Chapter 10 #2
“It’s a lot at first,” Jared said, “but like anything, the more you do it, the better you get at it.”
“Do you have a background in finance?” Cooper asked.
“No, I worked for years in politics.”
“What brought about the career change?” Cooper had no sooner asked the question than he regretted it due to the stricken expression that overtook the man’s face.
Oliver quickly recovered, but his eyes conveyed a world of sadness. “My three-year-old son was killed in an accident. That sort of upended everything.”
“I’m so sorry.” How did anyone survive such a loss? Cooper’s heart went out to the man.
“My wife and I are taking this year on Gansett to reinvent our lives, and I’ve decided I’d like to work for myself. I realize there’re probably less-risky fields I could venture into than investing, but the market has always fascinated me. And when I met you, Jared, I figured that might be a sign.”
“I’m happy to coach you,” Jared said. “I enjoy teaching others what I’ve learned.”
They spent the next forty minutes discussing some of the tricks that’d made Jared so successful as a stockbroker and trader, and sure enough, Cooper learned a few things he hadn’t heard before.
“Everyone has a different comfort level with risk,” Jared said.
“The one thing I want you to take away is not to risk anything you can’t afford to lose.
And start slow. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your portfolio won’t be either. ”
“I appreciate this so much. My grandparents left me money that I’ve had invested for a while, and I’m planning to use that as my seed money for this new endeavor.
I wouldn’t be happy to lose it, but if I did, we’d still be okay.
We sold our house and are living off the proceeds until we figure out our next steps.
My wife is applying for a summer job at the Wayfarer, and living rent-free at the lighthouse buys us some time. ”
“Let’s do a weekly meeting so I can take a look at things for you,” Jared said.
Oliver stared at him, seeming stunned. “You’d do that?”
“I’d be happy to. I want this to work for you.” Jared handed him a card. “That’s got my cell number and email. Feel free to reach out any time. We’ll get this business launched for you.”
“I don’t even know what to say. That’s so incredibly generous of you.”
Cooper was always proud of his brother—unreasonably so, if you asked his friends in the city who made fun of his hero worship for Jared.
But seeing him extend himself to Oliver while in the midst of his own crisis only increased Cooper’s admiration tenfold.
After Jared walked Oliver out and returned to the office, Cooper told him so.
“It’s no big deal. I’m happy to help him.”
“It’s a huge deal to him, Jared. Having you coach him will make all the difference.”
“I want to see him succeed. He seems like a great guy, and I feel so bad for what he and his wife have been through.”
“It’s awful. I was wondering how anyone survives that.”
“I have no idea.”
“I was thinking about hitting the beach. You want to come?”
“I’d love to, but I’d better stick around here in case Lizzie needs me.” He tossed his keys to Cooper. “Take the car.”
The keys felt like a hot potato in Cooper’s hand. “Are you sure?”
“Nope, but I don’t need it.”
“Haha, thanks.”
“Are you gonna ever tell me how you busted your face and ribs?”
“I don’t think I am.”
Jared snorted with a laugh. “Must be one hell of a story. I’ll have to see if I can find out through other means.”
“Please don’t.”
The sound of a crying baby had Jared up and out of his seat. “I’m going to check on them.”
“Text if you need me for anything.”
Jared nodded as he left the room.
Watching him go, Cooper feared that Lizzie wasn’t the only one becoming overly committed to the baby. The entire situation filled him with an unusual level of anxiety and concern for two people he loved more than most.
Cooper wandered outside and found his favorite goddess doing laps in the pool, wearing the white bikini that would forever be the thing of fantasies for him. He sat slowly and painfully at the shallow end, putting his feet in the water, hoping she’d notice him eventually.
While he waited, he watched her intently, noting her stroke seemed different today, as if maybe she was upset or something. He was so mesmerized by the way she ate up the distance between the two ends of the pool that when she finally popped up and saw him there, she took him by surprise.
“Stalker.”
“Goddess.”
She smiled. “You’re forgiven.”
“What’s the matter?”
“Huh? Why do you ask that?”
“You were angry-swimming.”
“That’s not even a thing.”
“Yes, it is, and you were doing it. Why?”
“Just working some stuff out.”
“You want to talk about it?”
“Nope.”
“You want to get lunch and go to the beach?”
“Yes, but only if I can drive.”
Cooper grinned at her sassiness. “Jared gave me the keys to the Porsche, but I’ll let you drive this time.”
“Give me ten minutes to get my stuff.”
“Sounds good.”
She lifted herself out of the pool, the sun making the water on her lean, toned arms glisten like diamonds.
Now she had him waxing poetic about her arms. He’d learned about such things in a literature class in college, never suspecting he’d one day wax poetic about a woman.
But Gigi Gibson was no average woman. As he watched her strut across the pool deck to the garage apartment, his mouth watered, and desire beat through him like a live wire.