Page 43 of Chasing Elliott
Cooper pressed a kiss to my cheek before we turned to see Benjamin watching Kara. My mind suddenly began to wander, tuning out whatever he was asking her. Was it normal forsomeone who was only sleeping with a person to know this much about them?
“Earth to El,” Benjamin suddenly said, pulling me out of my stupor. “It’s your turn.”
“What’s my favorite movie?” Cooper asked, staring at me with a knowing expression.
I raised a brow. “You mean our favorite movie? Tommy Boy.”
Cooper chuckled as Benjamin groaned, narrowing his eyes on us with suspicion. Heshrugged as Kara smiled softly before resting her head on Benjamin’s shoulder.
“You’re just jealous that I found a girl with similar taste in movies as me,” he teased as he tightened his arm around me.
“So, you like oldmovies, too?” Kara pondered which caused Benjamin to choke on alaugh.
“Really, Elli?” Benjamin directed at me with a raised brow and a smirk on his face.
Cooper angled his head so he could stare at me with that brooding expression he often wore. “And I didn’t even have to play Wham outside your window yet.”
“You remembered,” I whispered, somewhat surprised, resting a hand on his chest.
“Of course I did,” he replied, resting his forehead against mine. I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his as he cupped my face in his free hand.
Kara and Benjamin huffed at the same time,but I didn’t pull back as I bit down softly on his bottom lip. “Get a room.”
“Can we? Do we have time?”
I laughed as I shook my head before burying my face in his neck. I could feel him smiling as he rested his head against the top of mine and I found myself closing my eyes. Isuddenly heard the sound of a camera click and looked over to see Kara sitting with a sheepish smile on her face as she quickly put her phone down.
The game only lasted for about half an hour with Cooper and I winning by two questions. Thankfully Benjamin didn’t seem as bummed as he did last time as he stood up and reached forKara’s hand before they walked up the stairs to her room.
I released a gentle sigh, wrapping my arms around his neck. Cooper suddenly pushed down on the footrest, slipping an arm under my legs and standing. He carried me toward thestairs and to my room.
He closed the door behind us, laying me down on the bed and covering me with the blanket. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to my forehead before he turned around to head out the door, but I reached out and grabbed his wrist.
Cooper glanced back at me as I gave him a tired, lazy smile before pulling him down onto the bed beside me. He smiled and brushed some of the hair out of my face, the two of us just staring at one another.
“Will you stay with me again?” I asked, rolling over so I was on my back.
Smiling, he nodded before climbing over me and stripping out of his shirt and jeans. Sliding under the blankets beside me, I immediately crawled over and rested an arm over his chest, my head leaning on his shoulder.
It didn’t take long for me to fall asleep, the sound of his even breathing lulling me under.
I quietly slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Cooper as I tiptoed my way toward thedoor. Stepping into the hallway, I flipped up the hood on my onesie and walked down the stairs into the kitchen. I poured some fresh coffee into a mug before turning around and spotting Karasitting in front of the television.
“Hey, honey,” I said as I fell into the recliner. “How was the rest of your night?”
“Pretty good,” she answered as she bit her lip and her cheeks heated. My eyes widened as I set my mug down on the coffee table and leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees.
“Oh my, did you?” I questioned excitedly, trying to keep my voice somewhat quiet sincethe boys were still sleeping.
Kara frantically nodded her head, a squeal I hadn’t heard before escaping her lips. “It was amazing. He’s definitely not selfish, I’ll tell you that.”
I chuckled as I shook my head and picked up my mug once more. I smiled and nodded to let her know I was listening even though I really wasn’t. Was I happy for her, of course; she deserved all the happiness in the world. And a small part of me, that part I had kept buried for so long, was starting to believe that maybe I did, too.
“So, what are your plans today?” She asked once she had stopped talking about her night with Benjamin.
“I have to be at the shelter in an hour,” I answered, climbing out of the chair and heading back into the kitchen to put my mug in the sink. “How about you?”
“I was going to meet up with my lab group to finish our project,” Kara started to say before she sighed. “But I much rather hang out here with you or Benjamin.”
