Stefi
Over the next few days, Cooper is nowhere to be found. The penthouse is deserted by the time I arrive every morning — Kade, Cooper and Brody are all out — and I leave before any of them get back.
On the fourth morning, I’m stepping out of the elevator when the front door swings open. A very flustered, rushed Kade stands on the other side. It’s been days since I’ve seen him. His hair stands on end like he hasn’t styled it in a while and his beard is longer than I’ve ever seen it.
“Hello, Stefi,” he says, distracted.
“Hi, Mr. Monroe.” I remember my manners and smile cordially. “Off to the set again?”
Kade laughs gruffly. “I seem to be living there these days, I’m afraid.”
“Seems like you all have something going on.”
I step out of the doorway so Kade can exit the penthouse. He stands in front of me, his dark eyes lively despite the exhaustion. “Yes, I have been curious as to Cooper’s newfound interest in my work. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
He peers at me curiously and I immediately drop my gaze, fiddling with the bottom seam of my work shirt. I force a nonchalant shrug. “Haven’t the faintest.”
Kade steps into the elevator with a cheerful wave, and it’s all I can do to wave back.
The truth is that I think I know why Cooper is so interested in going to Kade’s movie set — he’s avoiding me. I have a feeling it has to do with the question I asked him. Is he putting distance between us because our time is coming to an end?
My thoughts swirl as I walk upstairs and grab a broom from the closet next to the kitchen. I sweep the floor, picking up the few crumbs. I’m not mad with Cooper. It’s not like he lied to me or anything. We never agreed that we would be together after the summer; that was just false hope on my part.
It’s simply the reality of our situation. Cooper’s real life is a million miles from mine. Outside of Legacy Inn, our worlds could never have collided.
I put away the broom and get to work cleaning the bedrooms. I start with Kade’s room, then do the guest room where Brody is staying. I always do Cooper’s room last. Just days ago, he would’ve been here with me, initiating a pillow fight, or getting me coffee, or singing along to Robbie Cohen at the top of his lungs.
With a sigh, I open Cooper’s door. But instead of finding an empty, tidy room, I walk in on Cooper, sitting in his bed with a pile of books.
“Oh!” I yelp. “You’re here!”
Graceful as ever, Stef.
Cooper looks up from his books in surprise. His black coffee eyes glimmer for a moment when they meet mine, but within a second, his face becomes guarded, neutral. I’m reminded of the boy I met outside reception at the beginning of the summer. The boy who turned out to be absolutely nothing like my first impression of him.
“Sorry, I can get out of your way,” he stammers, throwing on a white t-shirt and closing his books. His hair is messy and he has dark circles under his eyes. He looks pale and drawn. Tired.
“No, please,” I insist, feeling oddly formal. “You’re fine here.”
Cooper pauses for a moment, half-standing. Then, he nods and sits on the bed again, returning to his books. But, his shoulders are tense and he’s sitting far too straight to feel relaxed.
“So, I just ran into your dad,” I say, wanting to break down some of the invisible wall between us. “He mentioned you’ve been heading to the movie set with him quite a bit lately.”
“Yeah.” Cooper shrugs. “I stayed back today to study.”
He holds up the book he’s reading. It’s an SAT prep book.
“Sounds fun,” I say cheerily and then immediately regret my words. Who says that?
Cooper doesn’t answer. His gaze is turned intently on his books and his arms are crossed. I watch him for a moment, feeling unbelievably sad. I can’t bear to think that this is how we’re spending our last few days together. After our amazing summer, it seems surreal to think that our final moments are so cold and detached.
I need to tell him that I understand what he wants and that I’m not upset. I need to tell him that I’m grateful for everything we experienced together. No matter where our lives take us, this summer with Cooper Monroe changed me for the better.
I take a deep breath. “Cooper. I want to tell you something.”
He looks at me, but his eyes betray nothing. “Yeah?”
