I chuckle as the song shifts to a faster one, so everyone picks up to the tempo or wanders off the dance floor. As I spin Lou, I spot Fletch and his wife Tatum wandering through the doors.
He tips his chin to me and pulls Tatum to the bar.
“How’s little Naomi?” Lou asks.
I grin. “She’s good, thanks for asking.”
She nods. “She’s a lucky girl,” she says.
“How is that?” I ask her.
“Coop, you’re a good man. I don’t know how you don’t see that.”
I shrug and squat down slightly, dipping her over my thigh before bringing her back up. “I don’t know. I guess I’m just focused on being the best I can for her.”
“Well, it shows. Is he gone now?” she asks.
I look up and don’t spot Jed. “Yep, looks like he wandered off.”
“Awesome, I’ll see you around,” she says, dropping my hand.
I follow her off the dance floor and lean into her ear. “Let me know if you need me.”
Lou gives me a flirty smile and leans into me, pressing her lips to my cheek. “You got it, cowboy,” she whispers.
I roll my eyes, and she saunters off. Shaking my head, I push through the crowd, making my way to where my cousins Fletcher, Tatum, Ledger, June, and her best friend Grace are hanging out.
There was a time when I thought Grace and I could have something, but she had other goals in life. Fletcher waves and hands me a beer as I come up to them.
“You and Lou?” he asks.
I take a swig and sigh. “I was saving her from Jedidiah.”
Ledger chuckles and shakes his head.
I frown and punch him in the arm. “What are you laughing at asshole? It’s not like you’ve got some woman on the dance floor, especially since you became Sheriff.”
Ledger shrugs. “No time.”
“Well, you looked like you were having a good time,” Fletch says, gesturing to the dance floor.
I nod and take a drink of my beer, looking around. Gracie and June have already wandered off.
“Are you alright, Cooper?” Tatum, Fletcher’s wife, asks, sitting on a stool and leaning into Fletcher.
“Disappointed, but I’m okay, Tate.”
She frowns. “I heard about Pam. Is that why?”
I look between my cousin and his wife. They are perfect together in every single way. They found each other after years apart. I thought I’d be in Fletcher’s shoes, married with kids by now. But I’m not. Well, I have a kid, she’s my sister’s, but she’s still mine. I’ve raised her.
“I—”
“Whooo!!!! Shot! Shot! Shot! Shot!” June screams across the bar as she pounds her fist on a high-top table.
She and Gracie are taking shots with a shorter, curly-haired woman who isstunning. June tosses it back and dances in place. When June and Grace are in a room, they don’t only capture it, but they hold everyone hostage. Two wild peas in a pod.
“Cooper? What were you going to say?” Tatum asks gently.
