His dimple sinks into his cheek. “Good.”
We stand there for a second. There’s nothing else to say. The day is over. But I don’t want to leave.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Mitchell.”
Right. “Okay. Yeah. See ya.”
I leave the stables and grab my warty pumpkin from the trailer. Then I head to Aunt Naomi’s home-base building, where Mom said she’d wait for me at the end of the day. And the whole time, all I can think about is hanging out with Cooper tomorrow.
Maybe there’s still hope for our friendship after all.
I’ve just finished eating dinner and clearing the dishes when my phone buzzes in my hand. I freeze halfway up the steps when I find Cooper’s name lighting up my screen.
Summer Cooper:How are your thighs? Sore?
I smile at my phone.
Me:Are you stalking me or something?
Summer Cooper:You’ve never been on a horse, and we rode for a while. Plus, you were so tense, Ink probably has bruised ribs. So, logic says you’re probably a little sore.
“Hey,” Sloane says as she’s passing the steps. I look up to find her watching me, and she waggles her eyebrows. “You talking to Mr. Hot Dog?”
A laugh bubbles out of me. “Mr. Hot Dog? What on earth are you talking about?”
Sloane lets her hair fall into her face, hiding her rosy cheeks. “Dog as in, like, a golden retriever. You know, because my mom referred to Jake as a lost puppy? And he’s obviously hot….” She chews her lip for a moment. “Maybe Mr. Sexy Puppy is better.”
I snort. “Or maybe let’s just call him Jake.” My phone buzzes.
Summer Cooper:Leaving me on read. Okay, I see how it is.
“I gotta go, cuz.” I sprint up the steps, ignoring the burning in my thighs and Sloane calling behind me, “Tell Jake I say hi!”
Me:Sorry, I was in the middle of CRAWLING up the steps because, yeah, my thighs hate me right now.
I lie back on my bed and bite my nails as I watch three dots appear on the screen.
Summer Cooper: What are you doing now?
I press my lips together, trying to suppress a grin. We’recasually textingagain.
Me:Not sure. Maybe putting on a movie? Aunt Naomi brought up some old DVDs. Unless I wantto watch Practical Magic again, I have to choose between the ‘90s live action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, or Spirited Away.
Summer Cooper:All solid choices. My vote is for Eternal Sunshine.
Me:But it’s so depressing.
Summer Cooper:It’s a perfect movie.
Me: Well, I’m not a masochist, so I’ll probably put on TMNT. Donatello’s hot.
Summer Cooper:wow lol such high standards
Me:What are you doing?
Summer Cooper:Falling asleep
Me:It’s not even 8pm.
