“It’s true.”
“You always flatter me.”
“You deserve to be flattered.”
“Yeah, well, you’re the only one who thinks that.”
“Dominic was an asshole.”
She laughs, but it’s a dry, humorless laugh.
“You don’t have to tell me.”
“I want you to know not all guys are like that. Some guys are better than that, Bailey. Some guys see your worth.”
She cocks her head, as if it’s the strangest thing she’s ever heard, and then she kisses me softly.
“I should go. It’s late.”
“You could stay.”
“You’ll get written up.”
I shrug. There are worse things in life. I don’t really care if I get in trouble for having Bailey sleep over.
“Let them write me up. Stay.”
“If you really want me to.”
“I want you to.”
“I might get horny in the middle of the night.”
“I know just how to make you feel better.”
She laughs loud, then. She laughs bright and my soul feels complet
e with her in my arms, then Bailey and I settle in for the night and I wish for the millionth time that I didn’t have to leave.
Chapter 8
Bailey
“My mother wants us to have dinner with her and my professor.”
“Scranton?”
“Yeah.”
“And your mother?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?” Cooper spits out the word like it’s on fire in his mouth, like he can’t quite believe I would invite him to a family function.
“Why am I inviting you or why does she want us to have dinner?”
“Both.” He raises an eyebrow and I roll my eyes. Men. Still, at least he isn’t being weird about it the way Dominic would. Dominic was obsessed with my mother. She doesn’t know why we broke up and I doubt I’ll ever tell her. It’s too stupid and embarrassing.