Chapter 28
COOPER
Dad Joke Of The Day:
Why are libraries so tall?
Because they have many stories.
Me: Thank you both again for tonight.
Quinn: Thank you for everything you always do. We’re glad to help you get out for a night.
Me: Well, I appreciate it, and for everything you helped with.
Quinn:
Levi: I feel like I might be missing part of this conversation, but I guess that’s not that uncommon.
Levi: Either way, have fun buddy.
Me: Am I still good to pick you up at 6:00?
Ally: Absolutely, I’ll see you then
When I called Levi last night after Ally went home, I knew we needed to have a real conversation that I couldn’t put off any longer.
In the past, he’s told me he didn’t care if I was interested in her, but this…
this isn’t just interest anymore. I’m in deep with Ally.
I’m fucking crazy about her, and I want to tell her.
But before I do, I had to be sure it wouldn’t wreck the friendship Levi and I have.
He’s said more than once that it’s never been anyone for him except Quinn—and I believe him—but I also understand he and Ally were once engaged.
That history matters. His feelings back then were real, and that’s okay.
I just needed to hear, from him, that moving forward with her wouldn’t cross any lines I can’t uncross.
If he wasn’t okay with it, yeah, of course it would hurt like hell. Levi is like family to me, and I couldn’t start something with Ally knowing I might be throwing away a friendship I’ve valued for years.
Did I hope he was fine with it? Absolutely. Did I want to be forced to choose? Not even a little. He’s my best friend.
But when I called to talk to him, the only thing I could hear was Quinn in the background giggling, saying something about how she loved that they were right and that they had called it.
What surprised me even more was that Levi did make a comment that I needed to be sure, because if not, and I hurt her, he would kick my ass.
Which I appreciated. I’m glad Ally has people in her corner, even with their history.
The nice thing about that was that it proved Levi’s point about his friendship with Ally. They were never romantically in love, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love her as family. Which might seem confusing for most people, but it’s how I feel about Lucas’s mom.
Rachel and I were friends with benefits, nothing more, and at the time it was fun and convenient. We were never some beautiful love story meant to last or some right person, wrong time bullshit, and hearing about her moving on wouldn’t bother me in the least.
We were just two friends who were always hanging out and used each other sexually while it was fun, and there were no attachments. She proved the no attachments part when she got pregnant and instead of being a parent, she chose to sign away her rights.
So, no, I wouldn’t care just like I guess it probably is for Levi and Ally.
But after he reassured me that he wasn’t just okay with the relationship but was actually happy for me, I asked the second question I had for him—what were the chances that they would be willing to hang out with Lucas on our only full day off so that I could take Ally on a proper date?
One where we wouldn’t get caught with our pants down, literally.
Besides, if I was going to talk to her about my feelings and, as corny as it sounds, my intentions, I just feel like it’s probably time for me to put my best foot forward. Show her what it’s like to be with me, what it would be like if she were mine.
When she’s mine?
Fuck. What if she says no? What if this isn’t what she wants? What if I have too much baggage? I mean, it’s a lot, and I get that. I’m a single dad who travels for work, all the time.
But I also try really hard to be a good dad.
Not only that, but I just try to be that same dependable, supportive person that I am to my son and everyone else in my life.
Although my dating life was pretty much nonexistent, I’ve never once questioned how I would treat a woman I was with, and tonight, I want to show Ally that side of me.
Hopping out of my truck, I shut the door behind me, grabbing the flowers I picked up on the way—sunflowers, of course, because Quinn let me in on the little tidbit that these are Ally’s favorite.
I want this to be the most perfect first date possible. Even if she doesn’t want to date me, at least she’ll know what it feels like to be treated like a queen.
I want to show her what she’s been missing out on.
Heading up to her front door, I knock, the nerves of waiting making me feel like I’m back in high school getting ready to go out on my first date ever. It feels like an eternity before she opens the door, but when she does, my jaw drops.
She looks gorgeous. Stunning. Fucking perfect.
I don’t even know if they’ve come up with a word for how beautiful she looks right now.
