by Kaylee Ryan
Agony
Entangled Hearts Duet #1
Kaylee Ryan
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
More From Kaylee Ryan
Acknowledgments
Copyright © 2020 Kaylee Ryan
All Rights Reserved.
This book may not be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Kaylee Ryan, except for the use of brief quotations in articles and or reviews.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, events, locations, businesses and plot are products of the author’s imagination and meant to be used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events throughout the story are purely coincidental. The author acknowledges trademark owners and trademarked status of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication and use of these trademarks are not authorized, sponsored or associated by or with the trademark owners.
The following story contains sexual situations and strong language. It is intended for adult readers.
Cover Design: Sommer Stein, Perfect Pear Creative Covers Cover Photography: Braadyn Penrod
Editing: Hot Tree Editing
Proofreading: Deaton Author Services
Formatting: Integrity Formatting
Prologue
Cooper
I’ve heard the saying “you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone” many times throughout my life. There have been songs written about it, but it never applied to me. I never paid much attention. I didn’t need to.
Until I did.
Until the day I realized I was in love with my best friend.
Nine words. That sums up my current situation. I don’t know the exact moment that I fell in love with Reese Latham. I can’t tell you the day or the time, or even where I was. What I can tell you is that my love, it’s absolute. It’s a “deep rooted in my chest, chains around my heart” kind of love.
I can tell you that she’s been a huge part of my life since we were eight years old. I don’t have a single childhood memory without her in it. She is and has always been my person. I just didn’t realize what that meant until it was too late.
I lost her to someone else. Someone I’m sure who will never love her like I do. He can’t cherish her the way that I would. He can’t make her laugh so hard that her cute button nose scrunches up. He can’t hold her during scary movies. He can’t love her like I can. I could continue to list the reasons, but none of them matter.
Because she’s in love with him.
She’s agreed to be his wife.
I’m reeling.
I want her.
My heart craves her.
But she’s not mine.
There is a hole in my heart, and it has her name on it. Reese Latham will forever be the one that got away. Only, she’s still here. I still get to see her. Her smile still lights up the cloudiest of days, and her voice will continue to be my anchor in any storm.
I was wrong. I said nine words summed up my current situation when really all I need is one.
Agony.
Chapter 1
Cooper
College: Freshman Year
“Come on, Reese, you have to go,” I say to my best friend. I’ve been lying here on her bed in her dorm for the last half hour. I’m trying to convince her to go to the team’s season kick-off bonfire tonight.
“Nope. Not my scene, Coop. You know that.”
“You’ll be with me.”
“Right.” She laughs. “And all the floozies who want to hang all over you all night. Hard pass.”
“When have I ever blown you off for a cleat chaser?” I ask, but I already know the answer. Never. I’ve never put anyone before Reese, including girlfriends. If they can’t handle our relationship, they can find themselves a new one. We’ve been best friends since we were eight. I remember my parents dragging me to her house to welcome them to the neighborhood. I saw her pink bike in the yard and got excited. There were no other kids on our street. That afternoon her parents invited mine over for dinner, and Reese and I rode our bikes until we were practically falling off them from exhaustion. We’ve been thick as thieves ever since.
“Never.” She heaves a heavy sigh, bringing me out of my thoughts. “That’s just not me, Coop. Look.” She holds up her e-reader that I got her for Christmas last year. “I have a perfectly good book to read, and some mint chocolate chip ice cream in the freezer. I’m all set. You go and have fun. Be safe. Call me if you need a ride,” she adds, effectively dismissing me.
I have to go tonight. As a freshman on the football team for Central University, I have to be there to support my team. I have a full-ride scholarship, and as a freshman, Coach is starting me as a running back. That’s a big deal. I have to be there. “Please, Reese’s Pieces,” I say, sticking my bottom lip out. I usually bribe her with candy when I pull out the name, but desperate times and all that.
She rolls her light green eyes and holds her hand out. “Hand them over.”
“I don’t have them.”
“What kind of bribe is this?” she teases.
“We’ll stop on the way. I promise.” I don’t know if it’s because it’s her name, but this girl loves all things Reese’s. Then again, who doesn’t?
“Cooper,” she whines. “I really don’t want to go.”
“Too bad. You’ve been holed up in your dorm room since classes started. This is college, Reese. We’re supposed to be living our best life.”
“Hello.” She holds up her e-reader. “I’m trying to live my best life. You keep interrupting me.”
“Coach is going to be pissed,” I say, kicking off my shoes.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m getting comfortable.”
“On my bed?” she asks, annoyed.
