Promiscuous (Tease 2)

I glanced at Roman, who shrugged.

“Sure,” he said.

I squeezed his hand and smiled at him, appreciating the effort he was making.

“Hey, why don’t you stay here? There’s a spare bedroom. Doesn’t make sense for you to be staying in a hotel,” he said gruffly.

Wow. I glanced at Roman, a huge smile on my face. I was so proud of him.

“Thanks.” Coop met my eye. “I’ll do that.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Beth

“You seem really happy.”

I smiled at Coop. “I guess I am.”

“I’m glad, Beth. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you. Every time I think about how hard it must have been for you going through that alone…” He stopped and shook his head.

We sat on the beach a short walk from the shack. Roman refused to let me leave until he had sorted out the coke money. Not that I wanted to go anywhere just yet. The thought of the bad guys coming after me…I shuddered.

Roman knew someone who could track down the guys who owned the drugs. Ivan had given up their names in exchange for keeping his balls, according to Roman.

I kind of wished he hadn’t.

“I wanted to say to you that I’m sorry for ignoring your calls and texts for so long,” I said, reaching for Coop’s hand.

He turned to me in shock. “Are you serious? Beth, I don’t blame you for one second. I’m just glad I didn’t give up on you.”

“I’m glad too,” I mumbled. I hugged him. “So, how are you? How’s Mia? Are you still studying?”

“Yep, still studying. I’m liking it, but it’s much harder than I was expecting.”

“And Mia?” I asked again. Why did I feel nervous all of a sudden?

“Mia is good,” he finally said. “We’ve had our problems, but we’re getting there.”

I nodded. Was I the cause of their problems? Coop had spent so much of the last couple of months consumed with me…I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. I was over Coop. Wasn’t I?

Yes. You’re with Roman now.

“Mia is a good girl, Coop. Don’t lose her, okay?” I said carefully.

“I don’t know anymore, Beth. The last two months, all I’ve thought about is you. Not having you in my life…” He shook his head and stared at the sand.

“I’m happy, Coop. Roman makes me feel alive.”

“And I didn’t?” he asked.

I swallowed hard. Please don’t ask me this. “I’m not the same person I was back then. Everything that’s happened, I’ve changed so much.”

“I just want the chance to get to know you again, then, Beth. I don’t want to lose our friendship. You mean too much to me.”

I reached out and hugged him, kissing his neck. It felt good to have my friend back.

Chapter Twenty-Seven