Agony (Entangled Hearts Duet 1)

“Come here.” He tugs me into a hug. I close my eyes and fight off tears. I can’t let him see me cry.

“Come on, you two, time’s a-wasting!” Tessa calls out, dragging Nixon behind her as they pass through the front door.

“The others are meeting us there,” Nixon announces. I guess he was able to get them up and moving.

“I’m starving. I might wither away,” I say, putting some distance between us. I grab his hand, just as Tessa had with Nixon and pull him outside. This is us. This is what we do. My heart will just have to get over it. I’ll take Cooper Reeves any way that I can have him. Best friends, that’s what we are, and how we shall remain. As for the pieces of my heart, with time, I’m sure I can mend them back together.We end up at a small diner in town. The food is cheap and better than most five-star restaurants. Trey, Dustin, and Hank are on one side of the table. Nixon, Tessa, and Cooper are on the other. I’m sitting on the end between Cooper and Hank. Which is why Hank has free access when he reaches over and steals a fry from my plate.

“Hey.” I swat playfully at his hand.

“What? I’m a growing man, Reese.” He snatches another one. Not that I care. They give you huge portions, and I’m never able to finish all of mine. Normally, I could offer them to Cooper.

“Fine,” I say, pretending to be put out, but I slide my plate with a pile of leftover fries his way.

“Those are mine.” Cooper reaches over to grab a fry, but Hank is faster, anticipating his move, and slides the plate out of his reach. “Ah ah ah.” Hank holds up his pointer finger and wiggles it back and forth. “Reese’s Cup gave these to me.”

Cooper glares at him. “I feel like I’m babysitting.” I laugh. I grab a handful of my leftover fries and drop them on Cooper’s plate. His eyes find mine, and the look he gives me tells me that this is about more than just french fries. I thought I was doing okay pretending things are normal between us. I guess maybe I’m not. Damn it, I should have made sure Cooper had all the fucking french fries.

“Those were mine.” Hank pretends to pout before grinning and popping a fry in his mouth.

“You have to share,” I tell him in my best mothering voice, and our table of friends break out in laughter.

“We all know that Hank likes to share,” Trey quips.

Hank opens his mouth, but I hold up my hand to stop him. “Nope. We’re not going there. What you do behind closed doors, needs to stay behind the door.”

“But what if it’s not behind closed doors?” He gives me a wicked smile and shrugs his shoulders.

I look over at Cooper and point to Hank. “He’s your friend,” I say, teasing.

He studies me for several long seconds that seem like hours. When he finally opens his mouth to reply, a leggy brunette walks up to the table and interrupts him.

“Hi, Cooper.” Her voice is sugary sweet. “I’m still waiting on that date.”

The food I just consumed sours in my stomach. I turn to look at Hank to find his eyes already watching me. “You better eat up before I steal them back,” I tell him when I want to do anything but. I already feel like I’m going to lose what I just ate, adding more food to that would be a huge mistake, but I couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“Reese, we’re long overdue for a girls’ night,” Tessa announces.

I offer her a grateful look, and her subtle nod tells me she knew she was saving me. “Yes. It’s been too long.”

“Aw, babe, why’s it have to be girls’ night?” Nixon whines.

“Because sometimes we just need the girls. You get me all the time,” she tells him.

“That’s how I like it.”

“You’ll be fine.” She pats his shoulder as he leans in and kisses her before she turns back to me. “Tonight?”

“It’s Sunday.”

“So? You don’t have class tomorrow until ten, right?”

As my best friend, she knows my schedule just as well as I do. She also knows me well enough to know that I need this even though I haven’t said anything to her about last night. “Yes.”

“Then, why not tonight? My first class is at ten thirty, so we can go out and have a few drinks, do some dancing, and be home in time to sleep it off and drag our asses to class tomorrow.”

“I’m in.”

“Reese.” Cooper’s deep voice pulls me in. I turn to look at him. The look he gives me is pleading.

“Oh, come on, Cooper. You know we’re not reckless,” Tessa says, saving me once again. “You boys will just have to do without us for one night.”