“Yep. I’m not leaving you for another Saturday night alone. You either come with me, or I stay. Oh, and I’ll be giving Coach your number when he’s reaming my ass about not being there.”
“It’s not even a school-sanctioned event.”
I nod. “It is. It’s tradition.” Her shoulders deflate, and I know I’ve got her.
“Fine,” she grumbles. “I’ll go to your stupid bonfire.” I don’t hide my grin as she climbs off the bed and stomps toward the bathroom. “But I reserve the right to leave at any time.”
“Two hours minimum!” I yell as she disappears into the bathroom. I sit up and put my shoes back on, before stretching back out, keeping my feet hanging over the side of her bed.
“You owe me one, Reeves” is her muffled reply.
“Where’s your roommate?” I call out to her.
“Tessa is out with some guy she met at orientation. I guess they hit it off,” she says, coming back into the room. Her blonde hair is now hanging down around her shoulders, and I can tell she just ran her hands through it. Doesn’t matter though; Reese is naturally
beautiful; she doesn’t need all the flair to stand out. “What?” she asks when she finds me staring at her.
“Nothing. You two hitting it off okay?”
“We are. I’m so glad. We’re a lot alike.”
“Except she’s out on a Saturday night and you’re here.”
“I’m going out.” She sticks her tongue out at me, causing me to laugh.
“Get used to it. I’m not letting you spend our college years hiding away in your dorm room.”
“Hush. It’s a nice room,” she counters. “Do you know how lucky Tessa and I are to have a room with a bathroom for just the two of us? That’s sacred and should be taken advantage of.”
“It’s the size of a Cracker Jack box.”
Another roll of her green eyes. “It’s mine.”
“What’s the point of all this freedom if you’re not going to use it?”
She laughs. “You act like we lived sheltered lives before college.” I raise my eyebrows, and her laugh grows louder. “Okay, but it was my choice. You, on the other hand, Mr. Social Butterfly.”
“Hey, don’t hate the player, hate the game.”
“You’re ridiculous. I hate that you’re a player, and I hate that game.” She gives me a pointed look.
“But you love football. All the more reason for you to come and hang out with the team tonight.”
“I already agreed to go,” she reminds me.
“Yes, but can you at least pretend to have a good time?” She’s shy, and it’s my goal to bring her out of her shell these next four years. She was shy in high school too, and I don’t want to say naïve, but she’s one of those girls who doesn’t know how pretty she is. She doesn’t even try. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve had to warn assholes to stay away from her. I refuse to see her be taken advantage of.
There was a short period of time a couple of months ago when I considered us being more. Then I came to my senses. She’s my best friend, and I value her, cherish our relationship. No way am I going to fuck it up like I do all my other relationships.
She exaggerates her smile. “How’s this?” she says, talking through her teeth.
“Perfect. Can you hold that for the entire night?”
“I agreed to two hours.”
“You’re going to have such a good time, you’ll be there until the sun comes up.”
“Don’t hold your breath, Coop. You ready?” She slides her cell phone into the back pocket of her short jean shorts. She’s wearing a Central U T-shirt and flip-flops. She couldn’t care less about impressing anyone. She is who she is without apologies.
“Finally,” I say dramatically. “I’m getting old over here.” I hold out my hand and have her pull me from her bed. “This thing is actually quite comfortable for a twin dorm room mattress.”
“See.” She throws her hand that’s not clasped with mine up in the air. “All the more reason to stay in and enjoy it.”
“Nice try, Reese. Let’s roll.” With a tug on her hand, I pull her out into the hallway, only stopping to make sure her door is closed and locked.
“Hey, Cooper,” a brunette calls out to me as we pass the common area on the first floor. I toss her a wink and a wave, and I don’t have to look over at Reese to know that those green eyes of hers are rolled back in her head.
She doesn’t comment until we’re in my Jeep and headed toward the bonfire. “We can’t even get out of my dorm without your harem calling out to you.”
“It’s just the hype about the season. Me being a freshman and starting and all that.” It was the same for me in high school—something she’s all too familiar with. She hated it then too.
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s get this night over with.”
Reaching over, I tap her thigh, resting my hand there. “Cheer up, Reese’s Cup. I got you.” She shakes her head, a grin pulling at her lips.
My phone rings in the cupholder. When Reese sees that it’s my mom, she grabs it, and answers, “Hey, Ann.” She places the call on speaker.
“Hey, sweetie. Did I call you or Cooper?” Mom chuckles.
“Coop. He’s forcing me to go to a bonfire. He’s driving.”
“Hi, Mom,” I say.
