Chapter 16 Mae
Mae
As I’m finishing up a spreadsheet, my phone rings and I wince, hoping it’s not my boss. I’m a little behind because of the shop, but I’m almost done catching up. What I did not anticipate was balancing two full-time jobs.
I glance at my phone and it’s June.
Smiling, I answer, “Hey June, what’s up?”
“Mae! Hey I’m just calling to chat. I’m in between ranch stops.”
I glance at an email that popped in and force myself not to groan. My boss sent me another project due faster than normal.
The people pleaser in me can’t say I’m drowning here. It probably won’t take me that long.
“I’m fine,” I say with a sigh.
She huffs. “That was convincing. I’m tired, kind of hungry, and sore.”
“That sounds … exhausting.”
She huffs. “Hmm, well, I feel like fine is not actually how you feel,” June says.
I snort. “I’m a little creeped out by how you know that.”
“Girl,” June says.
“Cooper asked me out by buying me flowers from my own shop.” I rush out.
June is silent for a second. “My cousin works fast,” she says as if to herself. “So how do you feel about that?” she asks.
“I don’t know what to do, and you saw with your own eyes how it went with Jacob.
It’s not like we had a long relationship, so it didn’t hurt as much, but what’s wrong with me?
Why does this keep happening? Is it going to happen with Cooper?
What if I hurt him and I don’t mean to? What am I supposed to do with all of that?
What if they aren’t the problem and it’s me? And—”
“Okay, I’m going to need you to take a breath,” June says.
I listen, inhaling deeply and try to slow my quickly beating heart.
“Next, I think you’re overthinking it. Which I totally understand, and you have every reason to consider these things. But to me, you just sound scared to say yes.”
I jerk away from the phone as if it burned me.
Is she right? Am I scared to say yes? But why would I be scared? I don’t know Cooper.
“Hello?” June says.
“I’m here,” I rasp.
“You barely knew Jacob, and what happened hurt you. I’m sorry about that, I really am, but Cooper is not remotely similar to Jacob.”
“I know.” I confide.
“So then why are you so scared?” she asks again.
“I think I’m my own worst enemy,” I mumble.
June laughs. “Girl, we all are. I think you should say yes. He was asking about you the other day. I mean, we’re all adults, y’all can be honest with each other if it doesn’t work out.”
“I made a pros and cons list to decide,” I say.
She snorts. “What was the result of the list?” she asks.
I know it was silly, but I didn’t know what else to do except wait for God to give me a sign, but the problem is. If I was given a sign, I’d probably look right past it and think, oh no, that’s not for me. I can be dense that way. I know that.
“The pros win,” I mumble, ignoring her amusement.
June laughs out loud this time. “I’m so sorry, that’s not funny,” she says, still laughing.
“It’s kind of funny,” I say.
“It actually is, but I think you also know what it means.”
“I do,” I mumble. Since I woke up this morning, Cooper has been on my mind.
“I was supposed to take a break from all of this,” I tell her.
“Yes, well, we can plan until the cows come home, but then life happens.”
I snort and look out the window. The sun is shining, and the flowers are blooming.
It won’t make or break me to go on one date with Cooper.
“You’re right, okay. Thank you for reminding me.”
“No worries, girl, thanks for chatting. I need to head to the next ranch. Let me know when you want to hang out again!”
“Sounds good, I’ll text you,” I say and hang up.
The house is silent, and I can hear the birds chirping outside. Forcing myself to focus for a little longer, I look into my next project and then make a phone call to the internet service to see what I can do to get a stronger signal.
My phone dings again, and I prepare myself to read another message from my boss. But it’s Cooper. I open the text and find a link to a song, All My Ex’s Live in Texas by George Strait.
Cooper: I would like to preface this by saying I don’t have exes that live in Texas. George Strait is the GOAT, and this came out in the 80s.
I smile at the phone and play the song. I’ve heard it before, and I don’t think there’s a single person who hasn’t, but I’m hearing it with new ears, and I like it even more.
While the song plays, I grab my purse and head for the shop with more work in front of me, but a smile on my face.
My goal today is to make a list of wedding venues within a fifty-mile radius and start making calls.
I hate talking on the phone like this, but I don’t have a choice.
Money needs to come through the door, or I’ll have to make a tough phone call to my aunt, and I refuse to give up.
***
After making my list of wedding venues, I put together a few bouquets, hoping I can sell them today as my classic 80s playlist bumps in the background.
Finishing up with my last one, I put it in the cooler with a little price tag and close the door. The bell rings and I spin on my heel to greet the customer, but the words die on my lips as Cooper approaches me with a grin on his handsome face.
“Hey Mae.”
Thud.
“Hi Cooper, I —”
Thud. Thud.
“Can I say something before you tell me no?” he asks.
I frown. I was going to tell him I didn’t have an answer yet, even though I know what it is in my gut, and I think that’s what scares me.
I angle my head, waiting for him to say what’s on his mind.
“Look, I won’t apologize for Jacob. He’s an asshole, and you deserve better,” he says.
“And you’re better?” I ask him.
He chuckles and takes a step forward.
I retreat, my back hitting the cooler.
“If I’m being honest, maybe not for you, but I know I’m better than Jacob, and I’m sorry for what he did to you. But I’m glad you saw his true colors before you got any deeper.”
I swallow thickly and nod.
“I think you sense what’s between us. We have this chemistry, and I want to see what happens if you’re willing to. I told you to take your time because I am a patient man, but I’m also dying over here, Mae. Please put me out of my misery.”
I bite my lip and drop my eyes. He’s distracting. When I look at him, I want to say yes, sir, to whatever he asks. But I desperately have to protect my heart because it’s been battered and bruised. I don’t know how many more hits I can take.
“Can we … be friends first?” I ask him, suddenly nervous because something in my heart, my mind, my soul tells me when I tell him yes, it will change everything.
Cooper chuckles and rubs his mustache. “Mae, I don’t need anymore friends.”
The statement feels like a hammer on hot metal. It clangs loudly, and it’s hot, and I’m sweating.
“If I say yes, will it get you to stop coming in here?” I ask him.
“Yep,” Cooper says quickly.
I take a deep breath and look him in the eye as I say, “Then yes, I will go out with you.”
Cooper smiles and reaches for my hand, bringing it up to his mouth, pressing his lips to my knuckles. “You’re a stubborn one, aren’t you?” he says, still holding my hand.
I lift a shoulder because he’s not wrong. I’m a lot of things, and forthcoming is not one of them.
“I don’t mind. I like stubborn,” he says, with verdant eyes that have gone emerald as he looks at me. “I need to get back to the ranch, but I’ll call you with details. Is that okay?”
“I guess it’ll have to be, won’t it?” I ask him.
He smiles widely, and I swear he’s about to jump and click his heels together, and something about his excitement is contagious.
“I suppose it will. Talk soon, Ms. Mae,” he says in that gravelly voice, and I try to hide the shudder running through me.
“Bye.” I watch him walk past the windows out of sight before spinning around and opening the cooler, hoping the air will help my skin stop burning.
After cooling off, I go back to the office and start making phone calls to venues. My chest feels lighter with the small sense of accomplishment, and a date with Cooper to look forward to, as I lock up for the night.
I send Cooper one of my favorite 80s songs, Gypsy by Fleetwood Mac.
As much as I don’t want to admit it, I feel a sense of hope, but it’s tinged with the impending potential of regret.