Stephanie blew a raspberry. “It’s sonotokay. If you and Coop had become serious after your ill-fated hookup then he wouldn’t have been available when he got together with Lachlan.”
Heat crept into my cheeks. “When put like that—”
“Honey, we weresonot meant to be together.” Cooper winked.
Yeah, that heat intensified. I worried my cheeks might look like Rudolph’s nose. “That’s probably true—”
“It’s actually quite remarkable Cooper was single when our sisters married.” Lachlan rolled his eyes.
“Hey.” Cooper shrugged. “I like dating. I prefer being married to the love of my life, though.”
Lachlan ducked his head.
Cooper snagged his jaw and guided him up so their gazes met.
My breath caught. I’d known Cooper had fallen hard for Lachlan. A real-lifeopposites attractromance. Along with the substantial age gap, they didn’t really have much in common. Cooper worked in an advertising agency. Lachlan was an entertainment attorney.
That said, Taryn the tow truck driver and Stephanie the retail specialist at a fashion boutique in Mission City weren’t exactly the couple most predicted either.
The palpable love at this table overwhelmed me. In a good way.
Marc arrived just in time. “Drinks?”
Taryn, Ulysses and I opted for soda since we’d abandoned our drinks at the bar. Stephanie and Cooper chose cosmos while Lachlan opted for a vodka tonic.
Taryn laughed. “You can tell who the DD is tonight.”
“Whatever keeps the roads safe.” I winced. “I see way too many drunk-driving crashes. Things are better than they used to be, but people are still fucking idiots.”
“Yes.” Ulysses said the words quietly. “Idiots.”
“Oh my God, I love this song! Move!” Cooper nudged Ulysses.
Out of self-preservation, I scooted out of the booth as well.
Where I expected Cooper to coax Lachlan to join him, he grabbed Ulysses’s hand and dragged him over to the surprisingly full dance floor.
For a moment, I just stared.
Cooper wrapped his arms around Ulysses’s neck.
Ulysses met my gaze, held it for a moment, gave an almost imperceptible nod, then focused his attention back to the bubbly blond.
Well, okay then.I slid back into the booth.
Stephanie winked. Lots of Gander siblings winking tonight. “He’ll be fine. I mean, I assume he’ll say something if he’s not comfortable.”
I nodded. I might not know much about the enigma that was Ulysses—but I was certain he could extricate himself without making a scene if he wanted to. I pressed against Lachlan. “You okay with this?” I gestured to Ulysses and Cooper.
Lachlan burst out laughing—something I’d never heard him do before. We were more than ten years apart, so I supposed we hadn’t interacted much.
“I’m damn secure in my marriage. I can’t—” Lachlan scratched his stubbled jaw. “I mean, maybe it’s crazy. But Cooper…he’s a one-man guy. Yes, he dated plenty before he met me. But we just…clicked.”
I smiled hard. “That’s so amazing.”
Stephanie reached across the table to grasp my hand. “You’ll find that too, Finn.”
I waved her off with the hand she wasn’t clutching. “I’m young. I’m sowing my wild oats. Or some shit like that. I love my life.” I wasn’t lying either. That said, I might’ve snuck a peek over at Ulysses as he danced with Cooper.