“Hi, honey.”
“What’s up?” I ask her.
“I just wanted to call and say hi. The two of you disappear to college and suddenly stop calling your mother.”
“I’m sorry, Mom.” Guilt washes over me. “Classes and football are taking up a lot of time.”
“And the ladies,” Reese adds as helpful as ever.
Mom laughs. “I don’t want to know. Please tell me you’re being safe.”
“We are not having this conversation,” I tell her.
“Fine. I’ll have Dad call you tomorrow.”
“No. Please don’t. It’s all good, Mom. I’m covered, promise.”
“Literally.” Reese cackles. “He already has a harem of football groupies following him around like a little puppy.”
“Keep him grounded, Reese.”
“I try my best.” She smiles over at me sweetly.
“You kids have fun. Be safe. Cooper, call me tomorrow.”
“Will do. Love you.”
“Love you,” Reese tells her.
“Love you both,” Mom says, ending the call.
“Laugh it up,” I tell her. “Just wait until I talk to your mom. In fact, I should call her tomorrow. Just to say hello.”
“Go right ahead. She’s not going to believe anything you tell her. I’m the good one, remember?”
“Oh, I remember. Just like the time we snuck that stray cat into your bedroom. What were we, ten? You had these big tears saying she was lonely and convinced me to help you sneak her into your room.”
“Frisky. She was lonely,” Reese defends.
“Right. Until she had a litter of kittens that you had me smuggle into my house.”
“It’s not my fault you weren’t watching them,” she sasses.
“I was ten!” I counter. “I don’t even like cats. I was just doing it for you, and I’m the one who ended up getting busted.”
“It’s not my fault you didn’t tell them it was my idea.”
She’s right. I never do. I’ve defended her since day one. My buddies gave me a hard time for being friends with a girl—girls have cooties, or so they said. I defended her then, and I’ve spent the last ten years doing the same. I’ve defended not just her, but our friendship countless times, and will continue to do so.
“You’re lucky I love you,” I tell her.
“Yeah, yeah. You got me here, you can stop with the buttering me up thing.”
“Come on,” I say, parking my Jeep in the open field. “I promise you’re going to have a good time tonight.”
“I thought we made a pact. No promises we can’t keep.”
“I can keep this one. Now, get your ass moving, Latham.” Pulling the keys from the ignition and grabbing my phone, I climb out of the Jeep, hitting the lock button on the keyfob once she’s out as well.
Chapter 2
Reese
My palms are sweaty, and I’m pretty sure it’s my shaking knees that have me stumbling, not the uneven ground of the field. I can’t believe I let him talk me into this. Then again, I can. Cooper Reeves and his big brown eyes are convincing. So much so, that I rarely tell him no. Well, I tell him no a lot, but he always talks me into some crazy plan and has me tagging along for something that’s out of my comfort zone. Case and point, this bonfire.
It’s not that I’m anti-social. The opposite, in fact. However, I tend to steer clear of social situations where Coop is the main event, at least in the eyes of the cleat chasers. I have thick skin, but a girl can only take so much. He tries to protect me from it, but there’s always one or five that get their digs in. I could fight back, but really, what’s the point? They’re never going to accept that we’re just friends. It’s as if a guy and a girl having a platonic relationship is unheard of. We’re not abnormal. High sch
ool was hard, and I’m hoping college is better. Partly, because I was planning to let Coop do his thing, I’ll do mine, and we can meet in the middle as time allows. My best friend apparently didn’t get my mental memo, which is why I’m walking through a dark field about fifteen miles from campus.
“You sure this is school-sanctioned?” I ask him as I grab ahold of his arm to keep from tumbling over on this rough terrain.
“I might have stretched the truth just a little. Coach won’t be here, but he knows about it. He says it’s good team-building. He would have found out if I had bailed, and he needs to know I’m a team player.”
“Do you not already show him that when you’re out on the field?”
“Loosen up.” He throws his arm over my shoulders. “Don’t take a drink from anyone but me.”
“You lied to me.” I ignore his statement about a drink. I’m not stupid, and I’m also not drinking. I’d rather have my wits about me. Besides, I’m sure Cooper will have a few, and one of us needs to make sure we get home safely.
“No, I added elements to the story to convince you to come with me. Come on, Reese. I don’t want to be known as the guy on the team who doesn’t socialize.”
“You don’t need me here to do that.”
“I would feel guilty all night long. How am I supposed to have fun when I’m worrying about you?”
“It’s not your job to worry about me,” I say the words, but I don’t mean them. I like that I know I have him to lean on, no matter what’s going on in my life.
