Page 19 of Chasing Elliott
I carefully climbed off the back of his bike once we pulled into my parking lot, my eyes immediately falling on Nicholas’s car that still sat in front of our garage. I turned back to look at Cooper to see him holding my stuffed elephant out towards me. Once it was in my grasp, hewasted no time in undoing the buckle from under my chin.
“Thank you for tonight,” I told him genuinely. “I had a great time.”
“Me too,” he said quietly as he stared at me intently. “I really hope we can do this again sometime, Elli.”
I took a soft breath, trying to compose myself for a brief moment before I let him down. Again. “I don’t date, Coop, but I’d love for us to go out as friends.”
“Or we don’t put a label on it and see where things go,” Cooper countered with a shrug, resting his arms on the bike handles as he stared me down.
“You’re not going to make this easy for me, are you?”
Cooper smiled devilishly at me before he slipped the helmet onto his head and sent a wink my way. I stood there, somewhat shocked, as he started up the bike before his eyes foundmine. “Goodnight, Elliott.”
Before I had the opportunity to respond, he backed out of the parking spot and sped out of the lot. I found my feet planted to the spot as I watched him drive away, the elephant I held in my arms almost laughing at me. Snapping out of my trance, I spun on my heel and approached the door.
As I entered, I was greeted with the soft hum of the television in the living room, but allof the lights were off. I slipped out of my shoes and left them by the door, venturing into theroom and a smile grew on my face at the sight. Nicholas lay on the couch, one arm tucked under his head while the other dangled off the couch.
Laughing quietly, I stepped forward and grabbed the blanket off the back of the couch and carefully draped it over his body, making sure not to wake him. I bent down and brushed some of the hair away from his face before placing a kiss on his forehead. Just as I stood and spun around, I saw Kara in the hallway watching me with a smile.
“He insisted on staying till you got back from your date,” she informed me in a whisperas I approached. “He didn’t make it very long, though.”
“I know that look,” I responded as I brushed past her, ignoring the face she was giving me. “We can talk tomorrow.”
Kara chased after me as I walked up the stairs and into my room, stripping off the cardigan. “Or we can talk now.”
“Tomorrow, Kay,” I insisted, spinning around to pin her down with a tired expression.
“Fine,” she huffed as she turned around and left my room without another word.
I collapsed onto my bed, a heavy sigh escaping me at the feeling of the plush comforterengulfing me. Just as my eyelids started to droop, my phone buzzed in my back pocket. Reaching for it, I noticed a text from Johnathan, and I found myself dozing off to a cascade of conflicted thoughts.
My back arched off the bed as a breathy moan slipped past my lips, my orgasm incredibly close. One of his hands cupped the back of my neck and he collided his lips with my own to stifle the words that were about to escape. As I reached my high, I heard him grunt in unison, his pace slowing as he reached his release.
He collapsed beside me, both of us trying to catch our breath as we stared at the ceiling. His hand suddenly intertwined with mine that rested between us, and a small smile came to my lips at the action. Lazily turning my head, he met my gaze and returned the grin.
“I know it’s only been four days, but fuck I missed this,” Johnathan panted, and Icouldn’t help but chuckle.
“So did I,” I told him truthfully. I rested a hand on his chest and absentmindedly traced small patterns there.
Johnathan’s hand suddenly came up and gently grabbed mine, stopping me from continuing. “What’s on your mind?”
I sighed, flopping back down on the bed.Talk about a mood killer,I thought to myself as my mind drifted to the date I had with Cooper just two nights ago. Johnathan was my safe space, the only one who I couldn’t seem to let go of and the only guy who actually wanted to come back because he enjoyed my company, not just the sex.
So why did I find myself thinking about Cooper?
I had told him we were just friends and, even though he made it clear he was going to do everything in his power to change my mind, that meant the burden was off me. I made it clear where I stood which meant whatever happened between us, whatever the outcome may be, wasn’t my fault.
He knew what he was getting himself into.
“Nothing,” I lied, forcing a smile on my face, hoping he’d believe it was genuine. “Do you have to work today?”
“Unfortunately,” he mumbled, a heavy sigh of disappointment escaping him as he averted his gaze back up to the ceiling. “Will I see you later?”
I hesitated, thinking back on the text that Cooper had sent me earlier in the day. “Actually, Kara, Ben and I are going to the baseball game. Unless you get off early and make it, I doubt I’ll be seeing you tonight.”
“You’re going to watch Cooper play?” I couldn’t stop the small smile from growing on my face as I caught on to the jealousy that was lacing his tone.
“Are you jealous, Johnathan Veers?” I teased, resting my head in my hand as I stared at him.
