21. Everly

21

Everly

M y heart pounded in my chest as Cooper's lips met mine in the dimly lit skate closet. The world outside ceased to exist; it was just us, entwined in a moment that felt like it could last forever. His hands held my waist firmly, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us. The kiss was electric, igniting a fire that spread through my veins, consuming every part of me.

His lips moved with a hunger that matched my own. Each kiss deepened, our breaths mingling in the small space. My fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer as if afraid he might disappear. His rough stubble grazed my cheek, a contrast to the softness of his lips.

I couldn't get enough of him. The taste of him, the feel of his body pressed against mine—it was intoxicating. My skin tingled everywhere he touched, sending shivers down my spine. It felt like I was on fire, and only he could quench the flames.

Cooper's hands roamed up my back, pulling me even closer. I could feel his heartbeat matching the frantic rhythm of mine. Our kiss grew more urgent, more desperate, as if we were trying to make up for all the time we had lost.

But then, just as suddenly as it began, Cooper slowed the kiss. His lips softened against mine before he pulled away slightly. His amber eyes had darkened to a rich brown, filled with an intensity that took my breath away.

He leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on the tip of my nose. It was tender and sweet, a stark contrast to the passionate fire we had just shared. It made my heart flutter in a different way.

"We should probably get back out there," he murmured, his voice low and husky.

I nodded, still trying to catch my breath. But even as we prepared to step back into reality, I couldn't help but lean in for one last taste of him—a fleeting kiss that promised there would be more moments like this.

As we separated and started to leave the closet, I felt a smile tugging at my lips. For now, I was content to bask in the afterglow of our stolen moment together.

The moment Cooper and I stepped out of the skate closet, I froze. A couple of students stood there, eyes wide with curiosity and mischief. My cheeks burned with embarrassment; I hadn't expected an audience.

Cooper sighed, his expression darkening. "Dammit," he muttered under his breath. "Don't you have anything better to do than come here on break?" His voice barked out like a drill sergeant, echoing off the rink walls.

I shot him a look, hoping he'd catch the silent plea in my eyes. This wasn't helping. But he ignored me, too caught up in his irritation.

"What are your sizes then? Come on, I don't have all day."

Needing a moment to compose myself, I excused myself quickly and headed to the restroom. The cool tiles under my feet did little to calm my racing heart. I ran the faucet and let the cold water splash into my hands before patting my face with it.

Staring at my reflection, I took a deep breath. "You're falling for him," I whispered to the girl in the mirror. The realization hit me hard, sending a thrill through my veins.

My heart skipped a beat at the thought. Part of me felt excited—like I was standing on the edge of something wonderful and terrifying all at once. The other part of me worried about what this meant for us both.

I took another deep breath, feeling the coolness of the water still lingering on my skin. This was uncharted territory for me—raw and real in ways I'd never experienced before.

I took a deep breath, my eyes locked on my reflection in the mirror. Cooper wasn't exactly who I expected Prince Charming to be. He wasn't traditionally handsome; he was mean, abrasive, even violent. But with me... it was like he softened. And I liked that I got to see a side of him no one else did. He treated me well, and he was a good kisser.

I wanted more, I realized with a sudden clarity that made my heart race. I wanted to do more with him.

The blush crept back into my cheeks, but I didn't look away from my reflection. I wasn't ashamed of what I wanted, and I knew he was the right person. I wanted it to be with him. But how could I ask? What could I do?

"Hi Coop, I'd like to have sex with you today," I said to my reflection, testing out the words.

No. No way.

I shook my head, dismissing the idea.

"Hey Coop, I was thinking, maybe we could take our relationship to the next level?" I winced at how awkward it sounded.

No, that wasn't right either.

I took a deep breath, gathering my courage. "Hey Coop, I really want to have sex with you. What do you say?"

Absolutely not.

I wished they taught something like this. How did sex even happen? In every book and show I watched, it seemed to come naturally. But every time Cooper and I made out, he would pull away. I was positive it had to do with him not wanting to rush me, so I knew I had to figure out a way to tell him I was ready.

But how?

I huffed a breath.

There needed to be a class on this. It was all so… complicated.

With one last look at my reflection, I steeled myself and headed back out into the rink area.

I stepped out of the bathroom, the cool air from the rink biting at my cheeks. My eyes immediately landed on Cooper, who was in the middle of attempting to teach two students how to stop while skating. He looked frustrated, his usual calm demeanor slipping as he barked out instructions.

