Page 22 of Make Me

“Up!”Ivy says, jumping up and down and pointing at Cooper. “Up!”.

“Come on, Ivy. Let’s get in the stroller so we can go.” She shakes her head and runs from me, laughing all the while. Her short, chubby legs don’t get very far before Cooper picks her up and puts her on his shoulders. Just like he’s been doing for the past two hours that we’ve been at the fair.

We’ve seen each other every day since Saturday. In fact, Ivy and I didn’t go home until Sunday night, hours after the storm had passed and the power returned. We’ve had dinner together every night since, and as soon as Ivy goes to bed, we put on a movie but never pay attention to it.

Even now, while we walk to the petting zoo, he has Ivy on his shoulders, holding on to both of her legs. I put my arm around his waist, and he looks down at me, smiling.

We haven’t gone beyond kissing, and I’m grateful for that. He doesn’t push me on anything, but he holds me in his arms, against his hard and broad chest every night until I fall asleep. Some nights, right before my eyes close, I feel how hard he is, but I always wake up in the morning, alone and in my bed.

Tonight is the first night we’ll be by ourselves since last weekend. As soon as we leave the fair, we’re dropping Ivy off at Aunt Mae’s for the night. We haven’t talked about our plans. For all I know, he might have better things to do than to be with me, but even as I think that, I know I’m being ridiculous.

“You should get her a pet,” he whispers in my ears, sending goosebumps throughout my entire body. I look over, and Ivy is at the petting zoo playing with a baby goat.

Cooper puts his arm around me and pulls me closer. Even though he’s done that countless times this past week, I’m always shocked when he does it. I relax in his arms and watch as my daughter runs around the petting zoo with another kid her age.

“Maybe a kitty. Something low maintenance,” I tell him.

“Mama! Coopie! Come,” Ivy orders, waving us over. With Cooper’s arm still across my shoulders, we walk into the petting zoo and have fun with my daughter.

* * *

“Okay,” Aunt Mae says. “You two get out of here and go have some fun. Ivy will be just fine.” About an hour after the petting zoo, we’re sitting in Aunt Mae’s kitchen, drinking lemonade while Ivy watches Judge Judy with Uncle Hank.

“You sure you don’t want us to stay longer? I can help with dinner,” I offer. Aunt Mae pulls me out of my chair and hugs me tight.

“Get out of here and go enjoy your night.” She kisses the top of my head and says, “Cooper, come give Aunt Mae a hug and then get out of here.”

Minutes later, after saying goodbye to Ivy and Uncle Hank, we’re sitting in Cooper’s truck while he makes the short drive home. We’re quiet, but his fingers remain intertwined with mine the entire trip.

“How about I make us dinner?” he suggests. “I want to go get some ice cream for dessert.” I look at him, but his eyes are focused on the road. “What?” He asks, taking a quick glance at me. “What are you smiling at?”

“I can’t remember the last time someone other than Aunt Mae made me dinner, that’s all.” He lifts my hand and kisses it.

“Well, I’ve had a craving for steak since you ate most of mine the other night.”

“I can’t promise that won’t happen again.” I pat my stomach, and he laughs. He reaches over and tickles my side, and I can’t help the loud giggles that escape.

We’re both still laughing by the time he pulls into his driveway. Even from the truck, I can hear Sam barking inside.

“Your girl needs you,” I say, pointing my index finger at his house.

“My girl is right here. And she has me.” When I try to look away from his probing eyes, he doesn’t let me. He grabs my chin, forcing me to hold his gaze. I’m saved from speaking when he leans in and gives me a soft kiss. He runs a hand over my hair and caresses the back of my head, his lips never leaving mine.

“I’m going to shower and meet you at your place,” I say against his lips. He deepens the kiss, but to my disappointment, he pulls away all too soon and opens his door. I barely have mine open before he’s holding his hand out to me and helping me out of the truck.

He walks me to my door and kisses me again. He finally walks across to his place once I’m safely inside.

It doesn’t take me long to shower and wash the dirt and grime from the fair off my body. My hair is still in good condition, and I add moisturizer to my curls before throwing on a long, short-sleeved dress. This is long and loose enough to hide my soft, round stomach, but Cooper doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, his hands never seem to stop touching or roaming my body when we watch television at night.

I slide on a pair of sandals on my way out of the house.

He’s standing on his deck, grilling. He must have showered too because he’s wearing a pair of basketball shorts and no shirt. His back is facing me, and I admire the big spider web tattoo that covers his entire left shoulder. Even from here, his taut muscles flex, and something I haven’t felt in a long time hits me hard. But I shake my head and try to convince myself it’s the summer heat that’s causing the throbbing between my legs.

Sam must sense me, because she comes running across the back yard, likely searching for Ivy. When she realizes Ivy isn’t with me, she goes back to the porch and lies down.

“Hey.” He turns around at the sound of my voice, and my mouth goes dry at the sight of him. I haven’t seen him shirtless since my first night here. Feeling his hard body against mine every night and finally seeing it again are enough to short circuit my brain. Then he goes and smiles at me, and I miss a step. When I get closer, I smell the soap from his body. Before I can talk myself out of it, I lift a hand and run it through his damp, dark locks.

He pulls me closer, slamming my body into his, and lays a soft kiss on my exposed collar bone. “I made you a drink,” he says, his hot lips still on my skin. “It’s in the fridge.”

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