We’re quiet, lost in our own thoughts, but that’s okay with me. I’m fine with silence because I prefer it to filling space with useless words.
“Can you do something for me?” Cooper asks.
“Sure,” I say.
“Instead of counting down your time, can we enjoy it instead? I understand you’re here temporarily, but I like you, Mae. A lot. Can we figure out the rest later?” he asks.
I stare at the lights to keep the tears from falling. I like him too, more than I want to admit. “I have commitments, and I don’t want to get hurt again, and it feels like I’m setting myself up for that to happen, and it would be my fault,” I mutter.
He hums, rubbing his chin. “Then let me convince you.”
I huff. “How would you do that?”
Cooper grins and pulls me into his chest. “Let me handle the details. But I need you to agree to give me a fair chance to do it.”
I look up at him, and he kisses my forehead.
“I want to be selfish with you, Mae. I don’t get to be that way with anything else in my life, but with you I want to be, and if it gets to be too much, tell me. But it feels wrong not to try, you know?” he says.
He’s right, it does because everything about us feels like it’s all falling into place.
“Okay. You can try,” I tell him.
“Really?” he grins.
I nod, and he picks me up, spinning us around.
I throw my head back in a giggle, and he stops kissing my neck. “Thank you,” he says.
“Don’t thank me yet.”
“Why not?” he asks, sliding me down his body.
“Because we might just end up hurting each other when it’s all said and done.”
Chapter 22
Cooper
IhopeMaeiswrong.
As I drive home, her words keep rolling around in my head. I’m serious about her, and recognize that I need to keep a lid on my feelings for her. Too much, too fast won’t work.
I park the truck at my house and walk down to Aunt Dixie’s to get Naomi. It’s a little past eight, but hopefully Aunt Dixie won’t be mad. Some days I feel like I take advantage of her generosity to watch Naomi. I don’t know what I’d do without my family.
Going in through the mudroom I kick off my boots, and head for the living room, expecting to find Naomi watching a movie, but instead I find my aunt and uncle in the kitchen in a hushed, heated conversation and Naomi asleep on the couch.
Trying to sneak past them so I don’t interrupt, I head straight for my daughter, and Aunt Dixie grabs my arm.
“Cooper,” she says.
“Uh, is everything okay?” I try to check on Naomi, and she’s asleep whileAtlantisplays.
Uncle Mason’s jaw ticks and Aunt Dixie looks pale, like she’s seen a ghost.
“You should sit down,” I tell her, taking her to a stool at the island.
“Maybeyoushould sit down, son,” Uncle Mason says.