"Bend your knees! Shift your weight!" His voice echoed across the ice, but the students wobbled, their skates scraping against the surface awkwardly.

A smile tugged at my lips. Watching him lose his patience was oddly endearing. I grabbed my skates from behind the counter and sat down, ready to lace them up. The familiar ritual of tightening the laces grounded me, each pull and knot bringing a sense of normalcy back.

Just as I was finishing up, the doors to the rink swung open with a loud creak. A group of guys walked in, their presence immediately noticeable. But I paid them little attention, too focused on making sure my skates were laced just right. I didn't want any distractions.

I tugged at the last lace, securing it tightly when a shadow fell over me. I looked up, my breath catching in my throat.

The guys stood in front of me, tall and broad-shouldered with confident grins plastered on their faces. One had sandy blond hair that fell into his eyes, while the other had a buzz cut that emphasized his chiseled jawline. Their varsity jackets hinted at their connection to some sport—probably baseball or football.

It took a moment before recognition flickered in my mind. They were from Zach's frat house. I had seen them at the party.

"Well, if it isn't Everly," said the one with the buzz cut, his grin widening as he spoke.

I straightened up, feeling a mixture of curiosity and apprehension swirl inside me. "Hey," I replied cautiously, glancing briefly at Cooper. His eyes immediately locked onto me, which relaxed me more than I expected.

The blond guy chuckled. "You're a hard girl to track down."

"What do you want?" My voice came out steadier than I felt.

"An apology, for starters," Buzz Cut said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"An apology?" I asked flatly, looking from one to the other.

"For what you did to Zach," Blond Guy responded. "He's in the hospital because of you."

"Because of me?" I furrowed my brow, trying to piece together what he was saying.

"He gave you the time of your life and you repay him by running to Daddy," Buzz Cut sneered.

"I'm sorry to hear what happened to Zach," I said, standing up and facing them. "Truly, I am. But my father is dead."

"It's an expression," Buzz Cut replied in disbelief. "We all saw Cooper Sinclaire beating the shit out of him. And we're here to tell you that you better watch your step?—"

"Don't tell me you boys are actually threatening her," Cooper's voice came from behind me, a dangerous edge to it. "Not after what I did to your little boyfriend."

"Ugly motherfucker, sleeping with the stupid because it's the only way you'll get laid," Blond Guy spat.

"Cooper isn't ugly," I said, genuinely confused by their insults. "And it's really rude to call him names."

"Look at the whore, defending him," Buzz Cut sneered.

Cooper's hand shot out, grabbing Buzz Cut by the shirt and pulling him close. "That's twice you've disrespected her in front of me," he said through clenched teeth. "There will not be a third."

I clenched my teeth, my stomach knotting with anxiety. Confrontation wasn't something I liked or was used to handling. But I refused to show that weakness in front of them. My eyes darted between Cooper and the two guys, hoping it wouldn't come to blows but bracing myself if it did.

"Tell me, Coop ." Buzz Cut sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "Does she taste as sweet as she looks? I heard Zach had her while she was still ripe and now, all you have is sloppy seconds."

My heart pounded in my chest, my face burning with humiliation. The words felt like knives, each one sharper than the last.

"Fucking slut," Blond Guy added, his tone laced with contempt.

Cooper moved so fast I barely saw it coming. His fist connected with Buzz Cut's face first, then swung around to Blond Guy. The sound of the hits echoed through the rink, sharp and brutal.

Buzz Cut staggered back, clutching his face. "You can't do that!" he shouted, pain and anger mingling in his voice.

"I just did," Cooper growled, his eyes blazing with fury. "Now get the fuck out before I put you in the hospital so you can visit Zach on a more permanent basis."

The guys shot each other a look before turning on their heels and leaving, their anger palpable in every step they took.

As soon as they were out of sight, I reached for Cooper's hand. "You shouldn't have done that," I said softly, my voice trembling despite my efforts to keep it steady.

He yanked his hand away from mine, his jaw clenched tight. "You can't let them talk like that about you," he muttered before turning and heading out onto the ice without another glance in my direction.

I stood there, watching him skate away, feeling a mix of confusion and hurt swirl inside me. My teeth clenched as I fought back the tears threatening to spill over. I didn't understand why he was mad at me—why he always seemed to push me away just when I thought we were getting closer.

