Chapter 13 Cooper
Cooper
I park the truck and take a deep breath. After getting Naomi settled with Aunt Dixie, I told them I had to go pick something up in town. It wasn’t a lie … Naomi needed toothpaste. But I also want to see Mae.
After my last failure of a relationship, and I’d barely call it that. I decided I need to be more intentional than I already was, and approach things slower.
When Naomi came into my life, I was twenty-two, and in my wild cowboy years. But that all stopped the moment she was placed in my arms. I had to grow up faster. I don’t regret it, and I never will, but I think the younger Coop comes out through dating because I’m lonely.
I like the chase, I’ll be the first to admit it. I have no problem pursuing a woman and doing everything I can to make it worth her while. But I’m tired of playing the game and I’m part of the problem.
The other side of my reality is that I’m a single man.
I want to have fun, but I also want a wife to come home to.
I want to build a life with someone and give Naomi siblings in a way.
It’s time for the older, more mature version of myself, who’s still lonely, to take the lead and stop messing around, and that starts with Mae.
I’m interested in her even if we’ve only had brief interactions, and I don’t know how else to be more intentional than to go to the flower shop and talk to her.
I’m a persistent man and my goal today is to convince her I’m worth a shot.
Sure, she’s stunning, but what’s more attractive is how kind and patient she was with Naomi. That speaks volumes to me.
The sign on the flower shop door says open. The window displays have a few collections of arrangements sitting in them, and I can hear the faint sound of music coming through.
Mission: Get Mae to go out with me. Starts now.
I open the door and don’t see her right away. Maybe she’s in the back.
Sauntering to the cooler, I look around for a bouquet. I can’t come in here and not buy anything, right?
I find a small one that isn’t too expensive. Naomi will love it.
“Oh.”
I hear her before I see her and turn around.
“Hi,” I say, with rocks in my throat.
Her long curly hair is half pinned up with a clip; her lips are shiny like she put something on them, and she’s wearing a pretty floral print dress with sneakers on.
“Come to buy more flowers?” she asks me skeptically.
“Yep.”
“Who are they for this time? If you don’t mind my asking,” she says.
I follow her to the counter, trying to figure out how to ask her out without sounding like an ass.
“Naomi,” I tell her.
Mae nods with a small smile on her face. “That’s very sweet.”
“I try,” I rasp.
She tells me the price and I hardly focus, handing her a wad of cash.
Think, Cooper, think.
“So, me and the guys are going out. You should join us.” Seriously Cooper? You and the guys? Why would a woman like this want to join the guys, you idiot?
“Oh, I don’t know about that. It sounds like a guys’ night,” she says politely.
“Well, we’ll be at the Wooden Cowboy,” I tell her.
Yes, Cooper, dig yourself a deeper hole. Now you have to find someone to watch Naomi and get the guys to go out with you. Fat chance Ledger will come.
“Oh well, I’ll be there … but on a date,” she says gently.
My heart sinks, but I’m not a man easily dissuaded.
“Oh yeah? Good for you. Well, thanks for the flowers. Maybe I’ll see you there.”
Mae hands me my change and smiles shyly. “Yeah, maybe. Thanks for stopping by,” she says.
I nod and reach for my flowers. Say something, Coop, say something.
I’m tongue-tied and frustrated. Taking that for what it is, I smile and tip my hat. “Have a good day, Mae.”
“Bye, Cooper,” she says so softly it makes something in my heart flip. Something passes through her eyes, and it makes me hesitate.
I tip my hat to her and walk out the door.
When I get to my truck, I send a text to Fletcher, the boys, and June. When Mae and I see each other there, I need it to look like it was the plan all along, and then I’ll know what joker asked her out.
***
“Are you sure, Aunt Dixie? I hate leaving her with you when you’ve been with her all day. I know you have other things to do in life than watch Naomi,” I tell her while Naomi’s eyes are glued to Tarzan.
“Nonsense, Cooper. I want to spend time with my granddaughter. We’re going to have a sleepover and watch movies.”
“Are you sure? You know what? No, I won’t go. I sprung this on you, and I’m asking too much.”
Aunt Dixie pats my shoulder. “Stop it, Cooper. You go out and have fun. I know you don’t get to do that very often, especially since our munchkin came into our lives. It’s good for you. Maybe you’ll meet a nice girl,” she says.
My mind goes to Mae. I need to pump the brakes. She’s going out with another man and I came up with a ridiculous plan to size up my competition. But I can’t help myself.
“Okay, fine. But if you need something or she’s being a little terror, call me. Promise?”
