I glance up at him, as the sun shinning on his sweaty face. “Did you just call me stubborn?”
He grins widely. “It fits, doesn’t it?”
I purse my lips and narrow my eyes.
“You know it does,” he says on a laugh.
“What did Dixie say?” I ask him, ignoring the silly, yet unfortunately fitting nickname.
“She said the girls are in their own little world and to take all the time I need. But I need to be home before bedtime.”
“It’s five now.”
“So that means we have three hours,” he says, taking a step toward me.
“Well, I better get to making dinner then.”
“I’ll help, but are you sure? You don’t have other things to do? I really just came out here to help you with this.”
I stare at him a little longer and feel my wall cracking. “Yes, I’m sure.”
His eyes zip around my face until he says, “Sounds good, let me get this mower put away.”
Cooper spins his hat back around his head and hops on the mower to drive it back up to the barn.
Rummaging through the fridge, I look around for what I can pull together for dinner. I haven’t had a chance to run to TJ’s, so the pickings are slim. But I have cheese, sauce, and some frozen sausage I can thaw pretty fast. Pizza it is.
Glancing out the window for Cooper, I stop and take a deep breath.
What are you doing, Mae?
Digging yourself a deeper emotional hole you’re not sure you can get out of? Right?
Cool.
This is totally and absolutely fine.
I’ve been looking for this feeling my entire life, and I wasn’t sure if I was making it up in my head all along. Part of me is so frustrated that I could have found it in a place I’m not staying. So then does it make it right at all? Does it make it a waste of everyone’s time? My first answer is yes. But the part I’ve buried deep, that wants what I’ve come to believe may not be possible for me, feels like a dangerous hope. It’s risky. It will probably fail, but…
Thebutsays it all.
It makes me want to hold on to this hope with delicate, gentle hands because it could break at any moment. It’s far too presumptive to think Cooper isthe one.But in my hope against hope. What if heis?
And if I don’t give what is toe-curling chemistry between us a chance, then am I not the same as those who didn’t give me a fair chance? It either makes me a hypocrite or a coward. I’m split between my commitment to my parents and yearning for a life of my own.
“I’m pretty sure I see steam coming out of your ears,” Cooper says, bringing me out of my spiraling mind and straight into his captivating green eyes.
“Hmm?”
He chuckles. “Are you okay?” he asks slowly.
I smile and nod, going back to the frozen sausage I need to thaw.
His hand comes around my waist and pulls me back into his chest. “I’m sorry I’m sweaty,” he says.
“I don’t mind,” I mumble unwrapping the package.
“So what’s for dinner?” he asks, resting his chin on my shoulder.
