We found ourselves walking up the boardwalk, eating our Nathan’s Famous chili cheese dogs.
“Mmm,” I hummed as I took another bite. The wind blew my hair across the chili and stuck in the cheese, and I groaned, glancing at my full hands.
Cooper chuckled, setting down his dog in the paper tray before he reached for my hair and wiped it off, his fingers barely grazing my cheek. He winked at me.
I shook my head, smiling.
“So,” he said, “what do you think so far?”
I looked around at all the people, the long, wide boardwalk, the big Ferris wheel as it spun around. “I like it,” I answered definitively.
“You should see it for the Mermaid Parade.” He smiled and looked down the boardwalk like he was imagining it. “It’s insane — people everywhere, a complete madhouse — but it’s a riot. Everyone drinks all day and dresses up like sailors, mermaids, fish. I once saw a guy dressed as a sea cucumber.”
“Oh?”
“He was basically naked and painted green, head to toe.”
A laugh burst out of me.
He smirked. “The parade itself is great, and they have an art festival, shows, big fireworks. Definitely worth seeing at least once.”
I imagined the park packed with mermaids and smiled. “Sounds like it. What’s next?” I took another bite, being sure to turn my face to the wind.
“The Wonder Wheel. Not gonna lie, it’s a little terrifying.”
I swallowed and shook my head. “It’s a Ferris wheel, you wuss.”
He jerked a chin at it with an eyebrow up. “Look at it.”
I took a good look, watching one of the cars near the top as the wheel spun. It was on a track, and when it hit the tipping point, it careened toward the edge and rocked out past the end just shy of horizontal.
“Oh.”
Cooper smiled. “Don’t worry. It’s safe. And anyway, there are stationary cars, if you’re scared.”
I made a face at him. “I’m not scared. Death cars it is.”
We finished our dogs and bought our tickets — Dutch, per the rules — and made our way to the line, under a creepy-ass sign with a clown on it that said THIS WAY. There was almost no line, and before long we were climbing into a red swinging car with bright yellow doors. I might have been second guessing things as I took a seat in the front bench — there were two rows that faced out, and I assumed he would sit in the back. But of course he slid in next to me, because Cooper Moore. I raised a brow, and he shot that crooked smile at me.
“What? This is the good seat. How else am I going to watch us plummet to our deaths?”
“Funny.” I elbowed him, which took almost no effort, since we were sitting arm to arm. The attendant closed the door, and within a few seconds, we were moving.
Once we were out of the dock and the wind was against our faces, I sighed, feeling lighter as I looked out across the island and into Brooklyn, then to Manhattan off in the distance. It was peaceful, quiet. We were all of a sudden very alone. I resisted the urge to lean into him, threading my fingers in my lap instead to keep my attention anywhere but on him. It was pretty much pointless.
The day with Cooper had been easy and fun, just like being with him always was. He was like a kid sometimes, so excited to show you things you hadn’t seen before. He’d watch you experience the thing for the first time, full of satisfaction. Pride, almost. Like it was a way for him to connect.
It was infectious. It made me want to experience it just for him. It made me feel carefree and lovely and alive.
Nine days left.
Nine days, and we would just be friends. I told myself I could be just-friends with Cooper. I mean, we were already close, and I definitely didn’t want to lose that. So I was attracted to him. After a little space, it wouldn’t be a big deal. I was certain that would fizzle away after a little time and distance.
Surely we’d both be able to walk away from that part of the relationship. No one had to get hurt. Then, maybe I could date someone else. He would too, probably the night that we ended things. The thought of him with another woman made me squirmy, but I took a breath and talked myself down. We didn’t belong to each other. We were just having fun. That was it. And we’d walk away and be buddies after all this. Hooking up wasn’t necessary. I pictured us hanging out just like this. Just as friends.
I smiled at the simplicity of it. We were adults. We could totally do this.
The car above us slid down the track to the squeals of the girls inside, swinging violently when it hit the end.
My heart beat a little faster, realizing we were next. “So, how old is this thing?”
He was trying not to laugh, that ass. “Almost a hundred.”
I felt the car shift as we climbed higher, the tilt of the track lowering until gravity took hold and the car took off. My stomach flipped, and I grabbed his hand, screaming as we raced down the track and swung out when we hit the curve.
We laughed breathlessly. “Holy shit!” I yelled.
Cooper smiled bright. “Told you.”
I didn’t let go of his hand, you know, because of the height, and I settled back into the seat as he squeezed my fingers.
“It’s so pretty up here,” I said, looking out as the wind rushed through the grated cage, blowing my hair across my face as we climbed higher.
“It is.” There was a strange quality to his voice, and I turned to find him watching me.
I was hypnotized, looking into his eyes like I could see all of him, if I looked deep enough. We were near the top, the city stretched out in one direction, the ocean in the other. And when we reached the pinnacle, he slipped a hand in my hair and kissed me. I couldn’t even be mad. Couldn’t defend the rules or put up a fight. In fact, I couldn’t say a word. Because in that moment, his lips were all I’d ever wanted.
THE RULES
Cooper
I WATCHED THE CITY OUT the window of the car the next night with a smile on my face. The day before was what I’d thought it would be — everything. I pictured her face on the carousel when she’d turned to me laughing, and we rose and fell as the world whirled around us. Thought about the kiss on the Wonder Wheel. Taking her home last night. All of it.
It was almost too much.
I didn’t know what my next move was. All I knew was that I wanted more. I just had to show her that she felt the same, and I only had a week left to do it.
Bobby pulled up in front of the restaurant, and I thanked him as I climbed out and made my way inside. The hostess didn’t need to ask my name, just smiled and asked me to follow her, which I did, through the restaurant. I spotted my parents across the room. My mother leaned into my father, her hand on his forearm that rested on the table, the two of them smiling at each other as they talked.
I couldn’t help but smile myself. They stood when they saw me approach, and I reached for my mom first, pulling her into a hug.
“Hi, Coop.” She pressed her cheek to mine, and when I pulled away, Dad extended a hand.
I clasped it. “Hey, Dad.”
“Good to see you, kid. What’s new?” he asked, adjusting his suit coat as we took our seats. He smiled at me as he leaned back in his chair, picking up his scotch.
“Not much.” I reached for a glass of water on the table and took a sip.