Lily didn’t say anything, so after a second, I kept going. “For that moment, in his arms, everything was fine. He was a diversion, a distraction. That night, he was everything I needed.”

“And then what happened?”

“The next morning he left, and I left, and I didn’t see him again until he picked me up at the airport.”

She paused, and I could almost hear her thinking. “Have you been together ever since?”

“Ever since Noir. Sneaking away from West and Patrick at the club wasn’t hard. Astrid left on her own. I went home with Cooper.”

“And what about Astrid? Is he banging her too?” Her voice was tight. “I never know what’s going on with the two of them, and neither of them will talk about it.”

“He says he’s not.”

“And you believe him? If he’s stepping out on my sister for West’s sister—”

“Lily, I believe him,” I said earnestly. “Astrid is seeing someone else, but it’s a secret … he’s, like, anti-media, so she and Cooper ‘date’ just as a cover so everyone would leave them alone.”

Lily frowned. “But why wouldn’t she have told me?”

“Sam is just so private, and apparently Astrid is really afraid she’ll lose him if anyone finds out. Even you.”

“I’m talking to her about this. I just don’t know if I believe it.”

“I’ve been having a hard time with it too. But I believe both of them,” I said as we reached our building. It was the truth.

Lily pulled open the door. “I don’t even know what to say, Maggie. I mean … Cooper? I don’t think he’s ever had a serious relationship, and he’s slept with every eligible woman in Manhattan — and most of Brooklyn. He’s literally the opposite of boyfriend material.”

We stepped inside and climbed the stairs. “Which is why I don’t consider him my boyfriend.”

“Cooper is Mr. M,” she said half to herself. “You’re having a no-strings affair with Cooper Moore. It seemed so much more relatable when it wasn’t him. But I guess if there was one man who it might be safe to say feelings wouldn’t be involved, it would be Cooper.”

“I have fun with him. It’s easy, aside from the whole sneaking around thing. He’s amazing in bed.”

She snickered as she dug in her bag for her keys. “I can’t say I’m surprised, but ugh. Is he really not seeing anyone else? I don’t think I’ve ever known him to only see one woman for any period of time, even Astrid. I mean, we all figured he was running around, but the fact that it’s you is just crazy.”

“I really don’t think he is. Lily — he deleted all of his hookup contacts the other day.”

She stopped in the hallway with her hand frozen in her bag. “No way.”

“I know. And he did it smiling, like it was no big deal at all.”

Lily blinked and shook her head, moving to unlock the door. “What in the world? Is this like a sign of the end times? Are we going to wake up tomorrow to zombie flu and flaming meteors?”

I chuckled and stepped into the apartment behind her. “He was trying to prove a point — that he was honoring the rules.”

“Ah, the rules.” She turned on the light and tossed her keys in the dish.

“I know everyone thinks they’re dumb, but they make me feel safe.”

She nodded, though I suspected she was keeping something to herself.

“There are only two weeks left before it’s over, but in the meantime, it’s a one day at a time kind of thing. I’m always free. He’s always free. I’m lonely, and so is he. So we keep each other company. It’s not all that complicated.”

Lily shot me a look as she walked into the kitchen. “Except for West.”

“Yes,” I conceded. “Except for West.”

Lily collected supplies for gin and tonics and set them on the table. “I just can’t believe that Cooper would do this to West, you know? That he would risk his friendship for a fling.”

I took a seat, feeling a hundred years old. “We’re not doing it to hurt West.”

“That doesn’t mean it wouldn’t still hurt him if he found out.”

“It’s another reason for the rules. Easier to hide it if it’s brief, you know?”

She shook her head and poured us each a drink. “I really don’t know what he would do. I don’t like to think he would turn his back on Cooper, but I can’t say that’s not a real possibility. He’d be hurt, Maggie. Really hurt. Like, ultimate betrayal of the bro code. Especially if it’s just for sport. But, if you two were serious …”

I picked up my glass and took a long drink. “I don’t have it in me to be serious about anyone right now. I need somebody, and Cooper is safe … ish.”

Lily guffed.

“No, but really. He’s familiar. I know him well enough to know what to expect. I know he’ll be careful with me because he loves West. It’s safer than Tinder, anyway.”

“Maybe.”

I gave her a look.

She rolled her eyes. “All right. Marginally.”

I looked down at my drink. “It just feels good to forget.”

Lily shook her head and took a drink. “I just cannot believe Mr. M is Cooper.” She sat up straighter. “Wait — tonight, when you both disappeared, did you …”

My cheeks were on fire. “Yeah. In the bathroom. West came in.”

Her jaw was on the table. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

I dropped my head to my hands. “I know, Lily. I know! So, so stupid.”

“You cannot do that again. And you can’t hook up over here, either.”

I looked up at her, hopeful. “Does that mean you’re not going to tell West?”

She sighed, not looking happy about it. “No, I won’t tell him.” She picked up her drink. “This sucks.”

“I’m sorry, Lily. I didn’t want to drag you into this. But can I just tell you how relieved I am that you know? It’s been so hard, keeping it a secret.”

“No one knows?”

“Only you, Astrid, and my friend from back home, Brooke.”

She watched me for a beat. “West is going to figure it out. You’re his sister, and Cooper is his best friend. I saw you two together, and it was just so obvious all of a sudden that something was going on. The look on your face and his — it was written all over both of you. You’ve got to figure something out.”

I chewed my lip. “There’s nothing to figure out. It’ll be over soon. Don’t you think we can keep it a secret until it’s over?”

“If you quit banging all over the place, maybe.”

“Obviously. Two weeks. That’s it.” I looked down at my gin and swirled it around in my glass.

She watched me. “You look a little sad about that for this being ‘easy’ and ‘no big deal.’”

It was the truth, though, and I knew it. I didn’t really want it to end, even though I knew it was exactly what it had to do. “He’s the one little bright spot in my life, and he’s so bright that I almost can’t see any of the bad.”

“Why not date?”

I cackled. “Date? Cooper Moore? I mean, really, Lily. His last name literally means excess.”

“I think it refers to a geographical feature—”

I gave her a flat look.

“—but I get your meaning.”

I shook my head. “Cooper is like the chaser you slam after a shot of cheap vodka. He’s there to wash the taste away after the pain.” I didn’t know how much I believed it, even though that was what I’d been telling myself for weeks. “Anyway, you even just said he’s the opposite of boyfriend material.”

She shrugged. “I’m just wondering if there’s more to it than that.”

“Regardless, I’m sure West would be pleased as punch if I dated Cooper.”

“He’d be happier with a relationship than you guys just banging for fun, I’ll tell you that for sure.”

But I shook my head and dug in my heels. “I can’t date. I can’t. I’m not ready for that. Not to be serious. And not with Cooper. How could he be serious about me when he doesn’t take anything seriously? I did that once, Lily. I did it once, and I will never, ever do it again. I don’t want to fall in love. I don’t want to date. I don’t want expectations from Cooper, and I don’t want to expect anything from him, either.”