Page 20 of Make Me

I’m distracted throughout dinner by the loud bouts of thunder and the torrential rainfall, but Ivy is unbothered. The lights flicker several times, but ultimately, they stay on. At least for the time being. While Ivy is distracted by a cartoon on television, I run around the house, gathering a flashlight, candles, and matches in case we lose electricity.

The rain and thunder continue, louder and harder than before, and I snuggle with Ivy under a blanket while we watch a cartoon about a girl who just became a princess. Until the lights flicker one last time, taking the power with it.

“TV, Mama,” Ivy says, pointing at the black screen. Just as I get up to light candles, I hear a loud banging on the door. A peek through the peep hole reveals a soaking wet Cooper.

“Cooper!” I yank the door open, and a gust of wind smacks me in the face, almost knocking me over. He steps in and slams the door behind him. “What are you doing here?” The words fall out of my mouth, and I can’t help but admire him with the wet shirt clinging to his body. His biceps are bulging through the sleeves, and I force myself to look away from his pecs.

“Come on. I have a generator over at my house. The storm isn’t supposed to let up until tomorrow.”

“Doggie!” Ivy says when she sees him. She runs right to him, and he picks her up. “Wet doggie,” she squeals.

“You know my name isn’t Doggie, right?” He tickles her belly, and she laughs. “Can you say Cooper?”

“Coopie!” she yells. Cooper laughs and turns back to me.

“Come on. Please. The power probably won’t come back until tomorrow.”

“Okay.” I don’t miss his relieved breath at my quick acquiescence. “Let me grab a few things.” I pick up my flashlight, and minutes later, after throwing a few things in a bag for me and Ivy, he’s holding my hand as he carries my daughter across the front yard.

By the time we make it to the comfort and safety of his house, we’re all soaking wet. My white tee shirt clings to me, and I know if I look down, I’ll be able to see my bra through the fabric.

“You guys can dry off in the spare bedroom.” He points to a closed door down the hall. “The bathroom is right across the hall if you need it. I’m going to go change,” he says. As soon as the words are out of his mouth, he goes to the opposite side of his house and into the same bedroom Candace came out of the last time I was here.

Chapter 13

Cooper

They’re still notout by the time I come out of my room, but I’m relieved when I see the light at the bottom of the guestroom door. So, I relax and pretend to look casual. My stomach growls, reminding me that I haven’t eaten dinner yet. I spent a good portion of the day in the gym, taking out my frustration in the weight room. Just as I open the fridge to look through its contents, the door opens, and I hear little feet running down the hall.

Sam, who was in my room earlier, runs to Ivy. She starts to bark and jump while Ivy claps her hands. A snort escapes me when Ivy hugs Sam before the two lie on the carpet and start to roll around. Laci steps around them and walks further into the living room. She stands still when she sees me.

She’s dressed in gray yoga pants and matching long-sleeved tee. Her feet are bare, and I can’t help but admire her purple nail polish. When I look back at her face, she squares her shoulders and walks closer.

“Thank you,” she says softly. “I didn’t realize the storm would be so bad, or I would have gone to Aunt Mae’s.” She shuffles on one foot, all the while never meeting my eyes. “I don’t want us to become your problem.” She looks around and calls Ivy’s name, but Ivy is too busy laughing to hear her mother. “We’ll get out of your way.” She starts to walk away, but I wrap a hand around her elbow. She pauses, but slowly turns around, still not meeting my eyes.

I point to the kitchen table, and she sits down. I focus back on my fridge and the meager contents, cursing myself because I won’t be able to order out like I do most Saturday nights. I run a hand over my face, but the sound of my dog barking and a little girl laughing relaxes me.

My mind replays the words Mae said when she called me at work yesterday afternoon. She told me to be patient, but she did not give me any more details. The truth is, I would have gotten Laci and Ivy even if Mae hadn’t called and given me a glimmer of hope. We always lose power on this street whenever a storm comes through.

“Just being neighborly,” I tell her.

“But there are no other neighbors here.” I pretend not to hear her when several claps of thunder hit overhead.

“Are you guys hungry?” I pull out steak from the fridge. The plan was to grill it tomorrow, but that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen.

“We had dinner,” she responds quickly. Ivy comes walking to her mom, rubbing her eyes. Sam follows and goes to stand next to Laci and starts rubbing herself on Laci’s leg.

Laci pulls Ivy into her arms, and I stand there mesmerized as she hums a lullaby and Ivy promptly falls asleep.

“I’m going to put her to bed.” Of course, my traitor dog follows them to the guestroom. Laci comes out, but Sam stays in there with Ivy.

While I cook my steak and vegetables, Laci sits down at the table. From the corner of my eye, I watch as she takes a deep breath and starts to trace her finger along the tablecloth. Another clap of thunder hits, and lightning flashes through the window. My lights flicker but stay on.

“That smells good,” she says when I sit across from her. She looks at my steak and licks her lips. I cut a bite and hold the fork across the table. She freezes briefly at the gesture, but she leans forward and eats the steak. “Mmhmm,” she moans. “I’m one of those weird people who love mushrooms,” she says.

“We can be weird together, because I love them too,” I reply. We sit in silence for the next few minutes, but I move closer to her so we can share my food. She takes and savors every bite of food I give her.

“I’m sorry, Cooper,” she finally says. When I look at her contrite face, she continues. “For what I said in the flower shop yesterday. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, and I really do like you. I just don’t know how to do any of this.”

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