Standing in the doorway smiling at me, her long, dark brown hair is down in curls.
A long summer dress with blue and white flowers on it and a pair of sandals complete the look, and she is breathtaking.
“Hi,” I finally force out. The cat literally must have my tongue because I can’t come up with any intelligent thoughts.
“Hi,” she says as she grabs a purse by the door. Turning around, she sees me standing there, sunflowers in hand and wearing what I can only assume is the cheesiest grin in the world.
I’ve never been that great at playing it cool, always too excited to hide my face card. “For me?” she says with a smile that makes me believe this isn’t something she’s used to.
Fuck her exes.
Well not Levi…but kind of. It’s not that hard to show someone you care, especially when you’re taking the time to date her.
“Of course,” I tell her, passing her the flowers and leaning in to press a kiss on her cheek, afraid if I really kiss her—if my lips touch hers, taste her—we would never leave this house, and I’m excited to take her out.
"They’re beautiful, Cooper. Thank you. I’m going to put them in water real quick, and then we can get going.”
It’s not far to the drive-in, but it’s amazing how even being out here feels like we’re in a different world than back home. There’s nothing out here, and it’s a perfect place to watch a movie in peace while sitting in the bed of my truck.
When I was planning this out—with Quinn’s help, of course—I knew this is where I wanted to take her because I overheard the girls talking about how much they loved drive-ins, but I needed Quinn’s help to figure out the movie.
The rest was easy. I packed a picnic so we could eat, relax, and talk a little more without someone interrupting us anytime we touched.
Luckily, the drive-in just outside of town runs a few movies every night, and their specialty is old classics, Ally’s absolute favorite. I got even luckier tonight when we showed up and found out they were playing Sabrina, an Audrey Hepburn film that, apparently, is one of her all-time favorites.
Not that I can take credit for the win. I didn’t even know until about ten minutes after we sat down, when the title came up on the screen and she let out the cutest squeal.
Whoever’s out there playing witchy wingman for me…keep going.
“So what snacks did you bring?” Ally asks as she starts to lift the lid of the picnic basket, but I swat her hand away, keeping it shut as I finish pouring both of us a drink.
“First off, I didn’t bring snacks; I brought a meal. Because I’m an adult,” I deadpan. “Have you been spending too much time with Lucas? Only worried about snacks now?”
“Oh, shut up!” She laughs, and the sound is music to my ears—a sound I hadn’t heard until recently, and now? Now it’s my favorite, one I try to hear at least once a day, but even one hundred times a day wouldn’t be enough.
“Maybe that’s why Lucas and I get along so well. I like food, he likes food, and we both think a full sit-down meal is highly overrated,” she starts as I pass her a drink.
“You and Lucas get along so well for a lot of reasons, but your love of snacks is definitely high up on that list. What the hell is it with four-year olds and thinking meals are overrated,” I tell her, rolling my eyes.
This has been a battle for months, and I know a lot of it is just the age and making choices and all that bullshit.
I get it.
But hell, just please eat the dang chicken nuggets and macaroni so we can do something fun instead of whining about the four bites of food we have to still eat?
“He’s a smart kid. I could survive off cheese and crackers or other finger foods, but a lot of that is probably because I’m just not a big into cooking, so I like things that are easy.”
“I know you could. I’ve seen what you eat in a day, and I’m pretty sure the birds outside eat more than you sometimes.”
“Oh, shush! I eat a lot. I just eat all day instead of full meals like you peasants. But what did you bring?!”
“I made sandwiches—there’s a few different kinds. And then snacks, just like you asked for,” I say, chuckling at the way her face gets brighter just at the mention of them.
Pulling everything out of the picnic basket, we get situated and comfortable before the movie officially starts, relaxing back on the blanket, and when I glance over at Ally, doing a happy dance while eating cheese and crackers, her favorite movie in the background, it hits me.
None of the other bullshit matters. This is what life is about.
I couldn’t tell you a single thing about the plot of this movie.
