Me & Timothy Cooper by Suzanne D. Williams Read Free Book Online Page B

that either. Tim said that was real sorry, and I agreed. But being as I’d never met him and knew nothing about him, it didn’t really hurt any.
    However, when Saturday rolled around and my ankle was quite a bit better, I knew, just knew , he’d make me pay up. So I put my suit on like he asked, but found the biggest towel in the house to conceal myself.
    He pushed me out the French doors onto the patio, the heat from his naked chest resting so close to mine confusing my thinking.
    “How about we make a new deal?” I asked.
    He laughed in my ear, his breath warm. “No new deals.”
    I planted my feet at the edge of the pool, self-consciousness flooding over me. I swam well enough. Take me to the beach or a public pool, and I’d enjoy myself. But this wasn’t about swimming, and I knew that. Worse, I knew he knew that.  This was about him seeing me in the suit.
    Stupid me. Why’d I make the deal? If only I could be thinner, like those models on TV, and not have my every hill and arch strain to get out of th ings. If only I had a one piece with one of those Granny cover-ups.
    “You swear you’re not gonna tell anyone about this?” I was begging, but I was desperate.
    “I swear I’m not going to tell many people about this.”
    I curled my toes over the pool’s edge. “Many people? But …”
    He laughed again. “You have to give me something, Southern. Let me enjoy the moment.”
    But what was there to enjoy? Me all lumpy and bumpy? No thanks.
    He grasped my shoulders and turned me around. Then he seated himself on the edge of a patio chair. I stood there doing some staring of my own. Timothy Cooper with his shirt off was a pleasant sight. Not to mention the legs.
    The G ood Lord made him beautiful. That’s for sure.
    He hung his hands over his knees. “Well, go ahead.”
    Go ahead. Go ahead and do what? Drop the towel.
    “Can I get one more question in?” I asked. Delay. That was my tactic.
    His mouth curled up on one side. “Okay, one more question. But then I get to ask one too.”
    I didn’t like that thought , but if he asked a question that was that much longer I put this off. I nodded. “Okay. Me first.”
    He leaned back in the chair, folding his arms behind his head. “Go ahead. I’m ready.”
    “ You joinin ’ the army after high school?” He’d indicated such, but it was the one thing we’d never talked about.
    His eyes took on a curious daze. “Yeah. Why? You object to your boyfriend being a soldier?”
    I smiled. “No. You think you’ll still be my boyfriend then?”
    “That’s two questions,” he said, “but I’ll answer because I want to.”
    I tightened my grip on the bath towel.
    “We talked about this already, the first night you were here.”
    That seemed like ages ago now. I could barely recall the moment, much less our conversation. “What did we say?” I asked.
    He shook his head. “I said in two years I’d propose.”
    I sucked in a breath to still the fluttering in my heart. “I thought that was … was …” Just a conversation.
    “Was what?”
    “Us talking.”
    He lowered his arms. “No, it wasn’t. You thinking about getting tired of me?”
    That made me smile. Get tired of Timothy Cooper? Not a chance.
    “No.”
    “Well then.” He clapped his hands. “My tur n.”
    I threw my weight onto my good leg. My ankle still ached sometimes. “Okay.”
    “ What is the one thing you’d change about your life as it is right now, today?”
    I considered his questions with two thoughts in mind. One, why did he ask it? It was a deep question for him, but then he had his moments. Two, what would I change? I liked my life fine. School was good. My parents and I got along. My boyfriend was Timothy Cooper. I couldn’t think of anything I’d want different.
    I opened my mouth to say so and subsequently shut it. A thought lit in my brain, and a slow smile crept onto my face. I crossed my arms over my chest.
    “One thing, huh?”
    He nodded. “Yes.”
    “I’d