He protests, but I ignore him and kiss him again. Somehow, we manage to make it to one of the little benches nestled in between a couple of pines, and we look at Whiskee.
“Beautiful,” he tells me. “I’ve never been up here.”
“But you knew right where it was.”
“I’ve driven by. I’ve never been up here like this,” he motions to the city. “At night, at the edge of the cliff. I could stay up here forever.”
“Me too.”
We’re silent for awhile, then he turns back to me. Cooper strokes my hair softly and I nuzzle into his hand, enjoying his touch.
“Why were you so quick to sleep with me?”
“I’m not a slut, if that’s what you’re asking,” I’m suddenly tense.
“I didn’t think you were. I would never think that about you, Bailey.”
“Some people…with the dancing, I mean…” How do I explain this to him? “Some people assume I’m a bit deviant, I suppose.”
“I just wouldn’t have pegged you as being so outgoing.”
“Things have been tough for me lately. I’ve learned that I need to go after what I want when I want it,” I say. “I’ve learned that I need to chase after my dreams because if you wait too long, Cooper, they might not be there anymore.”
“Someone hurt you,” he says, but it’s not an accusation. It’s just an observation.
“I just got out of a bad relationship,” I shrug. “Don’t worry. I don’t expect you to marry me or anything. I’m not like, rebounding like crazy or anything.”
“What happened?”
“Dominic and I were together for two years. Actually, I chose to go to college here so we could be close to each other. Isn’t that stupid?”
“It’s not stupid.”
“He was sleeping with my cousin.” I don’t want to cry. I won’t cry.
“I’m sorry, Bailey. That’s awful.”
“I know it’s stupid, but part of me wonders why I wasn’t good enough. Not that I should have been with a jackass. I just wish I had been better, smarter. I wish I had been enough.”
“I know how you feel.”
“I’m sorry.”
He shrugs, but I touch his leg and squeeze softly, gently. I hope my touch is reassuring because I know words sure as hell won’t help. Not when something like this is happening.
“It wasn’t me it happened to. It was my parents. My mom…” His voice trails off, but then he shakes his head and continues. “It was so long ago, but my mom left us. She left me and my dad. Who does that to their kid?”
“For another man?”
He nods.
“He had a kid. A family. She left me and my dad to go be some other kid’s mom. How messed up is that?”
Cooper shakes his head and I hate knowing he’s had so much pain in his life. I straddle him and hold him, rubbing his back, petting his hair.
After a minute, he looks up at me and cups my cheek.
“I’ve never told any girl I’ve dated that story, Bailey.”