He didn’t seem upset, though. He was happily chewing a bite of his pancake, wriggling in his seat.
I wasn’t the only one who’d reacted. Tension hung over the table for a beat, then broke on the next breath, a collective sigh Benji didn’t seem to notice.
“She taught me,” Cooper put in. It was quiet, but not as raw as he’d sounded last night talking about his sister.
“She was obviously a culinary genius,” I said, glancing around the table nervously once the words were out. Was that the right thing to say?
Cooper’s mom smiled. “She was.”
His dad nodded.
The conversation moved on to town gossip, recent weather, what Benji was looking forward to at school next week. Normal things. I learned who was pregnant, who’d gotten new jobs, and that Benji loved math to the point of adorable deviancy.
Cooper glanced at me from time to time, the most gorgeous little smile on his face, eyes as warm as I’d ever seen them.
When breakfast was over, Cooper’s dad shooed the two of us out of the kitchen, telling Cooper to open up the shop ahead of him while he washed up with a meaningful look at me.
Cooper led me out onto the little porch, closed the door behind us, and stood in front of me like a nervous teenager on his first date.
“I had a good morning,” I said, reaching out to catch the tips of his fingers and hold his hand between us. Cooper glanced down at that, then back to my face, a smile spreading over his lips.
“Good,” he said. “Sorry it was crowded.”
“I loved it.”
I love you.
“Seriously,” I added. “Benji remains adorable and I think your folks maybe don’t hate me?”
“They adore you,” Cooper said, no hesitation. “Genuinely, they think you’re amazing. You have no idea how Benji’s improved since you arrived. Did you hear him talking about Laura?”
I nodded.
“That’s the first time he’s mentioned her without crying,” Cooper said, toying with my fingers. “You’ve been incredible for him. Seriously, thank you. I owe you a lot more than a couple of pancakes.”
My heart leapt into my throat, making tears sting at my eyes as I tried to swallow it down. Even when I managed it, it felt a size too big under my ribs, overfull.
“You’re welcome,” I said, squeezing his fingers back. “He’s been good for me, too.”
Another smile spread over Cooper’s lips as he looked over my face. “I really am glad you came.”
“Me too,” I said. I held his gaze for a heartbeat, and then I couldn’t hold back anymore.
I only meant to peck him on the lips, a quick thank you, but the moment our mouths touched, I wanted more. Heat surged through me, the urge to be closer to Cooper making my fingers curl around his neck and my body sway toward his until there was barely an inch between us.
I love youwas on the tip of my tongue, and I wondered if he could taste it there, if he could somehow know. When I finally pulled back I took a breath to say it aloud, but a twitch of movement in the lace curtains distracted me.
One of Cooper’s parents?
Or maybe my own imagination, paranoid after years of being a semi-open secret. Of having to keep plausible deniability in the front of my mind.
“I do actually have to open the shop,” Cooper said before I could gather my thoughts, clearly regretful. “But I could bring you a coffee later? After Benji’s class?”
I’d tell him later.
I was running an extra pre-competition class today, since the competition itself was next weekend. There was no such thing as too much practice.
“Almond milk?” I asked, smiling up at him.
