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“That’s not what I meant.”
“No, I know,” I admit. “It’s just easier to hide, you know? To be a miserable fucker so no one wants to get to know me better. It’s easier than lying.”
I hate the look in his eyes as he stares at me.
“Everyone should know you, Cooper. You’re awesome.”
I smirk at him. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. I’m so glad you pulled me into that closet on New Year’s Eve.”
The memory of how brazen I was that night hits me, and now it’s my face that’s heating.
“I still can’t believe I did that,” I mutter before shoveling a forkful of food into my mouth.
“Why did you?”
“Because it was New Year’s Eve. Because everyone should have someone to kiss at midnight. Because I’d spent all night watching you dance with Darcy and—” I slam my lips closed when I register where this is going.
“And…” Garrett encourages.
“And nothing. I just wanted a kiss.”
Garrett laughs. The deep, rumbling sound wraps around me like a warm hug.
“You’re such a liar. Is it so hard to say how you really felt?”
“Lonely, surrounded by loads of happy couples?”
“Yeah, I guess that works. Not what I was getting at, though.”
His eyes hold mine, begging me to say what we both know was true from that night.
“Ugh, fine. I was jealous, okay?” The smile he gives me makes my confession worth it. “I’d watched you dancing with Darcy, and I wanted a turn. I was pissed when I thought you’d left with him before I got my chance. You were the only thing that kept me at that party. Once you were gone, I had no other reason to stay. I was leaving when I saw you saying goodbye to him. I figured, if you guys were serious, then one, he wouldn’t up and leave that close to midnight, and two, you’d go with him. But you didn’t; he left you standing there on the sidewalk alone. So I took my opportunity while I had the chance.”
“It was a risky move for you,” he says.
“Yeah, well. I’d had whiskey. You know how that gets me,” I tease.
“Ah, yes, now I understand.” His eyes bounce between mine and my lips. “I’m glad you did it. You made my entire year in the first few seconds; I hope you know that. I went back to New York obsessing over that kiss.”
“Admit it—that’s why you came back, wasn’t it? You wanted a second kiss?”
“I mean…I was ever hopeful. You rocked my world, Cooper Nash, and it hasn’t been right since.”
“Wow, that was a line,” he laughs.
“What?” I gasp. “No, it wasn’t. It was straight from the heart.”
“Whoa, don’t start talking like that, I might just have to kick you out.”
He sniggers. “You’d regret it if you did that,” he states confidently.
“Is that right?”
“Yep. You’d be forced to use your own hand, and you’d quickly discover how much that pales in comparison to mine.”
“I already discovered that yesterday,” I mutter.
