Chapter 32
Mae
I lean back on the couch, constantly checking my phone, hoping he doesn’t cancel because we already had to push things back.
I’m not mad, he has to make sure Naomi is taken care of first, which is how it should be.
But it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, and I don’t know why I’m so nervous.
Yes, you do. You’re just terrible at admitting anything to yourself.
Okay, fine. I’ve never made it past three dates, and we’re well past that. I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop, or for him to say, it’s not you, it’s me, or anything that would give him a reason to walk the other way.
Even though this time I’m the one leaving, but the promotion has been a sledgehammer to my brain, and any possibility of a plan I created for myself while I’m here.
Cooper doesn’t want a countdown, but how can I avoid it? It’s the reality, even though his idea is much better. We can hide behind the experience of dating, but still fall for each other in the process.
This is a recipe for heartbreak, yet I can’t stop myself from digging in.
Gravel pops on the driveway, and I force myself not to run to the door.
But I sure as hell stand right behind it to wait for him.
He knocks and I throw it open.
Cooper jerks back and smirks. “You were standing by the door, weren’t you?”
“I — no, I wasn’t.”
He chuckles and kisses my cheek before sliding past me with a bag in his hand. “Ten bucks says you were,” he tosses over his shoulder.
I mentally slap myself in the face and close the door, following him into the kitchen.
“I brought you something,” he says, setting the bag on the counter and pulling out two forks.
I gasp. “It had better be good.”
He places the forks next to the bag and leans on the counter, dragging his eyes over every dip and curve from my legs to my eyes.
“You look good, stubborn.”
I blush and force myself to take the compliment in my cut-off shorts and tank top. I’m getting better at receiving them. “Thank you.”
He hums and stares at me a little longer, undressing me with his eyes.
I like it.
“What did you get me?” I ask him, breaking the spell.
He pulls a small container from the bag and opens the top, and I squeal.
Cooper grins and hands me a fork. “You’re lucky. It was the last slice of the day.”
He gets two glasses, fills them with water, and sets them next to us.
I bounce on my toes and take a bite, groaning as the chocolate melts on my tongue. Best chocolate cake ever.
“Damn, stubborn, I didn’t know you liked it that much. Maybe I need to buy the entire cake next time.”
I purse my lips. “I wouldn’t say no to that,” I mutter taking a drink.
He huffs and crooks his finger at me. “You’re forgetting something.”
I frown, looking around, not sure what he’s talking about. He takes the fork from me and slides a hand to my lower back, spreading his fingers wide, pulling me into his front. “I missed that mouth of yours,” he rasps.
My chest flutters and legs tingle. It’s entirely possible that I might combust on the spot. I grab his collar, yanking him down to my height, and smash my mouth onto his. He grunts, tilting his head, taking control, and I let him.
I never thought I’d enjoy letting go, the way I do with Cooper.
“Thank you,” I murmur, and kiss him again.
“What else do I have to do to keep getting thank you’s like that?” he asks.
“If you keep doing what you’re doing, I suppose you’ll find out.”
He pats my butt and kisses me again. “Challenge accepted.”
I take another bite of cake, and he shifts on his feet.
“I’m sorry we had to push back our date,” he says
I shrug and take another bite. “No problem. How’s Naomi doing?” I ask him.
He sighs and takes a drink. “She’s better. Thank you for the flowers. It really turned her around.”
I lift a shoulder, focusing on the cake. “It makes me happy to know that flowers made someone’s day.”
“They really did,” he says, taking a bite.
“You were saying she was being difficult?” I want to know about Naomi. We may not have a relationship, but I care for the little girl.
“Mhm. Ever since sleepover-gate, she’s been acting out and won’t do what I ask, like cleaning up her coloring stuff.
She was being ornery with Aunt Dixie, which made me feel terrible because she does so much for us.
She wanted to make cookies one night, and I thought it would be a good idea because the last time she tried to bake was with Rebekah, and I wanted to replace those rotten memories with normal ones, if that’s possible.
Well, we spilled the bowl, she had a full-scale meltdown, and I realized it was because she thought I was mad at her. ”
“Why would she think that?” I ask, my heart tearing for the little girl.
“Rebekah yelled at her when she spilled something while they were trying to make banana bread.”
“Wow,” I rasp.
“I scarred her, Mae,” he rasps dropping his head. “I should never have let her have the sleepover.”
Reaching across the stone, I link our hands together, and he lifts his head. His calluses brush across my skin. They’d probably feel good all over my body too.
Focus Mae.