“I wanted to say thank you for this summer,” I say, trying to hold back sudden tears. “I know that we only had a few short weeks together, but I loved every second I spent with you. What we had meant — means — a lot to me. We were good together.”
My quiet voice seems to echo around the silent room. Cooper simply stares at me, his expression unreadable.
Then, he arches one of his dark eyebrows. “Really? I thought I was just a distraction to you.”
35
Stefi
I step back, confused. What is he talking about?
Cooper stands from his bed and walks towards the window, putting more distance between us. When he speaks, his voice is cautious. “Look, I know that you need to work on your essay, so I’m giving you space. I realize I was taking up way too much of your time.”
“But I want to spend time with you,” I whisper, bewildered. Where is this coming from?
Cooper looks at me quizzically. “Stef, your essay is your priority, right? That’s why we made an agreement to help each other in the first place.”
I press my back against the solid door frame, suddenly feeling a bit dizzy. “Right, but—”
“I can’t be pulling you away from that.”
And then, it hits me. Of course, this was always just about the agreement. Our relationship — our friendship — wasn’t even a summer fling. We agreed to help each other to achieve our own goals. And, ever the gentleman, Cooper is making sure that I got what I needed out of our summer together. He wants me to finish my essay because, then, his part is done.
If only he knew that what I really wanted was to be with him. But, I could never tell him that. He’s already pulling away, putting space and time between us before he leaves.
Cooper smiles cordially. “So? In the last couple days, did you manage to finish it?”
His eyes search my face and I get the distinct feeling that my answer matters a lot to him.
So, I decide to tell him what I know he wants to hear, even if it is a lie. If he wants to be free of our agreement, I’m not going to hold him back. “Yes.”
“I’m glad.” He smiles wider, sounding genuinely pleased for me. And I should be pleased for him, too.
“What about you?” I ask, my voice more uneven than I would like. “I don’t think I delivered on my side of the bargain — you’re still grounded.”
Cooper shrugs, the picture of nonchalance. “Hey, summer’s almost over. My prison sentence will soon be done.”
I bite my lip and turn away, blinking back the tears that threaten to overflow. I focus on my breath, trying to maintain a regular rhythm so he doesn’t know just how much I’m hurting.
“Grounded or not, though, you saved me this summer.” His voice sounds sad and I know he means well, but his words are like knives.
I saved him for the summer.
Temporarily.
But I suppose that’s all our agreement was — a way for Cooper to escape the confines of this penthouse, and for me to experience new things. I have to remember to be thankful for what we’ve shared together, even if it wasn’t meant to last. When I return to Edendale, I know I’ll be grateful for everything that happened. Someday.
“I had a lot of fun this summer, Coop,” I say quietly.
“Me too, Stef.” Cooper swallows loudly and I glance at him. There’s a flash of something in his eyes. Some strong emotion. But when he speaks, his voice is neutral. “I’ll miss you.”
The words tear at my heart and leave me breathless. He looks away and I stare at his beautiful profile. I try to commit to mem
ory every single thing that I love so much about him. The unruly hair I used to run my hands through, the espresso eyes that used to flood with warmth when he looked at me.
No matter what happened this summer — all of the pain I’ve experienced recently, and all of the pain I will soon be feeling — one fact stays true. Cooper was the Prince Charming of my summer story.
And, for a moment, I was Cinderella.
But even fairy tales end, and our time is up. The ball is over, the clock has struck midnight. My carriage will soon turn back into a pumpkin, and there’ll be no glass slipper to save me.
It’s time to go back to real life. I’ll return to my studies and extracurriculars, my sweet but dysfunctional family and my expectant teachers. And Cooper will go back to his Hollywood mansions and models.
The knot in my stomach hardens into a rock, weighing me down. My mind is a chaotic mess of thoughts and emotions. I want to tell Cooper the truth — that I care about him so deeply and that I want to be with him. But I also don’t think that’s fair. Telling him how I feel will only complicate things further, and that’s not what Cooper wants.
