Free Sometimes, Forever (Sometimes Moments #2) by Len Webster

on here. I’ll call him later.
    Margot: Are you okay?
    Cooper: Yeah, I’m all right.
    Margot: You’re a dirty liar. Daylesford girl not in love with you?
     
    His fingers wrapped tightly around his phone. Margot had the worst humour and timing.
     
    Cooper: No. She’s not.
     
    Once he had sent that text, he returned his phone to his pocket and began to make his way towards town. He felt his phone vibrate but ignored it. He’d talk to his little sister later. As he continued up the path towards the turn-off into town, he lifted his chin and stared at the hotel. From what he had understood, Peyton had worked hard to make it as successful as it was, and he wasn’t going to stand in the way of that. Then he saw her. Peyton walking towards him. She had faltered in her steps, almost tripping once she had noticed him. He watched as a cautious smile spread across her lips.
    That tiny ounce of hope he had died.
    He had hurt her.
    When they were almost in front of each other, Peyton said, “Hey, Cooper.”
    Cooper stopped and avoided eye contact with her. Scared to have her light blues stare at him. “Hey. Listen, I have to go. I’ll see you later.” Then he walked past and sighed in relief.
    “Wait!” Peyton called out.
    And he stopped.
    Like she had commanded him to.
    He clenched his eyes tightly shut and mentally cursed himself. A deep breath later, he spun around to see the fear consume her face, and he swore her lip quivered, too. Peyton inhaled deeply and balled her fists. She appeared frightened, and he couldn’t blame her.
    “Peyton, I have deliveries to make,” he said, trying to escape those sad eyes of hers. He was sure she wanted an explanation for kissing her, but he wasn’t sure what to say.
    “I just need to ask you something.”
    “Fine,” he said, completely frustrated with himself rather than her.
    She was silent for several seconds. “Would you like to go on a date with me?”
    What?
    Cooper pressed his lips together, stifling any words from escaping.
    She had asked him on a date.
    Just as he thought he could have something with her, her uncertain expression from the festival invaded his thoughts. Then he remembered what Graham had said.
    Cooper would be leaving at the end of his contract. There was no reason to start something that would end. He let himself enjoy the sight of the hope in her eyes and allowed his clenching heart to consume his entire body with its pain.
    “No.”
    “No?” she asked, the horror in her voice had him hating himself. Her eyes flashed and he saw the devastation in them.
    “I’m sorry, but I’m interested in someone else,” he said in a controlled voice. Cooper then spun around and began to distance himself from Peyton as he headed towards town.
    He refrained from looking back.
    To see her reaction.
    Instead, he allowed himself to feel the repercussions of saying no to a date with Peyton Spencer.
    It was his first ever heartbreak.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    We’ve had an adventure, and adventures come with many complications and many successes.

Margot: Okay, so you’re ignoring all my calls. It’s been three days. And I’m sure you’ve read my messages or, at least, opened them. I know you, Coop. You hate those red balloon notifications. You are OCD about them. I’m going to call you after school’s finished and you had better answer. So help me, Cooper, I will drive all the way to Daylesford and slap you silly!
    Cooper: Margot, I’ve been busy at work. Today’s been my first day off in a week. I was enjoying it. And yes, I will answer this time.
     
    At 3:05 p.m., his phone rang from the coffee table. Cooper reached over, saw that it was his little sister, and picked up the call.
    “Hey,” he greeted.
    “All right, the preps have all gone home and I am not on yard duty today. So talk. Tell me about this girl,” Margot demanded.
    “There’s nothing to say,” Cooper said as he leant back on the couch. “I think she asked me out so I wouldn’t feel