Bliss (Entangled Hearts Duet 2)

“Oh, God.” I cover my face with my hands. “I’m such a terrible person.”

“No, you’re not. However, you’re going to have to talk to Hunter and Cooper eventually. We can’t hide out in Mexico forever. I have a wedding to finish planning, and I intend to be there from start to finish.” She leans into me, a smile playing at her lips.

“I’m happy for you. You and Nix have it all together. Talk about relationship goals.”

“Honestly, you could have the same thing. You kind of already do with Cooper. Sure, it’s been a bumpy road getting to this point, but you both love one another. It all hinges on if you want to make it work.”

“I know he loves me. We’ve been in each other’s lives since we were kids.” He loves me, but the jury is still out on if he is truly in love with me. There’s a big difference between the two.

“It’s more than that.”

“Is it? Why, all of a sudden, is it okay to jeopardize our friendship when it wasn’t a year ago? Okay, it’s been longer than a year, but you get my point. Why now?”

“I have my suspicions, Reese. However, I’m not the one you need to be asking these questions to. It’s Cooper. He’s the only one who can give you the answers.”

“A week from now, he’ll realize it was a mistake. All of it. The confessions of love… last night. By the time we’re back home, he’s going to have realized his misstep.” Tessa mutters something under her breath that sounds like stubborn. I open my mouth to ask her, but the flight attendant begins her speech.

Once we’re up in the air, we both decide a nap will do us some good. It takes me a while to fall asleep, but when I do, it’s no surprise that it’s Cooper I see in my dreams.Mexico is beautiful. When our plane landed, there was a limo driver holding up Tessa’s name. She immediately called Nixon, and he told her that since she and I were only planning a spa day the week of their wedding, she could consider this her bachelorette party.

“I mean, it’s not really a party if it’s just the two of us,” I tell her as we’re sipping our fruity alcoholic drinks on the beach outside our villa. Yes, villa. Nixon went all out.

“It’s all the party I need. It’s more than I wanted, but I have to admit. A week with my bestie on the beach before embarking on married life is just what the doctor ordered.”

“Look at us. Me running from marriage and you running toward it.”

“I wouldn’t say you’re running from marriage. You’re simply changing lanes. Whether you’re ready to admit it or not, we both know Cooper is where your heart has always been. If I’m being honest, I’m excited to see how this plays out.”

“What?” I turn to look at her.

“You’re in denial. The two of you have switched roles. For years you held out hope that the two of you would be together, as lovers and as friends. Now, he’s on board, and you’re worried he’s lost his mind.” She laughs. “It’s going to be fun.”

“I’m glad my life amuses you.”

“Oh, it does,” she says teasingly. “I’ve been around for the Cooper and Reese show for years. I’ve been rooting for the two of you. Hell, we all have. Now, it’s time for the two of you to cheer for yourselves. It’s time for you to decide what you want and allow your heart to accept that you can have the man of your dreams.”

“What did they put in that drink?” I ask. “You know as well as I do he’s going to regret this.”

“What is this exactly?” She smirks. “I still don’t know why you needed clothes or how that dress of yours got ruined.”

My face heats, and it’s not from the hot sun beating down on us. “Things got… interesting.”

“Interesting as in you finally slept together?” It’s not a question she needs the answer to. I’m sure my flaming blush of embarrassment is answer enough. “It’s been five long years of foreplay that we’ve all been sitting front and center for. I’m kind of disappointed I didn’t get to see the grand finale.”

“Tess!” I scold, and she throws her head back in laughter.

“You’re not denying it.” She points a long, manicured finger at me and takes another sip of her fruity alcohol.

“He ripped it off me,” I confess.

“Seriously?” she asks.

“Yep.”

“That’s fucking hot, Reese. It’s all that pent-up sexual tension the two of you have been passing back and forth over the years.”

“He just didn’t want it to be Hunter.”

“You’re right, and you’re wrong,” she tells me. “He doesn’t want you with Hunter because he loves you.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Actually, I do know that.”