Honestly, I’m only kind of sure there’s a character named Sabrina, and even that might be wrong.
What I do know is that I spent the entire first half of it watching her instead—watching the way she smiled at her favorite moments, the little giggles she let slip, the joy lighting up her face.
That alone made the entire night worth it.
“This is so much fun, Coop,” she whispers with stars in her eyes as she sinks her teeth into a strawberry.
A trail of juice slides down her lip, and I just can’t stop myself.
I reach up and swipe it with my thumb, then capture her mouth in a soul-stealing kiss, licking the sweetness from her lips before taking even more, tasting her and the strawberry until I can’t tell them apart.
So sweet.
Fucking delicious.
Pulling back, her cheeks are pink as she looks around like the world is watching us, but I don’t care. They can watch or not, and it doesn’t bother me. The only person I’m concerned about right now is Ally.
“Thank you for letting me take you out. I’ll be honest; I’ve been a little tired of being interrupted by people—adults and children. So to be able to sit with you and not have anyone bother us…I’m having a great time.”
“Me too.” Ally smiles sweetly. “I’m just shocked I’ve spent so much of my life in Nashville, but I’ve never been to this drive-in. I don’t even think I knew this was here!”
“Not a lot of people do. When I first moved to Nashville years ago, I didn’t know a lot of people, so I was driving around a lot, seeing different things, and I guess just trying to find something to do that didn’t revolve around hockey.
I’m a big movie guy, so when I saw the drive-in, I started making it a weekly thing.
It’s been a while since I’ve been here though.
Once I had Lucas, time to myself was a little harder to come by, but it’s always been one of my favorite places to come when I just want to relax. ”
“I love it here. I can see how this is relaxing. Movies are always my favorite. I feel like they transport you to a new world, one that’s magical and beautiful and just so exciting.
Audrey’s movies have always been my go-to.
She always plays someone who, even if she doesn’t have her shit together, her confidence, her energy, makes her seem so successful and happy that I’ve just always strived to be that level of happy. ”
“Exactly. And I mean, I definitely didn’t come here to watch Audrey Hepburn movies, but I would come and watch older action movies, and they just always made me feel right at home. Reminded me of when my dad and I used to watch them growing up.”
“That’s adorable. I love that,” Ally says as she leans back, moving to snuggle up to me, laying her head on my shoulder.
The rest of the movie is relaxing, the two of us sitting there together, watching the film and occasionally laughing, snacking, or talking about life.
It’s been so peaceful and different than any other date I’ve been on because none of it was flashy or intended to impress someone into giving me a second date.
No, this has been one of those quiet moments you spend with someone, the moment you begin to realize that what once started out as a little crush is quickly evolving into something bigger. Deep down, I think I’ve known this for a while, but it hasn’t been something I’ve been ready to face.
When the movie ends and the credits start playing, we get up like everyone else around us and start packing up our stuff, getting ready to head out.
“This has been the perfect night, Coop. Thank you,” Ally says, her smile bright as she folds up the picnic blanket before tossing it in the back of the truck.
“It has, hasn’t it?” I tell her, right as a car a few spots down from us turns their radio up, and “Take it Slow” by Conner Smith starts playing through their speakers, the music serenading everyone as we all get ready to leave.
But I’m not ready to go home just yet, not quite ready to leave this little bubble we’re currently in.
“Dance with me?” I ask quietly, my hand outstretched, just praying she takes it.
“Here? Right now?” she asks, her eyes darting as she looks around at all the people, a little twinkle in her eye as she looks back at me, but this time her fingers end up in mine, a giggle falling from her lips as I pull her into me. “This is crazy.”
“What’s crazy about this?” I ask, kissing the top of her head as I wrap my arms around her, pulling her against my chest, her arms wrapping around my neck.
The music plays around us, cars driving, making their way home, yet all I can think about is standing here, holding Ally and making our own dance floor.
“You deserved to go to a dance, to dress up and feel beautiful and have a man pull you close and dance with you. I may not have many other firsts, but this is one I’ll gladly take. ”