Page 8 of Make Me

“No,” Cooper says with a snort. “We aren’t engaged. Candace, cut the shit.” The words come out low, his jaw barely moving.

Candace playfully hits him on the bicep, and he pretends to take a step back from the impact. The playfulness and intimacy of that moment brings me back to reality.

“He hasn’t exactly proposed yet. Not officially, anyway.”

“Or unofficially,” Cooper mutters.

She gives him an angry scowl and continues. “But I will say yes as soon as he does. I’d much rather order from a bigger place, but Daddy is all about supporting local businesses. He won’t pay if I go elsewhere, so I guess I have no choice.” She takes a deep breath and looks around the shop, her brows furrowed and lips pressed together in disapproval. She picks up the bouquets, smells them again, and looks at me for the first time since she got here. She stares into my eyes for so long, I feel uneasy. Cooper must feel it too because he comes and stands next to Candace.

“I remember you,” she says, rudely pointing her perfectly manicured index finger in my face. “You went to school with us, but you were a freshman. You used to wear those hideously bright shoelaces and those raggedy sweatshirts. They were so tacky. Me and my friends use to laugh about you behind your back.” She looks me up and down and says, “I see you’ve put on a few more pounds since high school. The gym isn’t too far from here.” She grabs the box of flowers and turns her back on me. The fake smile I had on my face slips, and I take a step back as if struck.

“Candace!” Cooper says. “Why do you always have to be so fucking rude? You need to apologize right now.” She holds her head up and starts to walk to the door. He blocks it and crosses his arms. She stops in her tracks but doesn’t turn around for about a full minute. They are having a standoff right in the middle of Mae Flowers. I’d laugh, but I really want them to leave now.

“That’s not necessary. You two have a good day,” I say, dismissing them, but Cooper doesn’t budge.

Candace turns around and growls, “Sorry.” She turns away, sidesteps Cooper, and walks out of the shop.

I can sense Cooper looking at me, but I don’t give him the satisfaction of looking up. I pretend to be engrossed in tomorrow’s orders. Thankfully, Aunt Mae comes back and places a coffee in front of me.

“Can I help you find something?” Aunt Mae asks Cooper. I can’t help myself and answer before he can form a response.

“He’s all set, Aunt Mae. He was here with his girlfriend, Candace, on behalf of the Shaw/Gilbert wedding. He was just leaving.” I do look at him when I say that last part. Cooper nods, bids us a good day, and leaves.

Aunt Mae pulls out a cinnamon roll and breaks it in half. “Only half the calories. You being here is already so good for my health.” She kisses my cheek and walks to the back of the store.

As soon as she’s out of sight, I peek through the blinds and into the parking lot. Cooper is in Candace’s face. She points and screams something at him. He seems to scream right back. She crosses her arms and looks away. Instead of opening the passenger door like I thought he would, he walks around to the driver’s side of his truck. She opens her own door, slamming it shut.

I exhale once they leave the parking lot, happy to see them both gone. I look at the cinnamon roll and run my hands down my body, feeling my wide hips, round ass, and soft stomach. The truth is, I’ve lost weight this year. I started cooking my own meals and working out at home. I can see the changes, and I feel great. Fuck Candace Shaw. I grab the cinnamon roll and decide not to let my aunt’s money go to waste, and I don’t regret a single bite.

I continue with the rest of my day, rattled by the revelation that Cooper has a girlfriend, and she’s the same bitch from ten years ago. I snatch his hoodie from underneath the desk, walk to the back of the store, open the door to the alley, and dump it in the trash.

Chapter 6

Cooper

I’m notsure what I’m doing, and neither is Sam. She’s staring at me, her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth.

“I know. We usually hang out in the back, but I need to talk to our neighbor,” I explain to my dog. She whines and hangs her head, almost as if she’s ashamed of me.

Of all the people we could have run into today, it had to be Laci. Of course, I had no idea she knew Mae or worked in the flower shop, but I should have known. I should have made it my business to find out everything about her the minute she ended up living next door to me.

I managed to only see Candace once this week. After our talk while she was in Chicago, I decided I was going to tell her there is no chance of us ever getting back together, but because I’m part of the wedding party, I decided not to tell her that until after the wedding.

I know Candace, and I know the only reason she hasn’t made our breakup a bigger issue is because she thinks there’s a chance we’ll get back together. If I take that away from her, things will be awkward, and I care about Cami and Chad too much to disturb their big day.

My plan was to keep Candace at arm’s length until the day after the wedding. I planned on only seeing her if we were going to be in a group, but she showed up at my office today and invited me to lunch and to pick up the flowers, and I agreed since we’d be in public. Big fucking mistake.

After how rude she was to Laci, I had no choice. I told her I would not be in this relationship with her ever again. The worst thing that could have happened did. She cried, and if there is one thing I absolutely cannot take, it’s a crying woman. When I wouldn’t back down, she did the one thing I was trying to avoid. She called her sister and told her what an asshole I am for dumping her only because she was rude to a fat girl. Then, she slapped me across the face and got out of my truck while I was stopped at a red light.

Sam starts to bark and chase her tail in the front yard. The blue Honda Civic comes down the street and turns left into the driveway. Sam runs to the car, gets on her hind legs and looks inside the back window, likely looking for Ivy. She steps back slowly and drops to the ground.

Laci comes out, wearing the same purple short-sleeved tee she had on this afternoon. I didn’t see what else she had on, but she’s wearing a pair of black yoga pants with purple flowers down the legs. She goes to the back, sticks her head inside and grabs a bag. The back of her shirt has a crisscross design, leaving a good portion of her back exposed. I’d give anything to run my fingertips across her back. She bends down to get something out of her car, and in the process, she sticks her ass out, and I have to fight back the urge not to run to her and touch it.

I know she knows I’m outside, but she doesn’t look my way. She steps over Sam and starts to walk to her house. I call out across the yard, and before she can get the keys in the lock, I approach.

“Laci,” I say, walking closer. I make sure to put both of my hands in the air to show that I come in peace.

“Go away, Cooper.” She turns the key and opens the door. I stand right outside the entrance. I won’t go in unless she invites me, but I grab the doorknob so she can’t slam the door in my face. “I do have one question for you, though. How was dinner at your mom’s going to work? Were you going to pick up your girlfriend with me and my daughter in your car so we could all have Sunday pot roast together?” I open my mouth to answer, but she talks over me. “You know what?” she asks, looking at me up and down, her lips curling in disgust. “Never mind. I don’t want to hear whatever bullshit lies you’re going to say. I know guys like you. Been there, done that, and have the scars to show for it. And just so you know, Cooper Stevens, I am not on the market for whatever it is you’re offering.”

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