Chapter Eight
Cooper
Stephanie and Taryn radiated happiness as they emerged from the luggage area in arrivals at Vancouver International Airport. Both women looked exhausted, although clearly glowing from happiness.
I loaded them—and their luggage—into my SUV and we headed out.
I was just crossing the Arthur Laing bridge when Taryn’s phone rang.
“Hello Lachlan. Yes, before you ask, we’ve landed safely.” She paused. “Yes, Cooper’s driving us.”
Lachlan? Fuck. Oh God, what do I—
In a moment of inattention, I drifted into the next lane. Realizing my mistake, I yanked the wheel to the left.
And damn nearly collided with the barricade.
“Jesus, Coop.” Stephanie glared at me in the rearview mirror.
“Sorry.” Yeah, crash the fucking SUV with the women in it. Really bright.
“No, we’re fine.” Taryn laughed. She didn’t sound fine.
. “How are you?” Another pause. “This weekend? Oh, that’s great.
You know the guest room is always—” Another pause.
“Well, I guess you could go to the Grand Hotel. Seems like a waste of money, though. We’ve got—” She sighed.
“Just because I’m married, it doesn’t change anything. ”
“You’re welcome to stay with us, Lachlan.” Stephanie whisper-shouted that from the back seat.
I hunched my shoulders.
“Sorry.” This time, she actually whispered.
“It’s fine. Why wouldn’t it be fine? Everything’s fine.” I kept my eyes forward, even as I felt Stephanie’s and Taryn’s gazes on me.
Right. Just keep telling yourself that.
The newlyweds chatted the entire ride home. Taryn might’ve come across as aloof to some people, but when she was in her comfort zone—be that towing a car or with close friends—she could talk up a storm.
Unlike her reserved, uptight, with-a-stick-up-his-ass brother.
Well…your cock had replaced that stick for a short time.
Oh, shut the fuck up.
I pulled into the driveway of Taryn’s home.
Stephanie sighed.
Right. Her home as well. She’d given all the money she’d saved for a down-payment to Taryn and, in turn, Taryn had put her on the deed to the house.
So, their home.
“Come in, Cooper.” Taryn squeezed my thigh as I cut the engine.
“I’m happy to carry in your suitcases—”
She smacked said thigh.
“Hey.” I mock winced.
She grinned.
We were both aware she could bench press more than me. She spent her days in a very physical job that required great strength.
I spent my days sitting at a desk and working with some of the most-brilliant minds in the public relations game. “Uh, sure.”
In the end, I carried Stephanie’s suitcase into the house and put it in the bedroom with Taryn’s.
We all met up in the kitchen.
I glanced over at the living room. Where Lachlan had given me painkillers for my hangover just a couple of weeks ago. God, I missed him. Which was absurd…but at least I was no longer in denial about that.
As Taryn poured three glasses of root beer—and yes, it was weird all three of us loved the stuff—Stephanie took my hand.
“What's wrong?” Her soft-blue eyes radiated concern.
“Nothing.” Because there wasn’t a chance in hell I was being honest with them.
Taryn snickered. “Even I can see it. It's not nothing. And if I can see it, you know it’s bad.”
Stephanie frowned. “You’re very sensitive. Of course you’d see Cooper’s distress. It’s so damn obvious.” She pivoted her attention back to me. “I've only ever seen you like this when you were in love with that boy-band member. What was his name?”
I wracked my brain. Boy-band member? What was that? Grade school? Middle school?
Oh.
“You mean David? This is nothing like what I felt for David.”
Stephanie beamed. “Ha! So you are in love!”
Oh shit. I could lie to plenty of people in the world and get away with it. My sister was not one of those people.
“No. Yes. Fuck. Yes, but I'm not allowed to be. So leave me alone.” Maybe if I acted hurt, she’d back off. Act hurt? I am fucking hurt…
Taryn pursed her lips. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with Lachlan flying in tomorrow, would it? Might that be why you almost got us killed with your reckless driving? Because you’re one of the best drivers I know. Hence trusting you with my wife.”
“And yourself.” I had to try to deflect the conversation.
My sister squealed. “Oh my fucking God! You fell for Lachlan Briggs?”
I ran my hands through my hair. Because this conversation so wasn’t going the way I thought it would.
“No, Coop.” Taryn squeezed my arm. “I love my brother. I think he’s one of the best men in the world. But he’s straight. You would never try to turn someone. That’s not in you. That’s not how you live your life. So you need to forget about this crush.”
He’s not straight. It’s not a crush.
“Taryn’s right.” Stephanie grabbed my hand. “He’s not right for you. He’s so staid and serious.” She winced. “No offense.”
“None taken.” Taryn offered her a small smile. “I know my brother. I see how he comes off. He can let loose sometimes. Like when he was dancing with you as the White Rabbit and you were the Queen of… Oh fucking hell.”
“Uh…yeah.”
“So that was real? What went on between the two of you? That wasn’t just something you were doing for our benefit?”
“Uh…no.”
“And when you disappeared during the bachelorette party?” Her green eyes narrowed.
“And the rehearsal?” Stephanie eyed me.
“And before the toasts?” Now Taryn’s eyes sharpened.
“Uh…is there a right way to answer that question?”
“How about the truth?” She glared.
“The answer would…give away something that’s not mine to give away.”
“Lachlan’s gay?” Her mouth gaped open.
Stephanie giggled. “Or is he bi?”
“I plead the fifth?”
“Okay.” Taryn frowned. “First, you’re not American.”
“I had to try.”
“Secondly, that’s against self-incrimination. Did you do something wrong? Did you force him to do something against his will?”
I barked out a laugh. “Uh, no. Consent on all sides and shit, I just gave it away.”
Stephanie laughed. “Cooper, you’re a dark horse. You had us believing you couldn’t stand each other.” She grasped her wife’s hand. “We were worried how that might affect future family gatherings.” She cocked her head. “Although now it’s the same question.”
“Lachlan and I will always put you two first. You’re our sisters. We love you to death. Nothing will ever change that.”
Taryn arched an eyebrow. “So why exactly is my brother coming into town tomorrow? And insisting on staying at Aaron’s hotel?”
I bit my lip. Something I didn’t normally do. “Uh…I dunno.”
Slowly, both women smiled.
“Oh, we bet you do.” Taryn was clearly confidently speaking for both of them.
I pursed my lips. “Shuddup and let me ruin my own life.”
Wider smiles. “Oh, but this is going to be fun to watch.” Stephanie winked.