“Nothing,” Jake muttered. “We just agreed we wouldn’t step on each other’s dates.”
They’d discussed this?
Embarrassment flooded me for a whole new reason. Mostly because I liked the idea they’d actually discussed me, right?
I caught them both watching me, a hint of worry in their eyes, and I smiled. “That’s—really kind of sweet.”
Relief filtered through Jake’s smile, and Coop exhaled. It was sweet. I couldn’t believe they’d worked it out. I hadn’t wanted them to fight. Did this mean it really wasn’t a problem for me to date them all?
Could Ireallyhave all of it?
Dates with all of them, making out while still being friends? Hanging out like we always did, just with even more benefits? Was that all something I could have?
Seriously?
My chest grew tight. It seemed far too good to be true.
“We should get going.” Jake’s words jolted me out of the mental spiral, and I sucked down the milk in the bowl. It took me two minutes to rinse it out, then grab my backpack. On my way back to the door, Coop caught me in a hug, and then his mouth claimed mine.
I barely had time to brace my hands against his chest, when he stroked his tongue against mine. Dizzy, I gripped his shirt for balance as he seemed to sample me with these even, gentle strokes, and then coaxed my tongue forward. The heated suck of his mouth sent a shiver all the way to my core.
The sensual ache between my thighs echoed the pull, and I was pretty sure the blush scalding my face covered other parts of my anatomy. Awareness of Jake behind me—even as Coop deepened the kiss—made me shudder all over again.
There weren’t enough swear words for the topsy-turvey in my system. Dragging out my lower lip, Coop lifted his head. His gray-green eyes were a lot darker at the moment, and his heart hammered beneath my hand. “Needed a good morning kiss.” Running his thumb over my lower lip, he smiled. “Good morning.”
“Hi,” I answered, then nipped his thumb, and his grin grew.
Jake let out a little sigh. “That’s still hot.”
“I liked it,” Coop said, loosening his hold gradually. “Wouldn’t mind just staying here today…”
My thoughts exactly.
“Unfortunately,” Jake said. “We can’t.”
“Buzzkill,” I muttered, and he laughed as he slid his hand over my ass and then wrapped an arm around my middle, pulling me neatly away from Coop.
“I’ll make it up to you,” Jake said before giving me a kiss that had me curling my toes and panting. They were turning me into a mess and expected me to go to school.
I think I hated them.
“I promise,” he finished before nibbling another kiss at the corner of my mouth. “Maybe even over lunch if you wanna ditch the guys?”
“Hey,” Coop protested. “Foul ball. Also—I see what you mean, that was definitely hot.”
Jake chuckled, looping an arm over my shoulders as I swayed a little. Everything in my system hummed from those kisses. Hell, it hummed from the last several hours.
“Just saying, the backseats lay down.”
Coop stared at him, but I gave Jake a shove as I laughed. “I am not going to be a cliché, thank you very much. It’s bad enough I let you talk me into driving me to school while you all babysit me.”
“Awww,” Coop switched gears, slipping his arm around my shoulders after I scooted away from Jake. “Don’t be like that, Frankie. That’s on all of us. Remember what we talked about?” And as light and effortless as his voice was, I did remember.
He wanted me to trust them to protect me, and to do that, I needed to keep them in the loop. I hadn’t expected it to be like a closing of the guard around me. “Yes,” I said. “I do. But we’re going to be late if we keep loitering.” Though skipping school sounded better and better.
The butterflies in my stomach had butterflies all the way to school, even with Coop sitting in the middle of the backseat and leaning forward to talk to both of us. The tension from the kisses diminished some at least, until I noticed the hickey I’d left on Jake was clearly on display.
Crap.