June: That’s my girl!
Mae: Omg I have no idea what to wear
June: Keep it simple. Jeans and a cute top. I’m assuming you havecowboy boots.
Mae: Okay, and yes, I do.
June: Do that.
June: Should I come and pretend I’m there to have fun and not spy on you?
Mae: LOL no, I think I’ve got it
June: cool. I’ll talk to you later. I need to get back to work. I have to check on a few new foals.
Mae: OMG SO CUTE SEND PICS
June sends me a thumbs-up, and I set my phone down with a content sigh. It’s time to get back on that horse.
Chapter 13
Cooper
Iparkthetruckand take a deep breath. After getting Naomi settled with Aunt Dixie, I told them I had to go pick something up in town. It wasn’t a lie … Naomi needed toothpaste. But I also want to see Mae.
After my last failure of a relationship, and I’d barely call it that. I decided I need to be more intentional than I already was, and approach things slower.
When Naomi came into my life, I was twenty-two, and in my wild cowboy years. But that all stopped the moment she was placed in my arms. I had to grow up faster. I don’t regret it, and I never will, but I think the younger Coop comes out through dating because I’m lonely.
I like the chase, I’ll be the first to admit it. I have no problem pursuing a woman and doing everything I can to make it worth her while. But I’m tired of playing the game and I’m part of the problem.
The other side of my reality is that I’m a single man. I want to have fun, but I also want a wife to come home to. I want to build a life with someone and give Naomi siblings in a way. It’s time for the older, more mature version of myself, who’s still lonely, to take the lead and stop messing around, and that starts with Mae. I’m interested in her even if we’ve only had brief interactions, and I don’t know how else to be more intentional than to go to the flower shop and talk to her. I’m a persistent man and my goal today is to convince her I’m worth a shot. Sure, she’s stunning, but what’s more attractive is how kind and patient she was with Naomi. That speaks volumes to me.
The sign on the flower shop door says open. The window displays have a few collections of arrangements sitting in them, and I can hear the faint sound of music coming through.
Mission: Get Mae to go out with me. Starts now.
I open the door and don’t see her right away. Maybe she’s in the back.
Sauntering to the cooler, I look around for a bouquet. I can’t come in here and not buy anything, right?
I find a small one that isn’t too expensive. Naomi will love it.
“Oh.”
I hear her before I see her and turn around.
“Hi,” I say, with rocks in my throat.
Her long curly hair is half pinned up with a clip; her lips are shiny like she put something on them, and she’s wearing a pretty floral print dress with sneakers on.
“Come to buy more flowers?” she asks me skeptically.
“Yep.”
“Who are they for this time? If you don’t mind my asking,” she says.
I follow her to the counter, trying to figure out how to ask her out without sounding like an ass.
