We make love a few more times throughout the night, until I once again fall sleep with his body wrapped around mine, wishing tonight would never have to end.
I wake up to the door unlocking and then opening and realize the space next to me is empty. The clock reads five in the morning. Kayla is tiptoeing into the room in a shirt and cotton shorts that reads Miami, Florida. She must’ve bought them from one of the tourist shops. She has her dress and heels in her arms, and I can tell she’s trying not to wake me.
When she looks over at me and sees I’m awake, she giggles and lies down in her bed, patting the spot next to her for me to join her. I get up to crawl across the bed when I feel the crinkling sound of paper. I look down at it and see my name scribbled along the top. The only person it could be from is Cooper, and my stomach falls at the realization that it’s a goodbye note. I knew this was coming, but I didn’t realize how much it would hurt.
Liz, I had to catch an early flight and I didn’t want to wake you. You looked so peaceful lying in bed wrapped up in my arms. I wish I could hold you like that forever. Thank you for the most amazing thirty hours of my life. I will never forget them and will probably fantasize about them for years to come ;) Stay sweet, baby girl.
—Coop
I take the note with me over to Kayla’s bed so she can read it. “Do you regret sleeping with him?” she asks after reading the letter.
“No, it was perfect. I knew going into this it would be a one-night stand, or a thirty-hour stand as he put it. We’re just starting college and I’m not about to try to start a relationship with somebody right now. Did you get Bentley’s number?”
“Nope, we had fun but agreed what happens in Miami, stays in Miami. Let’s get some sleep and enjoy the rest of our week. And don’t think I’m letting you off the hook. After I get some shut-eye, you’ll be giving me all the details.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I laugh, and we curl back up into the sheets and fall asleep. My thirty hours with Cooper were amazing and I’ll never forget our short time together.
My first day without Cooper is a bit depressing. I can’t stop thinking about him and Kayla seems a bit down as well. She hasn’t really said what happened with Bentley, but I think—like Cooper did to me—he took with him a little piece of her heart.
Kayla and I spend the day lounging by the pool. She’s listening to music while I’m reading my book. Then, by the late afternoon, we decide to go back up to our room to shower before getting a bite to eat. When we walk inside our room, I see a thin white rectangular box wrapped in pink ribbon on my bed.
Kayla gets excited and tells me to hurry up and open it. When I pick it up, there’s no card stating who it’s from. I pull the ribbon off, and when I open the box, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“What is it? I’m dying over here,” Kayla says, coming closer to see what I’m looking at.
“It’s gift cards to Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and iTunes.”
Kayla cocks her head to the side, her eyebrows shooting up. “Um, okay. Am I missing something here? Why do you look like you’re about to cry over them? And who sent them?”
I take the gift cards out and find a small piece of paper with typed words.
I wasn’t sure where you get your books. Whenever you buy a new book, think of me. –Coop
“I made him play twenty questions to get to know him and told him I love to read but that I don’t always have the money to buy new books, so I reread my favorites.”
Kayla’s eyes go glossy at my explanation. “Oh, Liz. That is so romantic.”
“Yeah, it is. Too bad I can never thank him.”
The next day Kayla and I check out some of the sites in Miami. We take a taxi to the art district and check out the graffiti walls while having lunch at a delicious Cuban restaurant. When we get back there’s another box on my bed.
“Get the hell out of here!” Kayla shouts when she spots it at the same time I do.
I open the box and this time inside is the entire collection of Batman movies. I burst out laughing and look for a note. Sure enough, there’s another one.
For your viewing pleasure. Only once you watch all of these can you judge Batman. –Coop
Kayla reads it silently over my shoulder. “Another twenty questions fact?”