4. Maverick

Maverick

The smell of bacon wakes me up from a deep sleep. I can’t remember the last time that happened to me. But it’s definitely bacon.

I force myself to climb out of Cooper’s comfortable bed and make my way down the short hallway, letting my nose guide me. When I reach the kitchen, Cooper, George, and David are all in there, rushing around. George has his pajamas on from last night, cooking bacon at the stove. David is fully dressed in slacks and a button-down shirt. I think he’s a college student and on winter break too, so what he’s dressed up for, I’m not sure.

Cooper is still in pajama pants and a t-shirt that’s a little too big for his small frame. His glasses are pushed up on his nose, and his hair points in all directions as he stops mid-drink of his orange juice and just stares at me.

George and David do too, but it’s Cooper who has my attention. The way he looks at me is hard to describe, but for some reason it heats something inside me. I like it when he watches me.

“Good morning,” I say, and none of them move or speak. I’m not sure what’s going on. Were they talking about me before I came in here? Did I interrupt something?

I follow Cooper’s eyes, and they seem to be trailing down. I look down too and see that I’m still shirtless. Only wearing the borrowed black joggers from last night. “Oh, sorry. I got kind of warm last night and don’t usually sleep with a shirt on.”

“Do not apologize,” George says, and I smile in his direction before looking at Cooper, who seems to be blushing like crazy.

I like that too.

I like that I seem to fluster him, which is kind of messed-up, but I can’t seem to help it. There’s something about Cooper. I find myself wanting to be closer to him.

But I also know well enough to keep it to only mild flirtation. Cooper is important to our friend group too. Sebastian, Axel, hell, even Royal, are all very protective of him, as they should be.

He came into our group and just swept us all off our feet.

“Hungry?” George says, holding up a plate of bacon.

“Um, yeah.” My stomach growls loudly at the sight, and George chuckles. “I should probably go get dressed first.”

“Oh, please. Naked breakfast is totally fine,” George says, ushering me to sit at their small kitchen table.

“Oh my God, he’s not naked,” Cooper says, which makes me grin. I thank George when he places a plate of bacon, eggs, and toast in front of me. Cooper seems nervous as he finishes his juice and puts the glass in the sink.

“Well, I have to go get ready now. I need a shower.” His voice sounds flustered, and I watch him to see if he’s going to say more in that fast rapid-fire way he seems to when he’s nervous.

Sadly, he doesn’t. He just shuffles off, and George and David join me for breakfast, both looking amused, like they know something I don’t. Which they probably do.

We make small talk but don’t go too far into anything before I finish breakfast, and Cooper comes out of his room, freshly showered and dressed in jeans and a bright-blue shirt, which has Volunteer printed on it in block letters.

“Heading to the shelter?” I ask.

He nods, and I notice he’s not wearing his glasses now. He must have contacts in. Huh, I kind of miss the glasses. “Yes. I need to get there. But um . . .” He looks around nervously. “What about you?”

I stand up, still aware I’m not wearing a shirt, and his eyes go straight to my naked torso—kind of living there for quite some time. I’m not sure he even realizes he’s staring.

“I could go with you.”

“What?” His eyes widen as they drift up to my face again. “You want to go to the shelter with me?”

“Sure.” I shrug. “Why not?” For whatever reason, I’m not ready to go home yet. Finding myself wanting to be in his presence longer. Is it weird? Probably. But I don’t care.

“Umm . . . okay.”

“You mind if I take a quick shower?”

“No. Not at all. That’s totally fine. Wait just one second.” Before I can say anything else, he takes off toward his room, and George, David and I all stay put. Cooper rushes back in with a new t-shirt, holding it out for me. “This is clean too, if you want to wear it.”

I look at the shirt that must have belonged to a former lover, and I gotta tell you, for some reason, that bothers me. Knowing this guy stayed here and left his clothes. That he likely had his hands on Cooper but then let him go.

What an idiot.

I take the shirt—hating the former owner, even though I don’t know him. “Thank you. I’ll be quick.”

“O-okay. Fresh towels are in the closet in the bathroom. Do you need anything else?”

I shake my head, smiling at the red in his cheeks and head to the small bathroom to quickly shower and dress in my own jeans and the borrowed t-shirt. Then we say goodbye to George and David and head to the shelter.

I give Cooper a ride in my truck, telling him I’ll drop him back home later. He doesn’t argue with me, but he’s quiet on the ride to the shelter.

I want him to talk. Which is strange for me. Usually, I want people to just shut up—I beg for silence—but with Cooper I find myself disappointed when all we do is listen to music all the way there.

But as soon as we get out of the truck and into the shelter, Cooper is in his element. He rushes around, checking on all the animals, feeding them and loving on each one. I follow him around, watching in awe at the kindness and patience he has for each animal.

There’re a couple of other volunteers here, but it’s Cooper who has my full attention. “Well hello, Rosie!” Cooper says as he opens a cage holding a cute little dog with huge brown eyes, who can’t seem to control her little tail that won’t stop wagging.

Cooper leans down and scratches her behind the ears, and I just watch as she attacks him excitedly.

“Maverick, this is Rosie.”

“Hi, Rosie,” I say as Cooper pets her and gives her all kinds of loving, but I can see the wheels in his mind turning. “No.”

“What?” Cooper blinks up at me, all innocent like, but I know better. I’ve been fooled before by this look.

“I have a dog.”

“You have one dog,” he says incredulously, like that’s not nearly enough. Don’t get me wrong, I love the bulldog he talked me into. Ralph and I are pals—and don’t ask me why these animals get human names.

Cooper says they just come to him, like the animals are whispering their names to him. And it works.

“I do. I have one hellion who tears up all my stuff.”

“Well.” He has Rosie on his lap now, petting her as he looks up at me. “If he had a friend, maybe he wouldn’t be so bored.”

I look down at the dog, who’s looking up at me with the same hopeful eyes as Cooper. I never had a fucking chance. None of us ever do with him. We can’t say no. Our mansions are going to be filled with animals by the time Cooper’s done with all of us. And not one of us has any bad feelings about it because you just can’t. When Cooper talks you into a new animal, you’re left feeling nothing but positive feelings.

He’s a goddamn wizard. By the time he’s through, every single animal will have a home. And it’s kind of a beautiful thing. All the animal shelters in the world need a Cooper.

And I should have known better when I asked to tag along with him, but I was too lost in wanting to spend more time with him today to think about how I could possibly end up adopting another dog.

Before I know it, I’m filling out all the paperwork and buying treats and a collar before heading back to my house with Rosie and Cooper so Rosie can meet Ralph. Cooper said he’d go with me to help make sure the transition goes well, and I couldn’t refuse.

Damn, he’s good.