But I wasn't going to push it. Not now. Not when everything felt so raw and uncertain. So instead, I took a deep breath and forced myself to focus on something else—anything else—to keep from breaking down right there in the rink.

I stepped onto the ice, feeling the familiar chill seep through my bones. The world outside faded, replaced by the soothing glide of my blades against the frozen surface. I pushed off, letting the motion carry me away from everything—Cooper's anger, the guys' cruel words, my own insecurities. Here, on the ice, I was free.

Each stride felt like a release, my worries melting away with every smooth movement. The rink became my haven, a place where I could lose myself in the rhythm and flow. I twirled and spun, reveling in the sensation of weightlessness. For a moment, it was just me and the ice, nothing else mattered.

The two students eventually left, their laughter and chatter fading into the background. It was just Cooper and me now. I sucked in a breath and decided to skate over to him without saying anything.

I skated alongside him; the silence stretching between us like a chasm. The only sound was the sharp slice of our blades against the ice, a rhythmic melody that echoed through the empty rink. I kept my gaze fixed ahead, but I could feel his presence beside me, solid and unyielding.

From the corner of my eye, I watched him. His jaw was still clenched, his brows furrowed in concentration. But even in his anger, he was breathtaking. The way his body moved, all power and grace, sent a shiver down my spine. His hair, tousled from the exertion, fell across his forehead in a way that made my fingers itch to brush it back. And his eyes, those piercing amber eyes, seemed to hold a storm within them. He was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, and it made my heart ache in ways I couldn't quite understand.

"I won't always be there," Cooper growled after another moment. "I need to know you can take care of yourself."

"Then you have to give me the opportunity to," I shot back. "Just because I'm not going to hit them doesn't mean I can't take care of myself."

He stopped abruptly, so we were in the middle of the ice. "You have to realize that people are going to say stuff about you because of me," he said, frustration clear in his tone.

"Yes," I replied.

"Yes?" Cooper threw out his arms. "It's just that easy? Yes?"

"I don't care," I said firmly.

"You should," he said, his voice laced with exasperation. "Maybe you are stupid. Sugar, I'm not the person you take to your mother. I'm the one you fuck, not the one you marry."

"Why not?" I asked, my voice steady.

"I…" He shook his head. "Because I'm not the marrying kind."

"Maybe not for them," I said. "But I'm not them."

"Stop," he said sharply.

"What?" I asked.

"Just… stop. Don't say things you don't mean," he said.

"I do mean them," I insisted. "Cooper, I'm falling for you. I want to be with you. I want you in all the ways there are."

"What are you saying?" he asked, his eyes searching mine.

"I want to have sex with you," I said, my voice unwavering.

He laughed, a bitter edge to it that cut through the chill of the rink.

"They just called you a whore for what I did?—"

"I don't care," I repeated, my voice steady.

"Stop," he said, halting abruptly and causing me to stop as well. His eyes bored into mine, a mix of frustration and something deeper, something raw.

"Am I not allowed to choose who I want to do this with?" I asked, searching his face for answers. "I'm of age, aren't I? You can't infantilize me when it's convenient and then go on and say I have the power to choose what happens to my own body."

"If we go there," he said in a low voice, stepping closer. "If we cross that line, I'm not the kind that shares. We cross that bridge, sweetie, there's no going back. Do you understand me?"

His eyes were intense, burning with a fierce determination. The way he towered over me should have been intimidating, but I felt no fear. Instead, there was an electric thrill coursing through me.

"Does that go both ways?" I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper.

He looked at me one last time before pulling me in for a hungry kiss. His lips crashed against mine with an urgency that took my breath away. The world around us faded into oblivion as his hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer.

Every touch ignited a fire within me, and I responded with equal fervor. My hands found their way into his hair, tugging him closer still. The kiss deepened, and all the tension between us melted away, replaced by something far more powerful.

When we finally broke apart, both of us were breathing heavily. His forehead rested against mine as he spoke, his voice rough and filled with emotion.

"This isn't a game for me," he said, his voice low. "I don't do halfway."

"Neither do I," I replied, my heart pounding in my chest.

His eyes searched mine for any hint of doubt but found none. With a sigh of resignation mixed with relief, he pulled me into another kiss—this one slower, more deliberate—as if savoring every moment we had together on that cold rink.

And in that kiss, I knew we had crossed the bridge together—no turning back now.