Chapter 6
COOPER
Asolid thwack to my ribs is more than enough to knock me out of my daydream. “Henry, are you listening?” David, my agent, hisses under his breath.
“Duh,” I tell him with an eye roll, crossing my arms in a sad attempt to subtly rub the place he hit.
I breathe in deep, holding it in. My chest expands, and I shimmy just slightly.
It’s not broken, obviously. But I wonder how much of a baby I can get away with being about it.
Maybe he’d let me get away with a little more this season.
The woman in front of me holds a white binder in her perfectly manicured hands, her green eyes flashing us as she pauses, an eyebrow shooting up to the sky.
“Sorry, Nancy,” David grins, adjusting his coat. I watch his sweaty little hands grasp at his buttons. “Cooper is just really excited.”
I roll my eyes.
“Are we okay to move on?” she asks, looking between us with her fluorescent pink lips pursed.
I open my mouth to tell her, yes, we are ready to move on and end this godforsaken meeting early, thank you very much, when David says, “Of course! We’re on your time!”
Cheeky asshole.
I nudge him in the ribs with my elbow, and his snake-like eyes flash to mine. “You cannot sleep with her,” I hiss under my breath.
He doesn’t argue with me. I know him far too well for him to. After all, we’ve been working together for years.
Nancy peers over her binder, her eyes flickering between us before glancing down. “Tomorrow, you need to be up early and ready to let the production team in. They’re going to be starting the process bright and early.”
I raise my hand, and she looks up with an eyeroll. “Yes?”
“Is this going to be for confessionals? Like on Housewives?”
Nancy’s brow furrows. “Why would you film confessionals first when nothing has happened yet?”
I open my mouth to retort, but close it slowly, realizing that she has a point. I slump into my couch, biting my cheek. I was really excited for a dramatic confessional moment.
“Anyway,” she continues, “we call them ITMs. In the Moment Interviews. We will, generally speaking, because there are always exceptions to the rules, pull you aside after something happens for you to comment on. We don’t film many,” she pauses, her eyes closing.
“Confessionals, and when we do, they’re for something production wants clarification on. ”
My sister is going to be so disappointed.
“I need you to play it up for confessionals,” she had told me over the phone the other day. “Get creative with it. Wear something insane. Here, watch this episode of Housewives so you can see how it’s done.”
She proceeded to send me an exact episode. I did watch it.
Actually, I binged half the season that night. Just lying in bed, pumpkin spice ice cream at my side, and middle-aged women screaming at each other on the TV.
I won’t lie, it was like music to my ears. I completely understand why Isla and my sister love this shit now.
“Production is going to come in and set up. That means there will be people setting up lights, cameramen, sound guys, all of it. You’ll be up, getting ready to go, and they’ll start the interview process.”
I sit up. “I thought we already interviewed and everything?”
She shakes her head. “For the show. You do know how this show works, correct?”
She must see the way my lips twitch, because she lets out a deep sigh, placing her binder on her lap with a thwack.
“The Final Pick is a reality dating show, yes. But we put people through a series of interviews and challenges before pairing them with someone. The person walking down that aisle for you is going to be someone the experts think you’ll pair well with.
We’re not setting you up with anyone randomly, and it’s not just going to be someone who will make good TV. ”
Something about the way her eyes don’t meet mine when she adds that last part makes me think that all they really care about is making great TV.
“So, the interview questions for that part are being done tomorrow?”
She nods.
The rest of our meeting went by oddly well, for how awful it had started.
But it did serve several purposes. One, I was fairly informed about how the next week was going to go regarding my new reality star status.
Two, for about three seconds of it, I stopped thinking about the way Amara Flores looked at me with such disdain, that my palms are still sweaty as we speak.
I was unaware that someone could be capable of packing so much venom into a single look, but it was extremely clear to me that she wanted to be anywhere but there, in that bar, with me next to her.
In fact, I think that she’d probably rather flee the state for good than have an entire conversation with me.
And you know what? I don’t entirely blame her.
As Nancy leaves, David slaps me on the back. “Thank you for not making that an entire clusterfuck, man. Let’s get through tomorrow, and we’re good to go. You’re off on your own.”
Grasping my hand, he pulls me into him, patting me on the back before grabbing a soda from the kitchen counter and walking out my door with only a wave.