So, instead of speaking my truth, I wince in anticipated pain, knowing that what I’m about to say will break my own heart. “I’ll miss you, too. But I guess that we’re just going back to where we belong. Back to our different worlds.”
Cooper’s face is dark, but he nods.
“Back to our different worlds,” he repeats, hammering the final nail into the coffin.
36
Cooper
The next few days are a horrific combination of extreme boredom and awkward exchanges with Stefi. Even though we’re broken up, I make her coffee every morning, like always, and we turn on Jeopardy!, like always. But we don’t talk or laugh like we used to.
And I always throw on a shirt before I leave my room.
It’s an unsettling feeling to become acquaintances with someone that you know so well and care about on so many levels. Every time I see Stefi, her presence is a reminder that I can no longer hold her, kiss her, tell her that she’s beautiful. It’s the worst kind of torture — having somebody who means so much to you be so close, and yet so far away.
I find myself caught in the middle — wishing the summer would be over, but also never wanting it to end. Through it all, I’m just not ready to say goodbye to Stefi.
Three weeks before I leave, I force myself out of bed after another sleepless night. I can't bear to face her again this morning. It’s like with every time we see each other, the further away she feels.
So, I throw on a pair of shorts and some sneakers and set out for a run before she arrives for work.
The elevator dings and I exit in the lobby, jogging past Greg. He doesn’t even bother to try and stop me, or ask me where I’m going. Dad definitely must have said something to him, loosened the rules.
I run along a pathway that crisscrosses the Legacy Inn grounds, feeling happy for the exercise, the sun on my face, and the music in my ears. I haven’t run at all this summer, and it feels good to stretch the legs.
I lose myself in running, focusing on matching the beat of the music to the thud of my feet on the pavement. I barely notice the figure ahead, waving at me.
“Hey!” Jonathan’s voice breaks through the music. “Cooper!”
I smile as I jog up to him and take out my earbuds.
“Hey, bro,” I wheeze, leaning forward with my hands on my thighs. I didn’t even realize how tired I was getting.
“Tough run?” He holds out his hand for a fist bump.
I chuckle, smacking my fist against his. “The worst.”
“The hills around here are killer.”
“What about you?” I ask. “What are you doing out here so early?”
Legacy Lake is massive, and the paths around it stretch for miles. From what I’ve heard and read, it’s the perfect place to experience true seclusion. The only time you’re likely to see people on the far side of the lake is during a run or bike ride — neither of which Jonathan appears to be partaking in.
He points at the camera slung around his neck. “Taking some scenery photos. Legacy has a new advertising campaign launching soon, and I want my photos to be featured. It’s a bit of a competition between me and the other Inn photographer, Kiara.”
“Sounds like a great opportunity.” I clap him on the shoulder. “Good luck.”
“Thanks, dude.” He glances around. “Where’s Stefi today?”
I run my hands through my damp hair and it instantly stands on end. “Um, I think she’s at work.”
Jonathan raises an eyebrow. “I thought you two were pretty much attached at the hip these days.”
A sad pang echoes through my body. “Not anymore. I’m going back to LA soon.”
He kicks a pebble, and I watch it bounce across the path and land in the grass. “That would explain why she looks so sad at dinner every night.”
My heart constricts. “She does?”
Jonathan nods and pushes his sunglasses onto his blond hair. “You guys seem really great together. I can’t imagine what it’ll be like doing long distance, but I’m sure you can do it.”
“We’re not.” I shake my head. “We broke up.”
“You what?” His eyebrows disappear into his hairline. “Why? I thought you were crazy about each other.”
I look at the ground while I try to make enough sense of the situation to put it into words. “I’m totally crazy about her. But, I can’t do this to her. She’s got a wonderful future ahead of her, I could never get in the way of that. And, with the added pressure of long distance? Stefi matters way too much to me to risk jeopardizing her future.”
