Filed to story: Katy and Brayden Cooper Novel
So Bryan wasn’t entirely wrong. I’ve always buried myself in academics, memorizing every detail, acing every exam, and somehow thinking that would be enough. But everything else, like my social life, my experience with guys, and even my ability to just… live is a mess. Hell, I can’t even go to parties like a normal college kid.
I steal a glance at Braydon, who’s still watching me. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my short time with him, it’s that he’s living life to the fullest. And now, I feel like I’m living only a fraction of mine.
I want to be able to do more than just pass my exams. I want to tease a guy in ways Allie swears drive them wild. I want to make him moan my name like Allie says guys do when they can’t hold back, make him lose himself entirely, and leave him begging for more. I want to stop lying there, frozen, doing nothing, and finally take control of myself.
And I know what you’re thinking. And yes, that’s exactly what I’m thinking too.
I clear my throat. “I want to learn.”
Braydon doesn’t respond for a few seconds but watches me, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Learn what?”
“How to be better,” I clarify, my voice a little breathless. “You said someone needs to teach me, and I think you have enough experience.”
For the first time, he looks visibly flushed, though he tries to hide it. “Do you know what you’re asking?”
“Yeah.” I nod, trying to sound confident, though my stomach is twisting. “I mean… it’s not that hard to explain. I pick things up quickly.”
He chuckles softly. “You think I can teach you how to be better at sex with words?”
Before I can react, he closes the space between us and lifts his finger to rest under my chin. A trail of goosebumps runs across my arms. “What exactly do you want to learn?”
“Everything.” The word trembles out of me, louder than I expected. “I want to know everything.”
He inhales sharply, and for a moment, his eyes darken as if weighing something. His throat works, a subtle hitch that makes me hold my breath. And then he breaks eye contact for the tiniest second. “I… can’t.”
My face falls. “Why?” I whisper. “And you… you can’t or you won’t?”
“I can’t,” he repeats.
I nod slowly, forcing a small smile I don’t really feel. “I understand.” My hands tremble slightly as I rise to my feet. “Nice talk. Goodnight.”
I start toward the door, my steps quick and jittery because I want to escape. Then his voice stops me.
“Wait.”
I spin around, and he’s rising from the bed, moving toward me. The space between us shrinks as he reaches and locks eyes with me.
“If we’re gonna do this,” he says, “I have three conditions. One, I’ll take the lead and you listen. You do what I say. Two, you must remember that none of what we do means anything.”
I swallow hard. I’ve already kissed him, and I know I’ll do it again at some point. But… none of it means anything. I can do this.
“Yeah.” That’s all I manage to say.
“And the final condition.” He adds, and I narrow my eyes. “You’ll go to Zach’s party with me.”
I start to shake my head but stop myself. My fingers curl around my bag strap, twisting it nervously. A party. I know how loud jocks can get. I know how crazy these parties get. Loud enough to bring back memories I don’t want to relive.
“But everyone goes to parties, Katy.” Allie’s words echo in my head, the first thing she said before she knew why I avoided going to parties. Everyone. I want to be normal like everyone else. And this this is bigger than Bryan. I want to break out of my shell.
“Okay…” I say, even though my fingers are twitching from nerves of just agreeing. “I’ll do it.”
“Good. We have a deal,” he responds. “Come on. I’ll give you a ride back.”
KATY’S POV
I somehow convinced Braydon to give me sex lessons.
Yeah. I can’t believe it either. Sitting in his car now, I’m replaying the decision over and over, wondering if I’ve completely lost it.
He’s focused on the road, quiet, which only makes me more restless, and I wish I could crawl inside his head for five minutes to see what he really thinks of me. Does he see me as a prude? Stupid? Pathetic? Maybe all of the above.
“So, why Bryan?”
The question yanks me out of my thoughts. My head snaps toward him, but he keeps his eyes on the road, only flicking a quick glance my way before looking forward again.
“In what context?” I ask carefully.
He shrugs. “You know. Everything.”
I press my lips together and turn to the window, watching campus lights blur by. What am I supposed to say?
The truth is, I don’t even know where to start. I’m not ashamed I loved Bryan. And I shouldn’t be embarrassed that he chose to cheat-that was on him, not me. But still… admitting that I don’t really have a good answer to Braydon’s question? That doesn’t feel very pleasant.
Don’t get me wrong. I liked Bryan, and we had things in common, sure. But one of the biggest reasons I agreed to date him was because Allie got too busy with her boyfriend, and I hated feeling like the third wheel.
Of course, there’s no way I’m admitting that to Braydon.
“We were compatible,” I say flatly, hoping he’ll drop it. But when is luck ever on my side?
“Compatible?” His tone is filled with disbelief. “I can’t possibly see how you and Bryan were compatible.”
“You don’t know me or him well enough to decide that,” I shoot back.
He lets out a short, humorless snort. “Are you forgetting we’re painfully brothers?”
“Yeah, but you can hardly call yourselves family,” I counter, then steer the conversation somewhere else. “Speaking of, why are you guys so distant?”
The shift in him is immediate. His hands grip the wheel tighter, the tendons in his forearm flexing, and his jaw sets in a way I haven’t seen before. Braydon’s usually quick with comebacks, and always ready with some dry remark, but now the air between us feels different, like I’ve mentioned a forbidden topic.
“Why?” I press, unable to help myself when he doesn’t answer right away.
“Just because.” His reply is clipped, the kind of answer that slams a door in my face. I let out a quiet breath and turn back to the window, letting the silence settle. For a while, it’s just the road beneath us and the hum of the engine.
Then his voice breaks through again. “What kind of guy do you want?”
The question catches me off guard.
No one’s ever asked me that before, not really or with that particular phrase. I shift in my seat, glancing at him, then back out the window, buying myself a moment.
“What kind of guy…” I repeat slowly, almost to myself. “Someone with emotional intelligence. Someone loyal and faithful. I want to be the only girl who gets a reaction from him.” I stop for a second, chewing on the thought before adding, “I hate men with wandering eyes.”