Page 31 of Make Me

“Mama!” Ivy says, once she notices me. She points to Cooper and says, “Coopie yucky.” Cooper looks to the ceiling and laughs. He runs, grabs Ivy, and tickles her ribs. When he puts her down, she runs to the side of the room with Sam and starts to play with her toys.

“I don’t think Ivy understands what exactly happens when you walk a dog. And why am I yucky? It was Sam’s mess.” He puts an arm across my shoulder and kisses my cheek. “I’m going to have breakfast with my girls before I go to work. I really want to spend the day with you, but I can’t take today off.”

I get on my tippy toes and kiss him in the middle of the living room. I wrap my arms around his waist and rest my body against his, but he breaks the kiss all too soon.

“We’ll have to pick that back up tonight,” he promises in a low voice.

“I love you, Cooper.” I say the words while looking directly in his eyes. He rests his forehead on mine. He doesn’t say anything for a while. He simply holds me in his arms. Finally, he plants a kiss on my forehead.

“I love you, too.”

“Let me make you breakfast while you shower.” He kisses me again and runs next door to get a change of clothes. He comes back minutes later, and while he showers in my bathroom, I make breakfast.

Chapter 20

Cooper

The bell jingleswhen I open the door, and I quickly close it behind me to cut off the chilly November air. As expected, Mae Flowers is empty, and not just because it’s five o’clock. According to Aunt Mae, the week after Thanksgiving is always slow. Then, things pick up again in the month of December.

Aunt Mae comes from the back and smiles when she sees me. She gives me a tight hug before walking around me to lock the door for the night.

“She’ll be right out. She’s just finishing some orders for a funeral tomorrow.” She opens the cash register and prints a long receipt. “I looked at the pictures of the resort you sent me. Laci’s going to lose her mind. So is Ivy.” I put my finger to my lips, not wanting Laci to hear about the Christmas gift I got for her. Actually, for us. It’s a trip to Disney World. “She’s never been on a plane before,” Aunt Mae whispers. She rubs her hands together before picking up a wad of cash out of the register.

I lean against the wall and wait for Laci. Hell, I’m seconds away from walking to the back of the store and finding her myself, but I know I’d only distract her from finishing her job.

The past five months with her and Ivy have been incredible. I’ve practically moved into her house, even though mine is bigger and I have an extra bedroom, but we still haven’t talked about moving in together officially. It’s what I want, and I know we’ll get there, but I always have to go at her pace.

Like she can sense I’m here, she comes walking into the store. When she sees me, she runs into my arms. I spin her around before planting an indecent kiss on her lips.

“Don’t set my plants on fire,” Aunt Mae says. “You two get out of here and go get my Ivy. You should see all the stuff Hank got for her. Between her birthday and Christmas, that little girl is going to be spoiled rotten.”

“Cooper already does a pretty good job of that,” Laci says, tightening her arms around me.

“She has me wrapped around her finger. You try saying no to her,” I say, defending myself. Everyone, including Ivy, knows I can deny her nothing. “You ready to go get her?” She nods, and we say goodbye to her aunt before leaving the store.

We walk to my truck, and I open the car door for her.

“How about we go out for dinner after we get Ivy? I know we’re both tired, and I’m sick of eating leftover turkey.” She smiles and nods. We’ve had nothing but leftovers since Thanksgiving, and since we had dinner with my mom and Aunt Mae, we ended up with enough leftovers from them both to eat for a week.

“Chinese food,” she says. We pull into the daycare, and while Laci goes to Ivy’s room, I step into the office to say hello to my sister. Her back is to me when I walk in, and I tackle her from behind. She yells but catches her balance. She turns around and manages to get me in a headlock.

“You douche,” Margie jokes. She messes my hair and pushes me away. “What are you doing here?” She tries to punch me, and I step and duck, doing my best boxing moves.

“Laci’s getting Ivy, and then we’re going out for Chinese.”

“My little brother, the family man,” she teases. I pull her to my side and throw an arm across her shoulder. “You look happy, Coop. I’m happy for you. You three were so adorable at Thanksgiving.”

“I’ve always been adorable,” I reply with a smirk.

Laci and Ivy return, and Ivy runs right into my arms. I hug her, and when I pull away, she kisses my cheek. Margie practically swoons at the sight. We say goodbye, and the three of us walk out and make the short drive to a local Chinese restaurant not too far from the flower shop.

For a Monday night, the place is busy, and we have to wait about fifteen minutes for a table.

“I guess we’re not the only ones sick of Thanksgiving leftovers,” Laci says while we walk to a table in the middle of the restaurant. I’d prefer a booth, but that would probably mean a longer wait.

“You want a drink?” Laci asks. “I’m going to stick to water tonight.” I smirk at her.

“I warned you not to try to drink with Margie. She has the highest tolerance of everyone I know, but it was nice nursing you back to health after your first hangover.” She chuckles at me and punches my shoulder. When the waitress comes back, we order a few dishes to share, and I lay my hand on top of hers on the table. A few people from nearby tables nod. Everyone in Oak Bend knows we’re a couple now.

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