And I’m left in silence, in this large room with only the bare minimum of furniture, wondering what the hell I’m doing and why.
Because I’m about to get married to a stranger, when all I can do is think about the one person I’ve always wanted and failed to win back.
I failed to even attempt to win back. In fact, all I did was keep my distance, my tail between my legs as I tried not to let my emotions get the best of me. Tried to let her live in peace and not disturb her new life as much as I could. Tried to make sure that she’s happy.
The last thing she needed was for me to sweep into the picture and pretend like nothing happened. Like I didn’t know that I royally fucked up and I’ve hated myself ever since.
She had a whole life here without me, and I wanted her to continue living it.
And then Owen started dating Isla. And Leo got his dirty little hands on Briar.
It shouldn’t come as a shock that they all started dating. They’re all comfortable around each other. They all know the other is safe. Even if they weren’t best friends before, there was a relationship there before a romantic one.
Those relationships can turn romantic very quickly. Something I have extensive knowledge of.
But I wasn’t comfortable with the friend group. Sure, I love the girls. Heidi is one of the funniest, weirdest girls I know. Emmett mentioned that the other week, he found her sitting in bed with a little baby raccoon, feeding it from a small syringe.
Apparently, a baby was abandoned, and she had contacted animal control. They told her how to take care of it until they were able to pick it up.
She cried and made them promise that he would be rehabbed and not dropped somewhere in the forest, far away from where he was found in their backyard.
I would say that they were just telling her what she wanted to hear, but from the way Emmett tells it, she’s extremely convincing. And also a little scary.
That, paired with Emmett’s hulking frame standing behind her… yeah. I think it’s a safe bet to say that that little raccoon is currently eating better than anyone in this state.
Brushing the remnants of Berger cookie from the counter, I lean forward, looking out the large windows over the inner harbor.
I always loved this view. I understand why Leo first picked it, and why he hasn’t moved to one of the even nicer places around the harbor since coming into even more money.
Meeting with the interior designer went well, and she suggested a style I wouldn’t have even considered. My other place looked like the ultimate bachelor pad, the kind of place where the owner had no idea what they were doing. The apartment wasn’t nice, and I wasn’t going to keep nice things in it.
I’m not sure when everything is going to be finished, but whatever they film here is going to look like some kind of rental.
Nancy wasn’t kidding when she said people would be at my door bright and early. In fact, I’m rolling out of bed to my doorbell ringing over and over again.
Yawning, I stretch for a second before answering it, all too aware of the state I’m in.
“Yeah?” I ask through a yawn as I let them in.
A fairly large group of people enters my home, all carrying boxes of what I assume are production materials.
“Cooper?” someone calls from the chaos.
“Uh, yeah?”
“We have about an hour to set up your place. Is there anything we can’t touch?”
The man is about five feet ten inches tall, with graying hair and bright green glasses that do nothing to hide the deep, dark circles under his eyes. He wears all black and clutches a tablet to his chest as if his life depends on it, his knuckles nearly white as he stares me down.
“I—” I start, running a hand through my hair as I look around the room. “I don’t think so?”
His nose scrunches up as he looks around. “I see there’s not much to work with.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
He considers this. “Not really. You have great light in here.”
The man walks toward the windows, looking down at the water below.
“What’s your name?” I ask.
“Edward Billings,” he states matter-of-factly with a quick turn of his heel. He extends his hand, his tablet tucked into the crook of his elbow in the other.
I take it, shaking it firmly once. “Cooper Henry,” I say, knowing full well he knows exactly who I am.
Edward looks me up and down once. “You need to get dressed.” I want to chuckle at the sheer level of disgust in his voice, but the steely gaze stops me.
“Do you have any artistic direction for me?” I quip with a smile.
“Something you feel comfortable in and gives you a little bit more of a,” he stops for a moment, wincing. “Personality,” he says with a shrug.
“More?” I feign shock, placing my hand on my chest.
“The more personality, the better. Reality TV gold is made off the backs of dramatic, unstable people, Mr. Henry.”
Right.
A slight panic runs through me as I run to my room, throwing open my closet doors.
I have no idea what to wear. My definition of fashion is a pair of cutoff shorts and a crop top, but something tells me that if I walk downstairs in that, Edward is going to throw me off my balcony and tell his boss it was an accident.
