Good Girl Complex(Avalon Bay #1)(99)

“I’m not cramping your style?” I tease. My palms splay against the door, fingers digging into the grooves.

His answer is a dismissive flicking of his eyes. He steps closer until only a sliver of air stands between us. Then, licking his lips, he says, “Tell me to kiss you.”

My brain doesn’t have a response for that, but everything clenches and my toes grab at the floor.

He presses his forehead to mine, gripping my ribs. “If we’re done fighting, tell me to kiss you.”

I hate fighting with him. But this. The making up. Well, it’s the undiluted syrup at the bottom of the chocolate milk. My favorite part.

“Kiss me,” I whisper.

His lips brush mine in a featherlight caress. Then he pulls back slightly. “This …” he mutters, his breath tickling my nose.

He doesn’t finish that sentence. But he doesn’t have to. I know exactly what he means. This.

Just … this.

As it turns out, I own at drinking games. In fact, the more I drink, the better I get. I’d never played flip cup before tonight, but after a couple rounds, I couldn’t lose. One challenger after another left slayed at my feet. After that, I destroyed three beer pong opponents, then managed to embarrass the hell out of some dude with neck tattoos at the dartboard. Apparently, once I’ve consumed a bottle of wine, I can’t not hit a bull’s eye.

Now, I’m standing by the fire, listening to Tate lay out some thought experiment that’s hurting my tipsy brain.

“Wait. I don’t get it. If there are boats coming to the island, why can’t I get on one and sail home to safety?”

“Because that’s not the point!” Tate’s blue eyes convey pure exasperation.

“But I’ve essentially been rescued,” I argue. “So why can’t I get on a boat? I’d way rather do that than pick between Cooper and a bunch of supplies without having access to either boat.”

“But that’s the actual dilemma! Not how you’re going to get off the island. You have to choose.”

“I choose the boats!”

Tate looks like he wants to murder me, which is confusing, because I think the answer to this deserted island thing is stupidly simple.

“You know what?” He lets out a breath, then grins, his dimples making an appearance. “You’re lucky you’re cute, Mac. Because you suck at thought experiments.”

“Aww.” I pat his arm. “You’re cute too, Tater-Tot.”

“I hate you,” he sighs.

Nah, he doesn’t. It’s taken time, but I think I’ve finally settled into my place in Cooper’s life. No longer the square peg. Not just his life—ours.

“I’m cold,” I announce.

“Seriously?” Tate points to the raging bonfire in front of us.

“Just because there’s a fire doesn’t mean it’s not February,” I say stubbornly.

I leave him at the firepit and make my way toward the house to get a sweater. Just as I reach the back steps, I catch my name and turn to answer before realizing it’s Heidi talking to someone on the upstairs deck. I tilt my head back. Through the gaps in the slats, I make out Heidi’s blonde head and Alana’s red one, along with the faces of a few other girls I don’t know. I’m about to climb the first step when Heidi’s next words stop me.

“I can forgive her for being dumb, but she’s so painfully boring,” Heidi says, laughing. “And Cooper’s no fun at all anymore. All he wants to do is pretend they’re married. He hardly ever comes out anymore.”

Little waves of anger ripple through me. This shit. Every time. Not once have I stopped Cooper from hanging out with Heidi or asked him not to invite her somewhere, because I can at least tolerate her for his sake. Why she’s so committed to not giving me the same courtesy, I don’t understand. Instead, it’s always dirty looks and passive-aggressive bullshit. And, apparently, trash-talking behind my back.

“I still don’t know how she bought Cooper acting like he never met that guy.” Heidi laughs again, smug now. “I mean, wake up and smell the conspiracy, right?”

Wait, what?

Is she talking about Preston?

“I’d feel sorry for her if she wasn’t so gullible.”

Screw Heidi. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Still, I’d rather know what other bile she’s been spewing behind my back, so I hug the shadows as I creep up the steps, keeping bodies between myself and Heidi, hiding among the other people lingering on the stairs talking.

“Okay, but it’s been long enough,” another girl says. “He must be into her, don’t you think?”

“What does it matter?” Heidi offers that dismissive shrug she does. “Eventually she’s got to figure out he’s been lying to her from the start. That he only got with her as a means for revenge.”

“Leave them alone,” Alana says. “You promised to let it go.”

I stop dead. Did I hear her right? Because that sounded suspiciously like confirmation.

What else could it mean?

“What?” There’s a coy note in Heidi’s tone.

I’m barely three feet away now. So close I’m shaking.

“I didn’t say I was going to tell her. Not on purpose, anyway.”