Operation Prom Date (Tactics in Flirting, #1)(59)
Cooper brushed his lips against mine and my stomach drifted up and up and up. “How’s this for clear? I ship us, Kate. I want us to be Kaper or Coopte or Capote or whatever weird combination our names can make. You said something about forcing two people who were meant to be into a ship—obviously I took that very literally. You and me are my OTP, and if you don’t believe me, I’m going to spend the next several weeks trying to prove it, until you ship us as much as I do.”
A sound between a laugh and an ecstatic cry escaped my mouth. Then I crushed my lips to his.
Somewhere in the distance, I heard shouting in the bullhorn, something about a winner—possibly the announcement of one?—and how the boat that stopped halfway through needed to get out of the middle of the lake. But none of that mattered.
I threw my arms around Cooper’s neck, parted my lips, and deepened the kiss, not caring that the whole town was watching, because I wanted them all to know that Cooper Callihan was mine.
As soon as I came up for a breath, I whispered, “I totally ship us, too.” With that I’d had plenty of oxygen, so I dove right back in and kissed him again.
And again.
And again.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Cooper
“Well, Operation Prom Date is this close to being a success,” I said as we stepped in front of the arched entrance to the dance. “Even if we ended up making a few modifications.”
“Speaking of…” Kate ran her hand down the front of my white, button-down shirt. “I really like how your tux modification shows off your tall, ripped body.” Earlier I’d complained about wearing the penguin suit, but if it meant she’d smile at me like that and run her hand down my chest, I’d wear the thing every damn day.
“If you think I look ripped in it, you should see me out of it.” I waggled my eyebrows extra big and nudged her with my elbow. “Where was that on the Kanye Douchebag Scale?”
“I wanna say a nine, but since I saw you shirtless yesterday at the lake and know that you can back up the statement—not to mention you’re literally listed in my phone as ‘Tall Ripped Prom Date’—I’ll go with a six.”
I curled her to me and kissed the shimmery lips that’d held me captive countless times over the past few months. “You are the sexiest, sweetest, best girlfriend ever. Did I tell you how amazing you look?”
“You mentioned it a few times.”
When I picked her up and saw her in the dress, I was under the same spell that came over me the first time I saw her in it, back when I wanted to kick Mick’s ass because he’d get to be the one holding her while she wore it.
Now here I was, running my hands over the silky ribbon at her waist and fighting the poofy skirt to pull her closer. Losing the Spring Festival race two weekends ago was the best thing that ever happened to me. Mick could have that win, because that day I’d won something way more important. “Well, it’s worth mentioning again. You look absolutely beautiful.”
Loose curls spilled down around her shoulders, and the braid at the crown of her head had sparkly stuff woven through it, giving her a Greek goddess look. She was like my very own constellation, one that guided me through the unknown.
She turned as Jaden and Amber approached. We rode over in a limo together, because I wanted Kate to have the perfect prom experience, and I owed both Jaden and Amber big time. It helped that my dad had a big soft spot for Kate, which meant he happily shelled out the money for it.
He and I were working on our relationship and had a deal in place. I’d complete a part-time internship with his firm this summer, and when I went to college, I could explore other options. As long as I was taking classes full-time and tried out at least one political science and one government class, he’d help me financially, regardless of what major I chose.
“You guys ready?” Jaden asked, wrapping his arm around Amber.
“Ready.” Kate grabbed my hand and laced her fingers with mine.
We stepped through the star-shaped archway, into the decorated ballroom. Since Kate talked me into helping decorate, I knew way too much about what decorations had been used, and how they’d been hung. “After all,” she’d prodded, “you know more about stars than anyone on the committee.”
The things the girl talked me into.
I dodged a few low hanging stars and guided us to the open area near the edge of the dance floor. Dozens of couples filled the space, dancing under the twinkling lights. Others lined up to have their picture taken in front of the glittery shooting star. Over the top, a banner read “Wish Upon a Star.”
For the past few months I’d wanted the ability to freeze time so I could enjoy every moment possible on the water. I’d never expected to want to slow down time at a school dance, but the pure joy filling Kate’s features made me want just that.
I lifted our entwined hands and kissed the top of hers.
She snuggled in close, and I wanted to hold her and inhale her perfume and just savor every minute with this girl.
Luckily we weren’t running on limited time. We had an entire summer of afternoons on the lake, nights under the stars, and endless kisses stretched in front of us. Then, in the fall, I’d go to Harvard, and she’d attend college in Manchester. The hour drive that would separate us was longer than I preferred, but when it came to being with Kate, it was nothing. We’d already talked about meeting halfway. I loved how she spoke about our future as if the only option was for us to be together, and for me, it was.