Collide(12)

***

Cooper listened while Jules told Noah about her recent break-up. She’d been dating the same asshole for about five years. He’d cheated on her a few times before she finally walked away from him. On the other side of Cooper, Heather was speaking to him. Coop tried like hell to pay attention, but he kept getting drawn back into Noah and Jules’s conversation.

He hadn’t told her he was gay. Cooper didn’t know why that bothered him so much. Maybe, bothered wasn’t the right word. But why in the hell he couldn’t stop wondering about it, he didn’t know.

Cooper shifted in the seat, his movement automatically making his leg press against Noah’s more firmly. It was a reflex to move it, which he almost did, but then for some reason he just…didn’t.

Noah glanced over his shoulder at Coop, his eyebrows pushed together before Jules pulled his attention away. He’s wondering what I’m doing. I’m wondering what I’m doing… But then, it wasn’t like there was a ton of space at the table. There was nothing wrong with Cooper sitting back comfortably.

So he brought his attention back to Heather, who really was incredibly gorgeous—nice plump lips, and curves he loved—and listened to her talk.

It was forty-five minutes later when Cooper told her he’d be right back. Cooper went to the bathroom and took a piss, tired and ready to go home all of a sudden. Hell, he hadn’t even gotten to spend a whole lot of time with his old friend. They’d missed the days when they could go out and drink legally, and he’d looked forward to hanging out with him. Not that he hadn’t been excited about seeing his other friends, as well, but he didn’t realize they’d take over the night like they did.

He hardly made it two steps out of the bathroom door when Heather said, “Hey.”

That easily, his body started to heat. He understood what the husky tone in her voice meant. This is what he should be focusing on. Not how much he got to talk to his friend.

“Are you following me, sweetheart?” He took a step toward her.

“Do you want me to follow you?” she tossed back.

“Now what kind of question is that?” Another step closer. But, then he remembered he had Noah out there waiting on him. They’d ridden in together. It wasn’t like he wanted to pile Heather in the truck with them, and take her home.

Plus, that made him an ass if he came to spend some time with his friend and then took a woman home. It would be different if Cooper had come out by himself or something. “Maybe—”

“Maybe nothing.” Heather’s lips lifted up to his. That was all it took for Cooper to forget the reasons he almost told Heather, maybe another time. He took the kiss over, delving his tongue into her mouth and backing her against the wall. She moved against him, her hand rubbing the growing erection under his jeans.

“Ah, fuck. Sorry.”

Cooper jerked back at the sound of Noah’s voice, just as he turned to walk away.

“What’s up? Something wrong?” He asked, and then realized his friend probably needed the john.

“Nothing. I just…” Noah’s words drifted off, as though he couldn’t say what he wanted to.

He turned to Heather. “Can we pick this up another time?”

“No, hell no. Don’t mind me.” Noah turned to leave again.

Cooper’s pulse spiked slightly, and he realized he was kind of grateful for the cock block, which was a fucked-up thought. He couldn’t think of one good reason he should be grateful for that.

“Nah, we’re good. Wait up.” He winked at Heather. “We’re gonna get going, okay?”

She smiled and shook her head. “You’re such a charmer, Cooper Bradshaw. It’s probably a good idea we don’t go there tonight, anyway.”

“Thanks, sweetheart.” Leaning forward, he kissed her forehead before he went to Noah.

They were halfway to the table when Noah said, “You didn’t have to bail on her. I just had a bit of a situation.”

Coop made one of his eyebrows kick up. “Jules?”

“Yeah.” He rubbed a hand over his chest. Cooper wondered how it felt when Noah rubbed his piercing and then promptly stumbled a little. Why the fuck am I wondering that?

“I wasn’t thinking at first,” Noah continued. “But I can see where her thoughts are going and I’m trying to avoid something awkward.”

“That easily? Jules hasn’t paid attention to any man since she left the prick.”

“I have that affect on people,” Noah winked at him, and Cooper found himself smiling.

They made it back to the table by then, and Coop automatically gave Noah a cover. “Hate to be the downer of the night, but I need to head back early tonight. I have some shit to take care of early tomorrow and Noah’s driving me home.” He hit his friend’s arm.