I could clear my throat and leave the room.

I could, and probably should do all that, but I don’t think I want to.

I don’t want to look back and wonder.

Instead, I turn into him a little more, resting my hand on his chest. “Do you want me to move?” I ask, staring and waiting for something to change.

“Not at all.” Cooper’s head drops a little, giving me another chance out. He moves slowly, measuring each shift in my body.

I lift my lips just a smidge. “Okay,” I say as we grow closer.

His mouth is right there. He could kiss me, but neither of us moves.

Fuck it.

I push myself up and plant my lips on his. His arms go around me instantly, and he drags me closer. I kiss him without restraint and let my mind go so I can feel.

Cooper’s hands glide up my back and tangle in my hair.

I wait for the fluttering in my stomach to start.

I try to find the passion where I’d want to leap into his arms. I search for a smidge of feelings I feel when I’m in Trent’s, but there isn’t one.

Well, okay . . . this isn’t what I was expecting, but I keep holding on and waiting for something to happen. Instead of passion, it feels like friendship. The only thing I feel right now is that . . . I’m cheating on Trent.

I break the kiss and look at him.

Cooper releases me, and I hold on to his shoulders. “Was that?” he asks.

“Weird?”

“Maybe we were caught off guard? We should try again,” Cooper suggests. He pulls me back to his chest, and I focus on how it feels against his body. He slowly brings his lips to mine.

I close my eyes and hold on to his strong arms as he kisses me. My mind starts to wander a little, it feels nice, but this isn’t a first kiss that anyone talks about. I make a mental note to add milk to my grocery list.

Groceries? That’s what I’m thinking about? This is so not going well.

It’s nothing he’s doing wrong, it’s . . . it’s . . . bland.

Cooper tilts back and looks at me. “So?” I ask, and he laughs.

“I’m not really sure.”

“It wasn’t bad,” I say quickly.

Cooper gives me a disbelieving look. “It was . . . nice.”

“But . . .” I say.

Out of all the vivid, what-if situations that played in my head, this definitely wasn’t one. I thought maybe the stars and fireworks would explode and we’d be naked, or Cooper would make me forget my name, Trent’s name, or a hundred other amazing experiences. Never did I conjure the idea that the kiss would be awkward or feel as if I were lip locked with a friend in spin the bottle.

Cooper groans and I sit back against the couch. “Unreal. I’ve waited a long time to kiss you like that. I didn’t think it would suck so bad.”

I slap his chest and giggle. “Hey! I’ve been known to be a great kisser.”

“Well, I’ve never had any complaints, either.”

“Yeah, Betsy loved tellin’ all the girls how you stuck your tongue down her throat in seven minutes in heaven.”

“She was a prude.” I lean into his side and let out a little sigh. “How are we so bad at this together? It’s like there’s been something keepin’ us apart from the beginning.”

I drop my head to his shoulder and let out a slow breath. “We shouldn’t’ve had to work so hard at this.” I sit up and tuck my leg under me. “And there has been somethin’ between us, Coop. And even if he’s not here right now—he’s here,” I say as I touch my heart.

“You told me all of that, but I thought I could win you over somehow.”

“I really wish you could’ve.”

I close my eyes and lay my head on his shoulder a split second before a loud screaming noise echoes through the house. The fire alarm blares loudly, and a second later, the house alarm joins it.

Both of us jump, covering our ears against the deafening sound. I look around and see the smoke billowing out from under the kitchen door.

“Shit!” I scream. “The pie!”

It’s been hours, and I completely forgot about the damn pie. Now, my house is on fire.

Chapter 12

I rush toward the kitchen , hoping I can save my house. Unreal. Absolutely unreal.

“Don’t go in there!” Cooper’s arms wrap around my waist as he moves me over to the side. “Where’s the fire extinguisher?” Cooper yells.

“In the damn kitchen!” I scream and follow him in there, moving to open the window as Cooper grabs the completely destroyed pie from the oven.

After a few minutes, we get the alarm to silence by fanning the hell out of the kitchen. The smoke is cleared out, and I call the alarm company to cancel the fire department, but they explain they’ve already been dispatched.

“Well,” he lifts the charred pie, “I’d say our desert is done.”

I attempt to smile so I don’t burst out in tears. “I’ve never, not once in my entire life, burned a pie!” My hands cover my face to hide the fact that I could no longer stop myself from crying. I’m sure Cooper will think it’s about the damn pie, but really it’s about so much more. This pie is just one more thing I’ve failed to do right.

“Don’t cry.” Cooper grabs me and pulls me against his chest.

“You don’t get it,” I cry into his shirt. “I burnt the pie. I slept with Trent. He told me he loves me, and then I kissed you. I’m a mess. I don’t even know who I am!”

Cooper rubs my back and kisses the top of my head. “I promise, it’s going to be fine.”

“Grace!” Voices yell from outside the house, and I hear the sirens, faint but growing louder with every passing second. “Grace, are you in there?”

“Oh my god!” I grumble against Cooper’s chest. “This can’t be happening!”

“Grace!” A familiar voice yells louder as they continue banging on the door. “I’m busting the door down!”

I lean back and wipe my eyes. I’m not about to have a broken door on top of all this. Our volunteer firemen will do it without question. They’re a little overzealous when it comes to fire safety since we haven’t had a fire in . . . ever.

“No!” I yell as I rush toward the front door. “I’m fine! We’re all fine!”