Chapter 8
CHAPTER
EIGHT
COOPER
“Thanks for letting me get ready here,” Ellery says from my bedroom. “I can’t believe my next door neighbor blew all the fuses because he’s trying to run a restaurant out of his apartment. My landlord said he’ll have it all fixed by tonight.”
“No problem.” I stare into the mirror in my bathroom, attempting again to tie the bowtie for my tuxedo.
She comes in wearing her robe, her hair and makeup already done. She stops and laughs when she sees me. “What would you do without me?”
I let go of the ends in frustration, and she weaves between me and the counter, sits up on it, and takes the ends in her hands.
“I’d have asked Damon. He’s a master at them.”
Her smile dips for a second. “Well, since I’ve always been your bowtie girl, I’m glad I’m here.”
Our eyes meet, and she quickly looks away. Elle’s been tying them for me as long as we’ve been friends.
“It is convenient.”
She hums to herself as she ties the tie and undoes it to do it over again. Her perfectionism shines through. “I’m nervous about tonight.”
“Why?” I try not to stare at her mouth, or her. Rather, I look over her shoulder in the mirror.
“My speech. I mean, you know how much this means to my dad. To expand our level of care, especially in the ER, is huge.”
“You’re going to do great. Just like you always do when you speak in front of people. I’m the one who freezes up.” We both laugh, knowing it’s the truth.
“Well, if I can give my speech as well as I can tie this bowtie, then I’ll do awesome. You look very dashing, Mr. Rice.” She hops off the counter.
My hands itch to grab her hips and put her back up on the edge. To spread her legs open and step into the space between them. Untie the robe and let it fall open, exposing her.
But she’s not mine, and she’s already halfway to my room. “I better get in my dress.”
The buzzer rings from the security gate downstairs.
“Oh, that’s probably Bradley. Let him up?” She smiles and shuts the bedroom door.
I head over to the intercom. “Yeah?” I answer.
“Hey, Coop, it’s Bradley,” he says.
Jaw clenched, I click the buzzer, hoping maybe he’s not fast enough, but the knock on my door a minute later says he was.
“Come in,” I say, heading for my jacket hanging in the closet.
“Hey.” He walks in wearing a black-and-turquoise-flowered tuxedo. He’ll definitely stand out. I wonder what Mr. Wallace will think of this.
“Nice tux,” I say, raising my eyebrows.
He puffs out his chest and smooths his hands down his front. “I like to be different.” He stares at my typical black-and-white tux.
“It’s a classic look, yes.” I shrug on my coat. “She’ll be out in a minute. Drink?”
“Sure.”
I go to my fridge and open a beer, passing it to him before opening mine.
“So, anything I should know for tonight?” he asks. “Ellery said she usually takes you.”
“Well, I buy a table every year to support the hospital. This year, the push is to expand the services in the ER. There’ll be a private auction too.
” It’s a gentle nudge for him to do something.
Bradley doesn’t make the kind of money I do, but he makes enough to buy something at the private auction.
“Oh, a table. And we’re sitting…”
“At my table.”
He nods.
My bedroom door opens, and I’m thankful because, since Bradley started dating Ellery, I don’t have much to talk to him about. I’m not even interested in being around him most of the time.
Ellery walks out of the room wearing a silver dress that molds along her hips, fitting her perfectly. The fabric dips at her breasts but doesn’t give away her cleavage. Her heels make her even taller than she already is, but Bradley and I have inches on her still.
“You’re stunning,” Bradley says, taking the words out of my mouth.
I can’t stop my gaze from soaking her in. Her hair is swept to one side, a little wavy, exposing her neck. She’s so damn beautiful it makes my chest ache.
“Thank you, you look very handsome,” she says, approaching Bradley, then straightening his bowtie. “Love this tuxedo. So different.”
I feel like a parent watching their kids at prom. Strike that, because I’m pretty sure my dad wasn’t lusting after my prom date like I am Ellery in this moment.
“Thanks. I think Coop doesn’t like it.” He smiles at me.
Elle gives me the once-over and smiles. “He’s just the more traditional type. Let’s go get the others and head out.”
I pocket my keys and wallet, waiting for them to go first.
We meet Miles, Bryce, Damon, and Adeline at the bottom of the stairs by the limo we rented. The girls are gushing over how good they all look, while Damon and Miles give Bradley hell about his suit. Although Damon’s is magenta velvet, so I don’t know why he’s giving anyone grief.
I speak to the driver and give him the address of where we need to stop on the way to the event, and he nods.
There’s alcohol and champagne in the back of the limo, and Bradley is the first to help himself to it. I sit back, happy to have gotten a spot by the door.
Soon, the limo slows, and everyone looks around.
“I’ll be right back,” I say, filing out.
“Why are we stopping? I can’t be late, Coop,” Ellery says.
I peek my head back in. “I’m just picking up Maya.”
“Maya?” She blinks in surprise.
I turn on the walkway of the four-flat apartment building and make my way over to the building.
I didn’t mention to Ellery that I was bringing Maya because I didn’t decide until the last minute. And then I wasn’t sure how to tell Ellery, though I don’t know why it feels awkward. She has her own date for tonight.
Maya opens her door before I reach the stairs, and she comes out.
I met Maya at the grocery store, where we kept running into one another in the aisles and then at checkout.
She lifted a magazine and saw my ad on the back cover, then looked at me.
She said she didn’t know who I was, and I’m a sucker for that, so I asked her to meet me after the game the other day.
