I was unaware that someone could be capable of packing so much venom into a single look, but it was extremely clear to me that she wanted to be anywhere but there, in that bar, with me next to her. In fact, I think that she’d probably ratherflee the state for good than have an entire conversation with me.
And you know what? I don’t entirely blame her.
As Nancy leaves, David slaps me on the back. “Thank you for not making that an entire clusterfuck, man. Let’s get through tomorrow, and we’re good to go. You’re off on your own.”
Grasping my hand, he pulls me into him, patting me on the back before grabbing a soda from the kitchen counter and walking out my door with only a wave.
And I’m left in silence, in this large room with only the bare minimum of furniture, wondering what the hell I’m doing and why.
Because I’m about to get married to a stranger, when all I can do is think about the one person I’ve always wanted and failed to win back.
I failed to even attempt to win back. In fact, all I did was keep my distance, my tail between my legs as I tried not to let my emotions get the best of me. Tried to let her live in peace and not disturb her new life as much as I could. Tried to make sure that she’s happy.
The last thing she needed was for me to sweep into the picture and pretend like nothing happened. Like I didn’t know that I royally fucked up and I’ve hated myself ever since.
She had a whole life here without me, and I wanted her to continue living it.
And then Owen started dating Isla. And Leo got his dirty little hands on Briar.
It shouldn’t come as a shock that they all started dating. They’re all comfortable around each other. They all know the other is safe. Even if they weren’t best friends before, there was a relationship there before a romantic one.
Those relationships can turn romantic very quickly. Something I have extensive knowledge of.
But I wasn’t comfortable with the friend group. Sure, I love the girls. Heidi is one of the funniest, weirdest girls I know. Emmett mentioned that the other week, he found her sitting in bed with a little baby raccoon, feeding it from a small syringe.
Apparently, a baby was abandoned, and she had contacted animal control. They told her how to take care of it until they were able to pick it up.
She cried and made them promise that he would be rehabbed and not dropped somewhere in the forest, far away from where he was found in their backyard.
I would say that they were just telling her what she wanted to hear, but from the way Emmett tells it, she’sextremelyconvincing. And also a little scary.
That, paired with Emmett’s hulking frame standing behind her… yeah. I think it’s a safe bet to say that that little raccoon is currently eating better than anyone in this state.
Brushing the remnants of Berger cookie from the counter, I lean forward, looking out the large windows over the inner harbor.
I always loved this view. I understand why Leo first picked it, and why he hasn’t moved to one of the even nicer places around the harbor since coming into even more money.
Meeting with the interior designer went well, and she suggested a style I wouldn’t have even considered. My other place looked like the ultimate bachelor pad, the kind of place where the owner had no idea what they were doing. The apartment wasn’t nice, and I wasn’t going to keep nice things in it.
I’m not sure when everything is going to be finished, but whatever they film here is going to look like some kind of rental.
Nancy wasn’t kidding when she said people would be at my door bright and early. In fact, I’m rolling out of bed to my doorbell ringing over and over again.
Yawning, I stretch for a second before answering it, all too aware of the state I’m in.
“Yeah?” I ask through a yawn as I let them in.
A fairly large group of people enters my home, all carrying boxes of what I assume are production materials.
“Cooper?” someone calls from the chaos.
“Uh, yeah?”
“We have about an hour to set up your place. Is there anything we can’t touch?”
The man is about five feet ten inches tall, with graying hair and bright green glasses that do nothing to hide the deep, dark circles under his eyes. He wears all black and clutches a tablet to his chest as if his life depends on it, his knuckles nearly white as he stares me down.
“I—” I start, running a hand through my hair as I look around the room. “I don’t think so?”
