“What did Gage want this morning?”
His eyes widen a moment as he digests the fact I seem to have a precise surveillance on him at all times. I don’t care what he thinks. I live across the street. I could have been looking out the window.
“Nothing.” He swallows hard. “Why?”
“You went to his house. You knocked on the door. When he didn’t answer, you went next door to the Olivers’. You were hunting him down, determined to find him.”
“He asked me to come. We had some old business to tend to.” He scratches at the back of his neck.
“Everything about you right now screams you’re hiding something. Don’t forget, I’m a walking human lie detector. I can give Dr. Booth a run for his abnormal psych money. Don’t bother hiding anything from me, Coop. It won’t work.”
A heavy hand falls on my shoulder, and I turn to find Logan Oliver grinning over at the two of us.
“What’s this?” He slaps Coop with a quick handshake. “A budding romance?”
“Hardly.” Coop folds his arms across his chest, increasing his stance. Logan has strengthened his resolve. Odd. Coop has never needed anyone else to strengthen him. Although he would argue he needs Laken. He would be wrong but polite to infer it.
“Coop is keeping something from me.” I don’t mind outing him. “He saw Gage today. I want to know why.”
Logan ticks his head back as he looks to Coop. “What did he say?”
“Nothing.” Coop swallows hard again. “Just a friendly chitchat. He wanted to know how Laken was doing. He felt bad.”
Laken pops up with little Wesley fussing. “We have to go,” she says to Coop. “He’s wet through his clothes, and I thought I had another outfit, but I guess I don’t.” She looks my way. “I’ll arrange a time for you to get together with him again. Coop and I will stop by your place. That way it’ll be normal for Tobie. I’m still her mother, too.” She offers an assuring nod, and every last bit of me swims with relief.
“Thank you,” I push the words out with a grateful heart.
She smiles over at Logan. “Please tell Skyla I really want to speak with her. She said she wanted to give Coop and me time as a family, but she’s my family, too. I miss her.”
Chloe bounces over as Laken and Coop pack up to leave, and I kiss Wes goodbye and Charlie, too.
“Bye, guys!” Chloe gives a friendly wave, and no one is sure what to make of this chipper version of the big bad witch.
Both Laken and Coop look equally baffled as they say an amicable goodbye before taking off.
Logan takes a step my way. “What’s going on with Coop and Gage?”
“I don’t know.” I glance back at Kres as she rocks Mally in her arms.
Chloe’s lips quiver as she watches the sight. “Oh, just once, for Pete’s sake,” she mutters to herself. “She’s not going to bond over one simple hello, I promise,” she whispers as she heads on over.
I give a curious look to Logan. “What the hell was that about?”
He takes a deep breath as he turns to watch. “Let’s just say, Chloe isn’t quite herself these days. She’s taken to talking to herself, among other things.”
Chloe scoops Mally out of Kresley’s arms and groans as she comes back this way.
“Look at these kissable cheeks?” Chloe coos. “And her hair, it’s so thick and wavy. Oh, Wes, she is a living doll.” She holds the baby close, and her eyes swell with tears. Chloe heads for the window and whispers sweet nothings—or curses—into Mally’s ear. And the baby smiles and giggles as if she were glad to hear the sound of her mother’s voice. Not that she’s remotely aware of who Chloe is in relation to her.
Logan garners my attention with another nod. “Did Coop say anything about their meeting?”
“No.” I take a breath, still not sure what to make of Chloe’s one-eighty. “Kres saw Coop head to Gage’s place. Then he went to the Olivers’, and I guess that’s where he found him.”
“Interesting.” Logan gets a far-off look in his eyes. “Coop is up to something.”
He says it as a fact.
A dull laugh huffs from me. “And to think I gave him the benefit of the doubt.”
