I glance back at them, and they’re looking at me with concern. I want what they have, but my position as a father and an uncle makes every choice I make that much more important.
Naomi is everything to me, and I want to be with a woman who won’t only make me a better man, but will make a wonderful mother for Naomi. Because the reality,ourreality is … Rebekah is probably never coming back.
I take long pulls of beer, trying to loosen my throat, and watch the curly-haired woman with June and Gracie take another shot, wincing.
“Cooper,” Tatum says gently.
I look up and she’s smiling almost sadly, and I hate it because I don’t want to be pitied. I have nothing to be pitied for.
“What, Tate?” I sigh.
“We want you to be happy, that’s all, and we just worry … I guess,” she says.
I chuckle and adjust my hat on my head. “I don’t think you should be worried about me, you should be more concerned about Sheriff stick-up-his-ass.”
Ledger glares and Fletch chokes on his beer.
“He’s got a point, Ledge,” Fletch says.
“You try picking up all the pieces of the old sheriff who already had one foot out the door,” he mumbles.
I pat his back. “I’m just messing with ya’ cuz. You work hard to keep us all safe, and I’m grateful for it.”
He nods and drinks his beer.
“Where’s Sterling?” I ask him.
He shrugs. “Dunno, he’s either on duty or out on a burn.”
Ledger’s best friend, Sterling, is one of a kind. They are complete opposites, yet have been friends since high school.
“Maybe you should give Lou a chance,” Tatum says.
I sigh and observe June, Gracie, and the curly-haired woman. My heart beats a little faster as she smiles widely and pushes her long dark curls out of her face.
“Who is that?” I ask them instead.
Everyone looks over at June and Grace.
“No idea, but it’s a small town Coop, I’m sure we’ll know by tomorrow,” Ledger mumbles.
I nod, watching the women smile and have fun. Checking my watch, it’s not that late. Aunt Dixie is probably putting Naomi to bed now. I have another hour before I need to get home.
“Why don’t you go talk to her?” Fletcher asks me.
I look for the girls again and find June and Gracie, but I don’t see the other woman.
Spinning on my heel, I look around and don’t see her. I give it a little longer, thinking maybe she just went to the bathroom. Which is an experience in and of itself here. But she doesn’t reappear anywhere. Fletcher and Tatum move to the dance floor, while June and Gracie pair up with some guys at a pool table. Poor suckers, they must have no idea how good those two are. Ledger just stays at the bar, watching. He’s always been an observer. Though he is a good dancer, I’ve seen it myself.
I talk with Ledger for a little longer until I give up looking for her.
Tatum and Fletcher make it back to the bar asking for two waters, and I take my last sip.
“I’ll see y’all later. I need to get home to Naomi.”
They all wave and I step out into the lukewarm Paxton night.
I want to know who that woman is.