Jonathan whistles through his teeth. “Bro, that’s messed up.”
“It's better this way. She’ll be happier. It’s the right decision for her future.”
Jonathan frowns, his face uncertain. It looks like he wants to say something, but then holds himself back. This charade happens two or three more times before I start laughing. “What is it, dude? Spit it out.”
He exhales slowly. “I know we don’t know each other very well and it’s definitely not my place... But you’re crazy.”
I raise an eyebrow at him, amused.
“I’ve gone to school with Stefi for years. Granted, we’ve never been super close or anything, but I’ve seen her in the hallways, worked on group projects with her... That kind of thing. The Stefi who goes to Edendale High is determined, set in her ways, stressed, and quiet. But this summer? She’s like an entirely different person. She’s happy and optimistic, she laughs all the time. This might sound insane, but it’s like she can breathe again or something. I’ve never seen her like this.”
I bite the inside of my cheek, trying and failing to slow my racing heart. I want to believe what he’s saying. I wish it was all true. But how can that be?
“Look, I’d love to stay with her. I’d do anything to make her happy,” I finally say, my voice sad. “But I know what would happen, how it would end for us. I’ll only ever hold her back if we stay together. She said so herself, I’m a distraction to her. Imagine how much more of a distraction I’d be if we tried to stay together with 1200 miles between us.”
Jonathan is silent and I can tell he’s struggling for a response.
But there is none. There is no perfect solution for Stefi and I.
He folds his hands behind his head and we stare at the serene oval of sapphire water. Lush forests spread out around us, and the peaks in the far distance glow in the sunlight. Boy, will I miss it here.
“Tough break, man. I’m sorry.” Jonathan sighs. “It would be so much easier if you lived here.”
I smile wistfully. “Or if this summer could last forever.”
37
Stefi
I press down on the tip of my pen so hard that a blot of black ink bubbles from the nib. Frustrated, I swipe at the pool of ink, leaving a huge stain on my palm and an even bigger black smudge on the page. It’s g
arbage, but I didn’t write anything worth saving anyway.
With a sigh, I rip the page out of my notebook, crumple it up and toss it at the trashcan. Miss it by a foot.
I’m getting nowhere with my essay. I’ve been sitting at my desk for hours, but every time I try to write, I’m reminded of Cooper. And instead of jotting down a brilliant piece of prose on my amazing, life-changing experiences this summer, I wind up lost in a daydream. A daydream where Cooper and I never broke up, where he lives in Edendale and is a part of the same world as me. A daydream in which we never have to say goodbye.
Ridiculous.
I slide my chair backwards and get to my feet, snapping myself out of the latest version of my fantasy. In this one, Cooper lives down the street from me and we cook dinner together every night after school. Like when we used to make lunch together.
Maybe some coffee will calm me down, help me focus. Though I’m currently failing at both writing my college admissions essay and forgetting about Cooper, getting caffeine feels like a doable task.
Before I leave my cabin, I take a page out of Cooper’s book and don a baseball cap and sunglasses. I’m not in the mood to bump into anyone and struggle through mindless chit-chat.
I walk to the main Legacy Inn building, barely aware that it’s a beautiful, sunny day. In the distance, the beach is packed with families. Anaya is in the water, teaching swimming lessons, while Wes supervises from his lifeguard chair. The cheerful sounds of laughing children and splashing water is a stark contrast to how I’m feeling.
I enter the main building and pop my head into reception to wave to Bree — she’s filing her nails behind her desk — before darting into the kitchen. Fernando and Noah are bustling around preparing dinner for the guests. The volume of the kitchen radio is cranked up to 100 on some classic rock song.
“MI BELLA, STEFI!” Fernando yells over the music.
Noah rolls his eyes and reaches for the volume knob.
The Complete Legacy Inn Collection: Four Sweet YA Romances Page 46