So I do the only thing I can think to do.
I call Leo. He answers on the second ring.
“This better be good,” he mutters. I can hear him climbing out of bed.
“I need your help,” I tell him, my voice about an octave higher than normal.
“We’ve established this long ago.” There’s a pause as I hear his door shut.
“No, I need help picking out an outfit.”
The end of the line is silent.
“Leo?”
“Why am I the one you’re calling for this? You have a sister.”
“Because you’ve been working with that stylist—”
“That Briar made me get.” Okay, someone’s grumpy as shit this morning.
“Doesn’t matter. Help me.”
He sighs, and I hear him pick up something heavy. “Go into your bathroom,” he says with a groan.
“Yes, Daddy.”
I head into the bathroom and look out the window to the inner harbor below. “Why am I here?”
Leo clicks his tongue. “You are nowhere near ready for this thing. Go grab that Henley the boys always compliment you on.”
My head whips around. “Are you looking at me?” I ask incredulously.
There’s a deep giggle on the other end. “Two can play at this game, Henry. Briar got me a pair of binoculars for my birthday.”
“Binoculars?”
“I’ve taken an interest in birds.”
Somehow, I’m not shocked.
“How many fingers am I holding up?” I ask.
“Four. Next question.”
My lips thin, and I look around. “Now what am I holding up?”
“Cooper. Stay on track.”
Right. I head back into my room, grabbing the Henley. Pulling it on, I stand in front of my bathroom window, my arms flexed in a pose. My phone balances on the corner of the sink, Leo’s heavy breathing echoing off the naked walls.
“Ugh,” Leo gags. “You look too much like me. Go try that cable knit sweater you wore for last year’s Thanksgiving party.”
Leo throws a giant Thanksgiving party every year for the whole team. I love my job, and it comes with a lot of perks, but often we aren’t free to go home for the holidays. Leo tries to make sure that everyone and their families have somewhere to go and food to eat.
Huffing, I grab it off the hanger and pull it on. “I think it’s too hot, don’t you think?” I mumble, looking down at myself.
“Exactly. You look hot.”
“No, like heat-wise.”
I can hear the weird whoosh of Leo’s head shaking.
“No. A cable knit sweater is like fucking catnip to women, Coop. I decide I definitely want to get laid? I wear a sweater. Briar has no idea I have her cracked like a cheat code, but it has worked every single time. They’re like women’s equivalent of sundresses. ”
Shrugging, I head back to my closet. Who am I to question him? “And for pants?”
“Jeans. Those lighter ones that hug your thighs real nice.”
The first time my mother was around the football team, she was absolutely appalled by the way they talked. For a huge football fan, I wasn’t sure why.
“What did you expect?” I had asked her. “They run around in tights smacking each other in the butt.”
She had taken me to my first professional football game a year before the accident, getting us field passes to watch the team practice beforehand.
Let’s be honest. There is something about football that’s a little homoerotic. I’ve accepted that a long, long time ago.
And the most fun teammates to be around are the ones who don’t pretend like it’s not. Being secure about your masculinity is hot. Having rules and regulations around what you need to do in order to feel like one? Not.
I have to jump in order to get the jeans over my ass, but once they’re on, they’re perfect.
“Yeah, those. Roll them up at the bottom a little and then wear a pair of white shoes.”
Leo walks me through the next steps of fixing my hair and making sure my teeth are pearly white. Ensuring that I look like a man a woman could fall in love with. Not a man who just rolled out of bed fifteen minutes ago.
“Elara’s up,” he whispers, “have to go make her a steamer. Let me know how it goes!”
He hangs up, and I’m instantly jealous. His step-daughter is the absolute light of his life, and when I’m feeling extra sappy, seeing him with her makes me want the same.
She’s got that man wrapped around her little finger, making her steaming cups of milk and coffee creamer every single morning.
A different flavor each time. Whatever she wants, she gets.
But she’s also growing into one of the kindest, caring kids I know.
And as I’ve gotten to know Briar over time, I know that she’d never let her daughter become spoiled to the point of not understanding how good she has it. The two of them have been through enough, anyway.
Checking myself out one more time, I head into the family room to start.