Page 43 of The Riskiest Move

“I do. I’m partial to the idea of aliens visiting ancient civilizations and influencing their development. You know, like helping build the pyramids.”

“Yeah, I’ve wondered if it’s true. I don’t know how they’d have been able to build those without assistance.”

“Yeah, it’s fascinating to think about,” he says, his voice still a little husky. “The precision and engineering involved in structures like the pyramids is mind-boggling for the time period.”

I nod, grateful for the shift back to safer conversational ground. “Definitely. And then there are all those ancient cave drawings that seem to depict alien-like figures. It makes you wonder.”

We start walking again, our feet sinking slightly into the damp sand. The sun has almost completely set now, leaving the sky a deep indigo. A cool breeze blows in from the ocean, and I shiver slightly.

Cooper notices and moves closer, his arm slipping around my waist. “Cold?”

I nod, leaning into his warmth. “A little. I didn’t realize how chilly it was getting out here.”

“We should probably head back,” he says, making no move to turn around.

“Probably,” I agree, also not wanting our walk to end.

We stand there for a moment, looking out at the darkening ocean. The rhythmic sound of the waves is soothing, and I find myself relaxing further into Cooper’s side.

“Thank you for this,” he says. “For inviting me over, for the walk. It’s exactly what I needed.”

I turn my head to look at him, smiling. “I’m glad. That’s what friends are for, right?”

Cooper nods, but there’s something in his eyes I can’t quite read. “Right. Friends.”

We stand there for another moment, the weight of unspoken words hanging between us. Finally, I shiver again, more dramatically this time.

“Okay, that’s it,” Cooper says with a chuckle. “Let’s get you back before you freeze.”

We turn and start retracing our steps, his arm still around my waist. The conversation flows easily as we discuss our favorite beach memories and the best local spots to watch the sunset.

We collect our shoes and do our best to brush the sand from our feet before putting them on. Cooper’s arm wraps around me once more for the final stretch of our walk. As we approach my front door, I feel a twinge of disappointment that our evening is coming to an end. He seems to hesitate as well.

“Thanks again for tonight,” he says, his hand lingering on my back. “It really helped take my mind off things.”

I smile up at him. “Anytime. That’s what I’m here for.”

Cooper leans in, and for a moment I think he might kiss me. Instead, he pulls me into a warm hug. I wrap my arms around him, breathing in his scent.

“Goodnight, Scarlett,” he says, pulling away.

“Goodnight, Cooper. Drive safe.”

I watch as he walks to his car and slips inside. He waves before he backs from the driveway. Once he’s gone, I let out a long sigh and head inside.

My mind is swirling with conflicting emotions as I get ready for bed. The evening felt so easy, so comfortable, and I didn’t want it to end. And as I drift off to sleep, I can’t help but replay moments from our evening together—the way Cooper looked at me on the beach, how natural it felt to be in his arms, the almost-kiss at my doorstep. I try to push those thoughts aside, but a small part of me wonders if there could be something real developing between us.

CHAPTER 12

COOPER

As I drive home from Scarlett’s, my mind keeps replaying moments from our evening together. The way she comforted me after the game, our easy conversation over tacos, and especially our walk on the beach. I can still feel the warmth of her body against mine as we strolled along the shoreline.

I shake my head, trying to clear these thoughts. This arrangement with Scarlett is just for show. I can’t let myself get too invested. But there’s no denying the connection I feel with her. It’s more than just physical attraction; she understands me in a way few people do.

When I get home, Cassie is curled up on the couch, watching TV. She looks up as I walk in.

“Hey, bro. How are you holding up after that tough loss?”

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