“Doesn’t that break the rules?”
He shrugged and traced my bottom lip with his index finger. “You said you wanted to see New York. Well, I can show you New York in a way you can’t see anywhere else. We can sail up the coast to the Hamptons, spend the night, and sail back on Sunday.”
Butterflies flitted around in my stomach, those traitorous bastards. “Sounds like something couples would do.”
“Listen, we only have one week left. Can we just say fuck the rules for thirty-six hours?” He kissed the bottom lip his finger had just been on. “Plus, just think of all the rope I have on that boat. And I know a lot of knots.”
I laughed. “God, Cooper.”
He smiled back at me, contented. “Call it whatever you want. I just thought you might like to sail. Would it make you feel better if I promise to keep conversation and clothing to a minimum?”
“Maybe a little.”
“Consider it done.” His smile softened, and his eyes locked on mine, voice a little lower as he cupped my cheek. “Say yes.”
My resolve was about as sturdy as a bridge made out of Pixy Stix. The rules. Fucking rules. Could I agree to thirty-six hours, rule-free? That wasn’t even two full days, and he was right. It was almost over, and what better way to spend our last weekend but together?
I didn’t know how I could refuse with him looking at me like that, with his fingers against my skin and my pulse fluttering. It was a terrible idea. The worst. I should definitely say no.
“All right.”
God damn that smile of his. “Meet me at the dock at nine. Pack a swimsuit and a dress for dinner.”
“And purple panties?”
“Underwear is entirely up to you.”
I laughed.
“Stay the night, Maggie.”
His voice commanded me — his eyes held me still. My smile slipped as I looked up at him, hypnotized out of nowhere. I wanted to say yes, so badly. But I’d already given too much.
I blinked and took a breath, dragging my smile back out. “The rules are in place as long as we’re on Manhattan soil. Plus, I’ve got to get my rest for our big weekend. I should pack now if I’ve got to meet you all the way on the south side by nine.”
He sighed. “I’ll let you have that, but only because I get you all to myself for the weekend.” His lips met mine in a smoldering kiss.
I could barely open my eyes when he broke away, and I thought real hard about staying. Real, real hard. When I finally peeled my eyelids open, I smiled up at him. “It’s late. I should get going.”
He brushed his lips against mine once more. “All right.”
Cooper rolled off of me, and I grabbed my clothes, heading to the bathroom to get cleaned up and dressed before I changed my mind.
When I came out, he was waiting for me with a smile, took my hand as we walked to his door.
“Bobby’s downstairs waiting for you.”
“Thank you.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You’re not going to fight me on it?”
“Would it do any good?”
“No.”
I smiled. “Exactly.”
He smiled back. “Want me to send him to get you in the morning?”
“Nah, I’ll take the subway.”
“I’ll text you the address.” His hand slipped into the crook of my neck, and he kissed me once more, reverently. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Mags.”
“‘Night, Cooper.”
I stepped into the elevator feeling giddy as I leaned against the rail, my eyes still on him until he disappeared behind the elevator doors.
My mind skipped around, daydreaming about sailing to the beach house. But every second brought with it a little bit of doubt and confusion.
The getaway was a date. A weekend long romantic sailing to the Hamptons date where I’d be alone with Cooper for thirty-six hours. Nowhere to run. No getting away from him. The thought excited me just as much as it freaked me out. Which was to say, a lot.
I looked back over the last week, not sure how I’d gotten to the point where the rules had been called off, even just temporarily. Reading in the park had been a bad idea. Truth or Dare had been even worse. Coney Island just proved that I was a raging dumbass for convincing myself we were only banging. And now, a weekend getaway.
It was impossible to pretend that whatever was happening between us was nothing. It was all too clear that we were more than nothing.
I was in much deeper than I thought.
The elevator doors opened, and I nodded at the doorman as I headed to the back entrance. Bobby was waiting for me and opened the car door for me to climb in.
“Thank you, Bobby.”
“No problem, Maggie.”
He closed my door and walked around the car to climb into the driver’s seat. My thoughts didn’t stop spinning as we made our way up 5th and to the traverse through the park.
I watched the trees out of the window, trying to think my way out of it. I could still back out. Just text him and tell him no. He might be hurt, but what would I risk if I went with him?
Maybe he wouldn’t care at all. Maybe it was just a game to him, and he just liked to push my buttons, get his way.
But I knew as soon as I thought it that it was a lie. And that thought scared me worse than anything.
Bobby stopped a block away from the apartment, and I thanked him before slipping out and walking home. I trudged up the stairs and unlocked the door to find Lily and Rose at the kitchen table.
“Hey.” I tried to smile and apparently wasn’t very convincing. “What are you doing here, Lily?”
Her brow dropped, worried. “I just got home from the theater, was about to head over to West’s. You okay?”
I made a face and took a seat, my eyes darting to Rose. “Mr. M is getting serious.”
Lily sighed. “Shit.”
Rose’s brow quirked. “That’s a bad thing?”
I leaned on the table, trying to be vague. “It just complicates a situation that’s already sticky.”
Rose shrugged. “What’s so sticky about it? Do you like him?”
“I’m not ready to like anyone.”
“You seem like you’re fine,” she said.
“I feel like I’m fine, but I don’t trust myself.”
“Then just use him until the time’s up and walk away.”
I shook my head, frustrated. “There is no walking away, Rose.”
“What do you mean?”
Lily watched me with her arms folded across her chest, and Rose’s eyes bounced between us.
“What’s the story?” Rose asked, edging on impatient.
Lily sighed again. “Just tell her, Maggie.”
I chewed on my lip.
“Tell me what? What the hell is going on?”
I took a deep breath. “Mr. M is …”
Rose leaned forward. I couldn’t even say it.
Lily blurted, “Cooper. She’s banging Cooper.”
Rose’s eyes bugged, her mouth hanging open. “No fucking way.”
I nodded, feeling guilty. “Since my wedding night.”
“Jesus fucking Christ, Maggie.” Rose blinked.
Lily shook her head. “You’ve got to figure out a better way to break that to people, Mags. No one is ever prepared for Cooper wedding night fuckery.”
I dropped my face into my palms. “I know. Please, don’t judge me.”
Rose put up a hand in surrender. “I’m not one to judge people for who they sleep with or when. I’m just shocked. What about Astrid?”
Lily answered for me. “It’s a sham, Cooper and Astrid.”
Rose ran her fingers through her bangs. “What the fuck.”
“What happened?” Lily asked me.
“He wants to take me sailing this weekend, to the Hamptons.”
Lily sighed again and fiddled with the placemat in front of her. “Oh, man. That’s a dream date, Maggie.”
“I don’t know. I mean he’s pushed past every boundary I’ve defined.”
“Sounds like Cooper, all right,” Rose said.
“What am I supposed to do?”
“Do you want to go?” she asked, brows up.
“Of course I want to go. But it’s a horrible idea.”