Her performance was even better than I’d thought possible.
Oscar?No probably not. But in the future? I had absolutely no doubt.
Later, in the limo back to her hotel, my phone buzzed.
Hesitantly, I took it out. My heart wanted a missive from Cooper, but a grin spread across my face at the picture that flashed.
“Oh, you have to share. Unless it’s a dick pic. I don’t want to see a dick pic.” Norah leaned over.
I held the screen for her to see. Stephanie, Taryn, and two guys were in the shot. One was Dean’s mate Sam—all blond-God gorgeous—and the other was the thriller-writer Levi Stanton. He’d screwed up with his release last year, but his redemption tour of Sydney had been a success, and apparently he was working on a new book. Oh, and he was clearly besotted with his husband.
“Oh, God, I can totally tell which one is your sister, even with the different coloring. She’s adorable. And her wife is so cute as well. And isn’t that Levi Stanton?”
“Yes.”
“He and the other guy are pretty handsome. Those smiles. Looks like they’re having fun.”
“I think they are. That’s Levi’s husband, Sam. And I doubt Taryn would be sending me photos if she wasn’t enjoying herself.” Then something dawned on me. “Why did you think I’d have gotten a dick pick?”
“Oh.” Norah fiddled with her clutch. “Possibly because you spent most of the ride to the show talking about some Cooper guy? Like…in anI really want him but we’re bad for each otherway.”
Had I? I couldn’t remember. “That was wrong of me.”
“Why? Because you’re not out? I told you what happened to Lyle.”
Her beloved brother.
“Yes. I’m sorry for what you’ve had to go through.”
She sighed. “Coming out—being gay in public—that’s really hard. Sometimes the closet is the most comfortable place to live. Especially in jobs, or with families, where being gay is frowned upon. And hell, maybe you’re not gay. Maybe Cooper isjustyour brother-in-law. But if he means as much to you as I think he does, then maybe the closet isn’t such a great place to be. What’s the worst that can happen?”
I pondered her words long after I’d dropped her off. I was half in love with Cooper. And we were all wrong for each other. But if I got a dick pic from him, I would totally dig that. I wasn’t ready to join a gay dating app yet…but I was much closer to telling the senior partners I was gay, and if that meant leaving the firm and starting my own, so be it.
That night, as I lay in bed, I almost texted Cooper.
But I didn’t.
Chapter Eight
Cooper
Stephanie and Taryn radiated happiness as they emerged from the luggage area in arrivals at Vancouver International Airport. Both women looked exhausted, although clearly glowing from happiness.
I loaded them—and their luggage—into my SUV and we headed out.
I was just crossing the Arthur Laing bridge when Taryn’s phone rang.
“Hello Lachlan. Yes, before you ask, we’ve landed safely.” She paused. “Yes, Cooper’s driving us.”
Lachlan? Fuck. Oh God, what do I—
In a moment of inattention, I drifted into the next lane. Realizing my mistake, I yanked the wheel to the left.
And damn nearly collided with the barricade.
“Jesus, Coop.” Stephanie glared at me in the rearview mirror.
“Sorry.”Yeah, crash the fucking SUV with the women in it. Really bright.