We haven’t officially dated, but I needed a date tonight, so I asked her.
I’m not sure it’s heading anywhere though.
She’s wearing a red dress that shows off her cute figure. As much as I wish the closed-throat feeling would wash over me like it did with Ellery moments ago, it doesn’t. I’m fully capable of taking a full breath.
She walks down the stairs in her heels like a pro, and I offer her my arm.
“You look beautiful,” I say.
“You look good too. I’m so nervous.” She bites her bottom lip.
“Don’t be. You’ve already met my friends.”
I open the car door for her and have her file into the limo first. As I climb in after her, all my friends say hello, and the girls compliment her dress.
So far, so good.
We arrive at the venue holding the event. The hospital did an amazing job with the decorations, and we get our pictures taken on the red carpet. Once inside, we scope out where we’re going to sit. Bryce and Miles are acting weird and disappear shortly after they grab their table assignment.
“I don’t want to know,” I say.
“Let’s remember they have history at these kinds of events,” Ellery says, and I remember the story of how they first got together back in San Francisco.
I’m about to head to the bar with Maya when I hear my name called across the room. I turn to see Ellery’s mom coming our way.
“You look handsome as always.” She places her hand on my cheek and smiles at me.
“Hi, Mrs. Wallace,” I say, hugging her. “You look gorgeous yourself.”
“Well, it takes a lot longer than it used to to look like this.” She looks at Maya, and her smile diminishes a bit. “And who do we have here?”
I place my hand on the small of Maya’s back. “This is my date, Maya.”
She puts her hand out, and they shake, but Mrs. Wallace isn’t nearly as welcoming as she usually is. Of course, usually her daughter is my date.
“Where is my daughter anyway?” Mrs. Wallace asks.
I gesture in Elle’s direction. “She’s that way with her date,” I say pointedly.
Mrs. Wallace makes a sound in the back of her throat and heads off to see her daughter.
“That’s Ellery’s mom. Want that drink now?”
“Yes, please,” Maya says.
We head to the bar, and she orders a wine while I get a mixed drink. Then we stand around, waiting for things to start.
“So, this is for Mercy Hospital?” Maya asks.
A video plays on a giant screen at the front of the room. Ellery shows up on every fifth slide, helping someone in emergency care.
“Yeah. They want to expand their emergency room. Ellery is a doctor there. She’ll be giving a speech about it later.”
“Oh, nice.” She shifts on her feet and glances around.
“Are you okay?”
She nods. “Yeah, it’s just that in the limo, I felt a little uncomfortable. I’m not sure your friends like me.”
“Well, I do, and that’s all that matters,” I say, pulling her closer to me, willing myself to be interested in this beautiful woman.
I probably should have prepared everyone by telling them that Maya was joining us, so that’s on me. But damn them for being weird around her when they’ve accepted Bradley with open fucking arms.
A little while later, we’re told to take a seat, so I lead us over to our table. We sit with Miles on my left and Bradley on Maya’s right.
Mr. Wallace goes up first to speak to the crowd and thank everyone.
“That’s Ellery’s dad,” I whisper to Maya, my arm around the back of her chair.
Ellery looks over her shoulder, hearing me, but turns back to face the front of the room.
“And now may I present to you, my daughter. She’s going to pull on those heartstrings and magically get you to open up those pocketbooks of yours. She’s done it my entire life, so I’m warning you now.”
The whole room laughs.
Ellery winds through the tables, and people she knows reach out to her to say a quick hello. By the time she reaches the stage, I’m exhausted for her.
“Good evening, everyone. My father isn’t wrong, I’m going to try to use my charm to divest you of some money tonight.”
The room laughs.
Mr. Wallace puts his arm around her and pulls her to him, kissing her temple. Although Mr. Wallace is definitely bossy like my father was, I’ve always admired their relationship. You can see how proud he is of her.
She continues her speech, getting the laughs right when she wants them.
The room quiets when she discusses how many patients they’ve had to re-route ambulances for because they were at capacity and how no doctor goes into medicine to not be able to help those who need care.
She speaks about how emergencies are a critical time where intervention can change an outcome and how sending patients to a different hospital isn’t ideal.
Everyone claps when she ends her speech by saying that every dollar counts and asking people to think about bidding on the silent auction.
Ellery’s eyes search out mine on her way back, and I smile and nod to let her know she did a great job.
The music starts before she’s made it back to our table, and some couples head out to the dance floor.
I’m so transfixed by Elle that I don’t notice Bradley meeting her halfway across the room.
I watch as he links his fingers with hers and escorts her onto the dance floor.
She’s usually against dancing at this event, always saying that she needs to schmooze everyone.
He holds her close, and her head is in the crook of his neck, their intertwined hands tucked into their bodies as he parades her around as if they’re on the Dancing with the Stars television show. That punch of red-hot jealousy hits me, but I can’t strip my eyes off them.
“I’m gonna go to the bathroom,” Maya says, but I don’t respond.
My feelings for Ellery are ramping up, not diminishing the longer she’s with him. My gaze shoots to Maya’s backside as she leaves the room. She’s sweet and adorable. I should want her, but no matter what, it’s always been Elle for me.
It’s unfair to Maya for me to continue things with her when I feel this way. I’ll have to tell her tonight that there’s no future for us.
I slide my chair out to go over and ask to step in on their dance, but Dr. Wallace steps in before I can.
Fuck.
It’s probably better that way anyway. Ellery is the one who made me promise her never to cross that line after that fateful night in college.