Page 3 of The Sexy Part
I’m momentarily speechless. People are so friendly in this town. Also, word gets around fast. “Thanks.”
The other woman with long honey-brown hair and hazel eyes says, “I hate your groom purely based on today’s event.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.” Look at how supportive these random strangers are to me! And where are my friends? I bolted without telling anyone what happened, but Hailey must’ve explained the situation by now and where I am. Darla, Meg, and I used to be close in high school, but then Darla got married and moved to Kentucky. Meg’s in the city with me. I guess I’ve been so busy building the business I didn’t stay in touch with Meg as much as I should have. Still. I’m in crisis mode here. I go to text them and remember once again I left all my stuff at Ludbury House.
Guess I ultimately have to return to the scene of the crime. But not yet.
I watch as Cooper mixes the ladies’ drinks and serves up a couple of beers to other people. I sip my water, a strange sense of lethargy taking over. I’m usually a high-energy, type A kind of person. All the buildup to the wedding only to have it blow up can really take it out of a person.
After the friendly women get their drinks, one of them says, “Take care.”
And the other says, “Be strong,” which makes me tear up.
“I will, thanks.”
Now it’s just me and Cooper again.
“Can I get you anything else?” he asks.
“I’m good with my water. Is it okay if I hang here for a while? I’m not ready to go back to Ludbury House to get my stuff.”
“You hang here as long as you want. I’m glad for the company.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, parties tend to be slow at the bar once everyone’s had a couple of rounds.”
“What’s the party for?”
“Engagement party.”
I put my hands up like blinders. “Not looking.”
He chuckles. “Probably not the time for it. You want to talk about what happened? I’m a good listener.”
“That’s pretty much a prerequisite for a bartender, huh?”
“Here I thought I got the job for my mad cocktail skills.”
I find myself smiling, which is a shock. I didn’t think I could smile under the circumstances. And then all the horrible stuff comes crashing back, and I’m suddenly near tears again.
“Yeah, it’s rough,” he says, like he can read my freaking mind. “Totally get that.”
I trace a line along the bar top before meeting his warm brown eyes. His expression is so understanding, it makes me want to confide in him. “I can’t go home tonight. Dave will be there. We live together at his apartment.”
“You can crash with me. I’ll take the sofa, and you can have my room. I live in town.”
I still. Clearly he didn’t watch the same horror movie I did about a handsome stranger who invites a vulnerable woman to his place. Nope, not today, Satan.
Not that Cooper’s Satan. I think he means well.
I answer politely but firmly. “That’s very nice of you to offer, but I’ll just ask a friend. Hopefully, they haven’t left yet. I thought they’d show up here after Hailey told everyone.”
He pulls his phone from his back pocket. “You want to text them?”
I reach for the phone, but then realize I don’t have their numbers memorized. “Their numbers are programmed into my phone. I just need to get it.” I gesture vaguely behind me. “Over there.”
“I could get your stuff. Just let me know what I’m looking for.”
