Chapter 30
Mae
My phone rings, breaking my focus on a spreadsheet due tomorrow. Grumbling, I reach for it, expecting my aunt or mother.
“Hello?” I grunt.
“Hey stubborn, is it a bad time?”
“No, not at all,” I answer quickly, leaning back in my chair.
“You sure? Because that hello didn’t sound friendly,” he says. I can hear the smile in his voice.
“Just working,” I sigh.
“That bad?” he asks.
“I’m tired of looking at numbers.”
“Answer your phone,” he says.
I frown and pull it away from my face, realizing he wants to video chat. “One second,” I squeak, quickly fixing my hair and readjusting my shirt.
Holding my phone at an angle so he won’t see my stained t-shirt, I answer the call.
“Damn, you’re pretty, stained t-shirt and all,” he says.
I sigh and roll my eyes.
“So, what’s up?” he asks.
“I should be asking you the same question.”
His gaze drops from mine, and his jaw ticks. His five o’clock shadow looks more like a beard now, and I spot the bags under his eyes.
“You look like you need a hug,” I tell him.
The corner of his mouth tips up, and he finally looks me in the eye and says, “I can think of a list of other things that are significantly better than a hug.”
“I don’t know, a good hug when you’re down is a pretty good thing.”
“Sounds to me like you’re the one who needs a hug,” he says.
I focus on the nick in my desk that’s suddenly very interesting. “That sounds really nice.”
“I wish I could come and give you one.”
“I think you have quite enough on your plate,” I say.
He sighs and rubs a hand over his face. “It’s good to hear your voice.”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, and don’t let your head get too big, but I missed talking to you.”
Cooper grins wildly as if he won. “Too late, stubborn, maybe you should come here and pop it.”
“I’m not worried about it. I’m sure Naomi will bring you down to size.”
He huffs and the tone drops. “Yeah, she will.”
“Is she okay?”
“We’ve had a rough couple of days,” he says. I can see that he wants to say more, but maybe it’s too painful.
“I’m sorry, Coop.”
“Me too, but it’s just a blip; gotta keep moving.”
I start to ask him if he’s taking care of himself, but yet again I’m not sure it’s my place. We’re dating, we’re not married, and I’m still leaving.
“Maybe you need some sleep.”
He huffs. “Bubble popped. I need some sleep, but I wanted to talk to you, see if you listened to the song I sent, and ask when I can see you again.”
“That sort of depends on you, doesn’t it?” Heat builds in my chest and the butterflies swarm. “And I liked the song, by the way. A little presumptive, though, isn’t it?” I ask him, referring to Randy Travis’s Forever and Ever, Amen.
“I mean, it’s a classic. When are you available?” he asks.
“Tomorrow,” I say, a little too eagerly.
Cooper chuckles and pushes his hair out of his face, and I ogle his bicep flexing with the motion. “I think I need to be with Naomi another day, so maybe the day after tomorrow?” he asks.
“Yes.” Wow, take a chill pill, Mae.
Cooper smirks at me. “Sounds good, and maybe we can do more than hug.”
I gasp as if I’m offended. “Cooper Hayes, I thought you were a gentleman.”
“No, baby, I’m beginning to think I’m just a dirty cowboy.”
***
Tossing my phone onto the table, I puff out a breath and rest my forehead on the cool counter. I need to get to the shop. I’m already late. But my boss really decided to throw a wrench in things.
When I got an email this morning to call him, I was so nervous I nearly dropped my phone because my hands were shaking so hard. I’ve never done anything wrong before, so I thought I messed something up. But instead, he called to offer me a promotion … back in Denver.
I told him I’d need to think about it, but I made a commitment to my aunt. I can’t leave her high and dry. That’s not who I am.
And then there’s my parents.
And then there’s Cooper.
What the hell am I going to do?
Pushing the decision-making to the side, I change and high-tail it to the flower shop. I need to finish the pictures for my lookbook and make a very special delivery.
Love Is a Battlefield blares through the speakers. Pat Benatar belts the lyrics, and I sing along with her.
She’s right about one thing: love is a battlefield. Having the capacity to love multiple things is almost paralyzing.
I know what I’ve always wanted. But I’m putting a lot of eggs in one basket. When Fletcher called about Naomi and he ran out that door, I wanted to jump in the truck with him. I need to admit to myself how monumental that is.
After I finish primping the daisies, I lock up and carry them out to my car and head out to Hayes Ranch. Hopefully they aren’t home and I can sneak away unnoticed.
***
Slowly pulling up to Cooper’s house, I sit there for a second to make sure no one is home.
Unbuckling the vase, I hurry up the steps and stick the little card in the fork before running back to my car.
I hope these make Naomi smile. It doesn’t matter that I don’t have all the details. Whatever happened was traumatizing for her. My heart breaks for all of them, and I wish I could help, wish I could do something about it.
When I get home, I immediately check my phone to see if they got them yet.
Instead, I find a text from June.
June: Did I just see your car leaving the ranch?
Mae: Mayyyyybe
June: Who were you looking for?
Mae: No one
June: Kay weirdo
June: When are we hanging out? Gracie is back in town in a few days. We should do something.
Mae: okay tell me when and where.
June gives me a thumbs up, and the easy exchange is like a bucket of ice water. I’ve put myself in a difficult position, and I’m at a crossroads.
I have friends here. I like Paxton, but I’d like the flower shop a little more if it were actually making money. But I also like my accounting job, and my parents expect me back in less than a year.
And I like Cooper Hayes a lot.
Cooper said he would give me plenty of reasons to stay, and he’s given me a few, but are they enough?
Will Mom and Dad be okay? What happens if Cooper and I don’t work out?
What then? I end up back at square one, only this time I gave up more for nothing?
Is it possible to have it all? Is it worth having it all? Do I want it all?