“What happened is not something you could have prepared her for.”
He sighs and runs the other hand through his hair. “I know, but I wish I could fix it.”
I start to tell him some things can only be fixed with time, but then he says, “Can we talk about something else?”
I shrug, even though I don’t want to talk about me or my work. I’m losing hope for the flower shop, and it’s not a topic I want to dwell on.
“Thank you, though,” he says, squeezing my hand.
“For?”
“For caring about her. It means a lot to me.”
I nod sheepishly. I do care, and it’s not out of obligation to Cooper.
“I feel like this cake has extra meaning to it now,” I say, slipping a bite between my lips.
Cooper looks between me and the cake.
“You have no idea,” he says, low.
My face gets hot, and I take a long drink of water. The tension building between us is so thick it’s almost suffocating.
“How’s the shop?” he asks.
I wince.
“That bad? How’s the lookbook?” he asks.
“I sent it today. They’ll either laugh at me through email, or I’ll land a partnership.”
“I’m sure you’ll get it.”
I shrug and take another bite. “I’m not holding my breath.”
“I have a good feeling about it,” he says.
I roll my eyes. “At least one of us does.”
“What can I do to help?” he asks.
I hum. “Tell me I’m pretty and not a failure.”
He laughs and stands up straighter. “Mae Morgan, you are gorgeous and you are certainly not a failure.”
“Thank you,” I say, flipping my hair.
“I mean it, Mae, what can I do to help?” he asks seriously.
My smile drops. “I don’t know because I don’t know what I’m doing. Hopefully, the venue likes what I sent them. Patience is the key,” I say.
With the cake gone, Cooper tosses the container and puts the forks in the dishwasher.
“When do you have to go home?” I ask, admiring his butt in Wranglers.
“I don’t have to be back by any particular time. June has her.”
He spins around with a sly look. “You checking me out, stubborn?”
My mouth goes dry, and I can feel every single thud of my heart like it’s hitting me, over and over again, forcing me to pay attention.
“So the fair is coming up, and I was wondering if you wanted to come?” he asks, nervously.
“With you and Naomi?” I ask.
He nods, rubbing a hand on the back of his neck.
Cooper is extending his hand, bringing me into the fold of his family for the first time. How can I say no?
“I would love to,” I rasp.
“Cool,” he says, grinning widely.
“Is this part of convincing me to stay?” I ask him.
He rubs a thumb over his mustache and says, “Maybe.”
Then he saunters up to me and leans over. “This is too.” He cups my cheeks tenderly and presses his sweet lips to mine. My knees shake and my heart flops and I don’t think I’m swimming anymore — I’m drowning.
I sigh into his mouth. His mustache tickles my lips.
He groans and lingers on my mouth for a moment before he presses our foreheads together.
I take a breath and say, “So I was thinking we could watch a movie and make out like teenagers.”
Cooper laughs and cups my cheek again, rubbing his thumb over the apple of my cheek. “We can do that, but maybe we should act more our age,” he says, amused.
I lick my lips, thinking about the list of things that could mean. “So no awkward petting then?”
He chuckles and shakes his head. “When you touch me, it’s far from awkward.”
I hum and pad into the living room. “Have you seen Say Anything?”
“I’ve been watching princess movies for the past five years, so no can’t say I have.”
A giggle bursts from my lips, and find the DVD to put it in the player.
“What’s so special about it?” Cooper asks, dropping onto the sofa.
“You’ll see.”
Plopping down next to Cooper, he pulls me to his side and watches the movie with rapt attention, periodically kissing my temple or rubbing circles on my shoulder as if he can’t help but touch me.
When we get to my favorite part of the movie, I glance at him.
“What?” he asks, still watching the screen.
I smile to myself and rest my head on his shoulder.
“Come on, tell me,” he says.
“The first time I saw this movie, I’ve always wondered what that would be like,” I say, pointing at the screen.
“A breakup?” he asks.
“No, a guy who cares so much he stands outside my window playing a love song because he wants to win me back.”
“But that means he lost you in the first place.”
I startle at his comment. “I know it’s silly, but it’s romantic,” I mumble, hiding my face in his shirt.
Cooper huffs and kisses me quickly. “Can it still be done sans breakup?” he asks.
I lift a shoulder, trying to contain my excitement because he seems interested in the details.
“I feel like it’s a dealer’s choice kind of thing.”
He hums, nodding thoughtfully.
My favorite scene comes to the end, and there’s less than half the movie left, but I can’t watch anymore because I’m focused on him.