Chapter Thirty. Rose #2
Normally, I’d be heading to the Poconos by now with Clara.
She probably thinks I’m still angry with her; I haven’t written back yet.
I’m not sure what to say. If she knew that Thea and I had kissed, would she be disgusted?
Would she still want to be my roommate, or would she think I was too unnatural?
Coop chuckles. “I’ve never heard anybody use ‘summer’ as a verb before.”
I flush, embarrassed. “Do I sound like a spoiled brat?”
“Nah.” He scratches at a bit of ecru paint on his forearm.
“A different world, that’s all. Most of my friends are helping out on their family farms this summer or working down at Brennan’s market.
” He nudges me. “I’m just glad Dad let me take this job with Eddie.
Otherwise, I was going to have to get creative on our next date. ”
“I’m happy just sitting here with you,” I say truthfully.
And afraid your father will snatch it all away at any moment.
“Me too.” Coop crunches on an apple. “So, are you nervous to meet her? Your stepmom?”
I wince. Lena’s a complete stranger. Not any kind of mother.
I’m tempted to joke, make light of it, but I can give him this little bit of honesty.
“A little nervous. What if she’s a real Dracula’s daughter?
Lou’s mother—she wasn’t very kind to us.
I asked Lou what she thought of Lena when they met, if she was nice.
All she said was that Lena was pretty and brought caramels.
I think Lou would befriend the devil himself for caramels.
” I look at my little sister, paddling closer to the dock.
“But I don’t need to fret about it yet. They won’t be home till the end of August.”
“Good,” Coop says emphatically. “Then you’ll be here for our birthday.”
I hope so. Unless his father blackmails me out of town. “When is it?”
“August twelfth. Ma always bakes two cakes. Vanilla with strawberry frosting for Grace, chocolate with chocolate frosting for me,” he says.
“Cake?” Lou’s eavesdropping. “I want cake!”
“I could eat more,” Coop says. “Wanna go see what Ma has in the kitchen?”
He must have two stomachs. But Lou is delighted. “Yes!”
She makes her way out of the water and meets us on the dandelion-dotted lawn. In the kitchen, Coop snags a few of his mom’s freshly baked chocolate-chip cookies. Mrs. Harrow wisely suggests Lou eat lunch first.
“I should get back to work,” Coop says.
“I’ll walk you. Be right back, Lou!” I want to make the most of every moment. Just in case.
Mrs. Harrow smiles as Coop takes my hand. At least someone approves of me.
As we walk down the back hall, we pass Auntie’s empty office. Maybe she’s upstairs having a lunchtime snog with Eddie.
Huh. Lunchtime snog.
I tug Coop inside. Push the door shut behind him.
“What’s wrong?” He’s adorably befuddled.
“Nothing.” I feel suddenly shy. I have kissed boys before, I remind myself. I have kissed Coop before.
I can’t let the last time I ever kiss him be while his father was watching from the bushes!
“I thought we could have a minute to ourselves. Before you go back to work.” I give him an impish smile, hoping he’ll take the hint.
“Oh. Oh.” Coop moves closer.
Gently, I push him back against Auntie’s office door. His eyes go wide, pupils flaring, and I go up on my tiptoes. His mouth meets mine. He kisses me long and slow.
“Wait.” He pulls away. “I’ll get paint on you.”
“I don’t care.” I tug his face back to mine. His work clothes are rough against my sunburnt skin, but his hand on my waist is gentle. I press closer, and his mouth opens. He tastes like chocolate. I pull his bottom lip into my mouth, and he shudders against me.
My lips move to his neck and linger, exploring the salty hollow beneath his ear. His head tilts back. His eyes are closed, those long eyelashes curled like commas against his cheek. His hands rove restlessly over the swell of my hips. My smile crashes back into his.
When he pulls away, he’s breathing hard. So am I. I lean my cheek against his chest. I can hear his heart hammering against my ear, solid and reassuring.
“I should get back to work.” He runs a hand up and down my spine, reluctant.
“Yes. I don’t want to make you late on your first day. And I should get back to Lou.”
As we go out into the hall, Joe Harrow comes out of his office. I freeze. “What were you two doing in there?”
“Nothing. Talking.” Coop’s blushing. “See you later, Rose.”
He hurries toward the south wing. I head toward the kitchen.
Mr. Harrow follows me. “I hope you haven’t forgotten our conversation, Miss Thorpe,” he says.
“If I don’t get word of your imminent departure tomorrow, I will show my son those letters.
And my daughter. I think you’ll find Greeley a lonely place for your sort. ”
My sort. Deviant—abnormal—unnatural. I don’t acknowledge him. I go back out to the terrace. I will not let that dreadful man make me cry. I will not bow to his ugly threats.
But is he right? What will Coop and Grace think of me once they know?
“Rose! Just the girl I was looking for.” Grace is crossing the cobblestones toward me. She looks a bit brighter than yesterday, but dark circles still lurk beneath her eyes.
“How are you?”
She sighs. “Tired of people asking me that. I have to get out of here. Can you borrow your auntie’s car?”
Getting out of here—away from her father and the ghost turning up everywhere—sounds nice. “Probably. What do you have in mind?”
She grins at me. “Let’s drive up to Rock Hall. It’s time to get back to our investigation. I think we should pay Daisy Wheeler’s mom a visit.”