and I was going to do everything in my power to make all of my bad behavior up to him.

“Denny, tell us about that psychic. I want to meet her. I wonder if she’d work with Elia and Roz.”

I could tell Sam was trying to ease the subject away from whatever had Gene and Denny clamming up. Of course, now my curiosity was piqued more than ever, but I snuggled into Denny’s lap and relaxed to the sound of his warm voice speaking about a psychic they used to find missing people. I was fascinated, but also exhausted…

The next thing I knew, Denny was setting me on the bed and sliding my socks off.

“Please, Den?”

“What’s wrong, baby?” He bent over me and smoothed my hair back, worry in his expression.

“Stay? I don’t want to pressure you, but…just lie with me?”

He stood up and exhaled. “Cooper, you need your rest. I don’t want to disturb you.”

“And I’ll rest. With you here. Please?”

It wasn’t fair of me to ask him before we talked about us again, but I needed him tonight. All the talk about my assault threatened to crack open the walls I’d erected to keep the panic at bay. I knew Sam meant well, but I wasn’t ready to go there.

“Look, if you go out and sleep on the couch or wherever the hell you’ve been sleeping, I’m just going to follow and drape my wasted body over you.”

“Cooper. I know what I said earlier, but I don’t want to push you. You need to be sure.”

“Iamsure.”

“I’m trying to do what’s right?—”

“Then get in here. Please don’t make me beg.”

He waited a few beats before kicking off his shoes. He pulled off his shirt but left his jeans on.

I recognized this behavior, though. He got flustered occasionally when he was giving me my way but still thought he needed to be all noble and shit. It was cute, but he needed to get in this bed.

He finally lay on top of the blankets on his back, with his arms crossed over his chest.

I didn’t speak for a long time, but I rolled on my side to face him and through the dim light from the window, I watched his forehead lines grow deeper.

“Denny? Can I ask you a question?”

“Yeah. What do you need?”

I blew out a breath.”Do you regret what happened between us?”