Aunt Dixie snorts. “Last time I checked, I’ve raised three, sort of four kids, including yourself. I know how to handle a seven-year-old.”
I puff out a breath and look at Naomi again. She doesn’t care that I’m here, engrossed in her movie.
“I’ll see you in the morning then. Bye, princess,” I call for her.
She looks at me over her shoulder and grins. “By Uncle Coop!”
I wave, wishing she would come over here and hug me before I leave, but my aunt is already pushing me out the door. “Thanks, Aunt Dixie.”
“Yep! Now shoo, girls only,” she says and practically pushes me out the front door.
Alright then.
When I get to the Wooden Cowboy, Fletcher, Tatum, Sterling, and June are already there. But Sterling and June are as far as you can get without being on opposite ends of the bar. Beer and sweat waft into my nose, and I smile weaving through the groups of people littered throughout the bar.
I do a subtle scan of the bar and don’t spot the dark curly hair, I’m actually here for. Maybe they aren’t here yet.
“There he is!” Fletcher says.
“Hi Coop,” Tatum says, leaning into Fletcher.
“Hey, y’all doin’ okay?” I ask them.
Tatum nods, her cheeks rosy and a happy, satisfied smile on her face. Fletcher is talking to Greer, the bartender, ordering drinks and water.
“June told me about Mae,” she says.
I groan, leaning my head back. “You women talk too much,” I grumble.
Tatum laughs. “How else will we know what’s going on with you guys?”
I roll my eyes, and Fletcher hands Tatum a water and me a beer. “Hey man,” Fletcher says.
I wave and take a swig. I don’t know what’s holding me back. I’m trying to slow play, and that backfired because she’s going to be here with another man.
“I think you just need to go for it, Coop,” Fletcher says.
I grimace. “You’re right … I’m nervous.”
He chuckles. “Cooper Hayes, nervous?”
Tatum slaps his chest. “It’s okay to be nervous. That means he cares.”
“How? He doesn’t even know her,” Fletcher volleys back.
“I know her,” I snap.
Fletcher squints his eyes. “Do you man? Buying flowers doesn’t count.”
“Yeah, well, knowing her since high school is a cop-out.”
Tatum snorts and drinks her water.
“I don’t want to mess it up like I have a tendency to do.”
“You can do it,” Tatum says.
I nod and look around.
“Hey, Coop,” Sterling says.
“Hey, how are you?” I ask him. I glance over his shoulder, searching for Mae.
“Good, had a close call at a fire the other day, but it gets the blood pumping,” he says with a wild grin.
“You just like to play with death, don’t you?” I ask him.
“You and Ledger keep saying that, but I don’t see it. Someone has to do it, might as well be me,” Sterling says.
“You could be more careful about it. I heard from some other boys at the department you’re not always being smart…”
Sterling makes a face. “What happened to snitches get stitches?”
I chuckle and shake my head. “We care about you Sterling, that’s all.”
He smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
I want to ask him what that look is for, but I assume it’s June.
“Hey June bug,” I shout.
She waves and takes a swig of beer.
“So who do you have your eye on tonight?” Sterling asks me.
I ignore him and turn to June, who has scooted a little closer to us, yet still astutely ignoring Sterling. “You’re usually not the one asking to go out on a weeknight, no less,” June says.
“I figured it would be nice to have fun with everyone before Naomi starts school because I really won’t have time,” I tell her.
Her brow rises, and she knows it’s more than that. Mae must have talked to her today. “It’s the end of May. Naomi doesn’t start school for three months.”
Ignoring June, I look around the bar again, and that’s when I spot them. Mae is laughing at something Jacob says, and my hackles rise.
“I didn’t know which Jacob until I saw them talking over there,” June says, gesturing towards the pool table in the corner.
My gaze yanks to June. “You knew she was going on a date?”
June nods and licks her lips like she’s trying to hide her smile.
I force my eyes not to go to Mae, but they can’t help themselves catching her smile at Jacob Dunn.
She looks gorgeous tonight. A dark forest green top that makes her hair pop, and dark jeans that obscure her figure because of the light, but I’m dying to solve the mystery.
I glance at Sterling, expecting him to give me some snide remark, but he’s staring at June with what I can only call pain in his eyes.
I’ve always known there was something between them, even back in high school, but I knew back then Ledger and Fletcher would have been pissed, especially since Ledger is Sterling’s best friend.
But we’re grown now. Those rules don’t apply anymore.
“Are you going to do something about it?” June asks. “Because if you don’t, I will. Jacob Dunn is bad news, and there are rumors he’s involved in the little drug issue we continue to have here.”
“Is Ledger aware of that?” I ask her.