Page 51 of Enticed

“Because it was embarrassing and horrible to talk about it. I felt like by not saying it out loud, it would make it less real. But I’ve been going to therapy and it’s helping. I’m sorry… I just felt like you guys have so much going on in your lives, the last thing you needed was my shit added on to it too.”

“You will always be a priority in our lives, Clara,” Perry interjects as Amy and Olivia agree. “I know you always feel like you have to handle everything on your own, but no one expects you to do that except for you.”

“You can tell us anything, Clara. We will always be here,” Olivia stares me in the eyes as I listen to her words. Her bright red hair is cascading all around her face, her hazel eyes are full of tears, and she looks like I might crumble in her arms. But I hear her—and I want to so desperately tell her about my feelings for Cooper, but I just can’t. Not yet.

I made a huge move tonight, divulging the truth about my attack to my friends. But the truth about my heart and the palpitations I get around Cooper—yeah, I think we’ll wait on that part.

Once the girls and I hug it out, they offer to help clean up the kitchen, but I assure them it’s fine. We say our goodbyes and as I shut the door when they leave, I brace myself on the back of the wood, close my eyes, and exhale the weight of one of my secrets leaving my body and mind.

“Cooper?” I enter my room again, searching for the other secret I’m still keeping—hoping I can hold on to it a little while longer. It’s not that I want Cooper to be my dirty little secret, but knowing that our time together is something just between us makes me feel determined to protect it from outside influences a little while longer.

“Hey. How’d it go?” He comes out of the bathroom again, reaching for me and pulling me into his arms.

“It went well. They were mad I didn’t say anything sooner, but they’re glad I finally came clean.”

“Do you feel better?” His thumbs brushes over my cheek as I close my eyes and melt into the feeling of him cherishing me.

“I do,” I say as I flick my eyes open and meet his staring down at me.

“Good. Just so you know, I left the Tupperware soaking in your bathroom sink so the food didn’t dry on.”

I crack a smile at his gesture. “How romantic.”

“Hey, stuck on food is no joke, sweetheart,” he kisses my forehead before moving around me towards the door.

“Where are you going?” I ask, watching him walk away and feeling like my safety net is going with him.

“Getting ready to leave,” he answers like it’s no big deal, because normally that’s what he’d do. We’d fuck, eat, fuck again, and then he’d be on his merry way.

But tonight—after every emotion I just sifted through and exposed to my best friends, the last thing I want is to be alone. I know it’s breaking one of my own rules, but who says we can’t modify our arrangement. I’m not ready for Cooper to leave, and this is the first time I’m going to allow myself to give in to that.

“What if you stayed?” I offer as he faces me fully now.

“You want me to stay the night? Isn’t that against the rules?”

“What if we modify the rules?”

Cooper tilts his head at me in wonder. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” I answer with no hesitation. “I don’t want to be alone—not tonight. I just want to feel safe—and you make me feel safe, Coop.”

Cooper straightens his spine and I swear he puffs out his chest with pride. “I’ll always keep you safe, Clara,” he says before making his way back across the room and sweeping me up in his arms, lying me down on the bed as he hovers over me.

His soft lips find mine and we kiss—all hands and lips and desperation—surrendering to the connection we feel when we’re together. The weight of him resting over me is a comfort I’ve come to crave, and I can’t even fight it any more. Cooper makes love to my mouth with his own and I lose myself in him until we finally break apart.

He helps me clean up the kitchen and then we shut off all the lights, change into some pajamas—only underwear for Cooper since he was unprepared for our sleepover—and we crawl under the covers, where he wraps me up in his arms and I fall asleep at peace for the first time in almost six months.

Chapter 18

Clara

“Oh, my Gosh! This is too cute for words!” Olivia holds up the miniature princess-style dress in a light, rosy pink, with a tulle skirt and sequins on the bodice. The collective oohh’s and aahh’s of the women gathered in the living room of Kane and Olivia’s house as she opens up her baby shower gifts echo through the space. Dusty pink and gold decorations hang around the room—banners celebrating the arrival of a new baby girl, balloons floating below the high ceilings, and tables draped in a silky fabric make this the most elegant baby shower I’ve ever been to.

“I wish they had that in my size.” Perry projects her voice over the conversation of the guests as a few ladies chuckle.

“And where would you wear that? Tony’s?” I tease her as I sip my iced tea and watch my best friend add to her stack of goodies. This little girl is already so loved and spoiled and she’s not even here yet. And Auntie Clara will only add to that nonsense once she is.

I love babies—their smell, the way they curl up in your arms or against your chest when they’re sleeping. The way their face can communicate the most pure sense of contentment after their bellies are full and they give in to the sleep their bodies crave after they feast. I could hold a baby all day.

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