“I’ll see what’s nearby.” I reach for my phone and quickly locate a few options that I list off, only to hear silence in response. “Why don’t we try this taco place?” I suggest. “They have really good reviews, and the pictures look amazing. I am all over this,” I say, flipping through to their menu. “They even have fish tacos for you, Coop.”
“See!” Nessie yells.
I grip the seat and twist around to finally see them. “See what? We don’t have to stop for tacos. There’s a burger joint and a fish place and…” I reach for my phone to look at the list of restaurants again.
“It doesn’t matter,” Nessie says, turning to look out her window.
“What’s the deal?” I ask.
“Nothing,” Cooper snaps.
I glance back at Ty, who slowly shakes his head like he’s equally annoyed. “They’ve been bickering since you fell asleep.”
“We haven’t been bickering,” Nessie says, her tone coated with a heavy dose of defiance.
“Fun,” I say. “I was dreaming about surfing. Which is kind of strange because I’ve never been surfing and I’m not sure I’d like to. It seems like a lot of work, and there’s something kind of freaky to me that we know more about space than we do our oceans. Like, what’s below you while you’re surfing, you know?”
“Not now, Chloe,” Cooper says.
“Did you forget something at the hotel again?” I ask, turning my attention to him. “It wasn’t your phone this time, was it?”
“He called me Chloe,” Nessie admits.
“Gross. You weren’t naked, right?”
“God! No!” Nessie cries as Cooper rubs his hand over his face, shaking his head.
“Then what’s the problem?”
“The problem is you guys still have this connection, and sometimes I feel like I’m an interloper on the Chloe and Cooper show.”
I think about this morning, how Tyler had to take a call with his dad, and how Cooper and I had sat at breakfast, laughing about football and school and how much we were both looking forward to seeing San Francisco for the first time after our upcoming couple of nights in San Diego.
I glance at Ty again, concerned about his feelings in regard to the situation. His eyes remain on the road, making it difficult for me to understand what he’s thinking.
“Ness, you know it’s not like that. Cooper and I—”
“Are best friends. I know,” Nessie cuts me off.
“Ness,” I try again, softening my voice. I select the taco shop and make it so my phone dictates directions to the restaurant. I sit back in my seat, working on sorting through the disarray of emotions that are raining down on me, questions and doubts about if I’ve overstepped my boundaries as a friend when their relationship is brand new and still in that honeymoon phase where both are obsessed with each other. Everything feels so fragile about each of our relationships; concerns about getting in the way of Ty and Cooper’s relationship, not meddling with Cooper and Nessie’s relationship, spending less time with both so they have enough time together, while also trying not to take all of Tyler’s time as he searches for a balance with work and not trying to come off as too much, too soon because our relationship feels both brand new and yet our familiarity keeps creating a false sense of ripeness. It reminds me of standing outside in July while eating an ice cream cone, and each side is starting to melt, and I’m trying to catch each drip.
The moment Tyler pulls into the taco restaurant, Nessie hops out of the car.
Cooper sighs loudly. “It wasn’t…”
“You should talk to her,” I say, though my hand itches to grab the door handle. “She needs your assurance,” I follow up, though I want to give her mine because this is how it’s always been. We’re there for each other and repair the walls when they start to fall.
“She’s pissed at me,” he points out.
I nod. “You called her by another girl’s name, Coop. Any girl would be upset and feeling self-conscious.”
“But I didn’t call her any girl’s name. I called her your name, and it was because we were talking about what to do in San Diego tomorrow, and usually it’s you who’s talking about plans.”
I twist in my seat to face him, my unease growing by the second because I can feel Nessie’s duress, and not responding to it makes me physically and emotionally uncomfortable as I attempt to remain patient and allow Cooper to go, knowing this is the role he’s wanted for so long and the one she wants him to fill. “Coop, you have one minute to decide. You know Nessie. You know she’s sensitive and impulsive and jealous. You take the bad with the good. If you want her best, you have to accept her worst as well.”
He looks at me, recognition dawning in his expression. He doesn’t say anything before releasing his seat belt and quickly hopping out of the car, jogging toward the restaurant.
I lean against my seat, feeling like a part of my heart has just left my body as I watch through the large picture window of the restaurant as Coop bows his head, leaning his forehead against hers.
Tyler reaches across the space, setting his hand on my thigh again. “I might need to be present each time you give Coop advice because you’re pretty good at that.”
I scoff, shaking my head. “It’s weird,” I admit. “It feels like I’m trusting someone else to do one of my most important roles in life, and even though it’s Cooper and I know this is right and needs to happen, I just feel so…” I can’t fill in the blank because the list is seemingly endless. “I know it’s right. I know he wants to be this person for her and that he deserves to be, and so does she.” I turn my attention to Tyler, combing through my hair with my fingers. “Does my relationship with Cooper bother you?”
He blinks several times, like the question has caught him off guard. He shakes his head. “I mean, I’m sure I’ll feel a little like Vanessa did at times, but sometimes I’ll probably feel that way with her as well. They both know you so well. Last night, I could tell something was off when I saw you, but it was Cooper who registered that something was wrong. He saw you and,” he snaps his fingers, “he instantly knew there was a problem. One look—that’s all he needed. You guys share a powerful bond, and sometimes it seems like more than just friendship.”
“It is,” I tell him. “Cooper’s family. He’s like a brother to me. My biggest fear as a teenager was that Nessie and Coop would want to attend different colleges because I had no idea how I’d choose. And then he met you, and I was insanely jealous.”
Tyler’s eyes grow wide with surprise.
I nod. “Cooper’s never had another best friend. It was always me, and then he started canceling plans with me so you guys could get in more gym time and inviting me to hang out with you guys rather than vice versa, and I was crazy jealous. I think that largely contributed to why I wanted to hate you so much at first.”
He smiles, his hand at my thigh constricting. “Cooper would pull the moon out of the sky for you if you asked.”
“I know he’ll always be there for me, but things have changed. With you and him, and him and Nessie.”