Page 58 of The Sexy Part
Mackenzie ignores Cooper. “Anyway, he wants to take it slow to get to know me.”
“That’s good,” Hailey says.
Mackenzie turns to me for understanding. “He wouldn’t even kiss me good night for an experiment in chemistry. I think I’ll leave him to a more patient woman. I need someone more fun. Not so much like Dad.”
I nod sympathetically.
Josh pounds his chest. “I’m fun! Have you seen me on the dance floor?”
“Dad, you only slow dance,” Mackenzie says.
“But I’m good at it. And nobody does a wild Saturday night like I do.”
Hailey holds back a smile.
“Right, warrior princess?” Josh’s voice holds a note of concern.
“Right.”
Cooper gives his dad a deadpan look. “Yeah, I don’t think we need the sexy play-by-play of your Saturday nights in with Mom.”
Mackenzie, Cooper, and Finn laugh uproariously. Josh gives them a quelling look. Hailey shakes her head.
“Rowan, do you have plans with family for Thanksgiving?” Hailey asks out of nowhere. Thanksgiving’s a month away. By then I hope to have my condo deposit back and hopefully a win in small claims court. I could be well on my way, back in the city. Though the holidays aren’t a great time to move.
Maybe I could stay here a little longer? No, I’ve imposed on Mackenzie and Harper enough. And I want to be sure I’m doing what’s right for me, not changing my life to spend more time with Cooper. It’s not even a relationship. It’s fun, casual. Sexy.Don’t think about that.
A Campbell family Thanksgiving, huh? I think of my ex, my dead mom and grandmom, my estranged dad and brother. God, my family sucks.
I attempt a smile. “I usually go to my friend Meg’s celebration in the city. She invites all her friends who don’t have families.”
“You don’t have family?” Hailey asks in horror. “Wait, what about—”
Cooper intervenes. “Mom, that’s personal.”
“No, it’s fine,” I say. “Dead, dead, estranged. I’m well used to it.”
“You have to come to ours,” Hailey says. “We all go to my dear friend Claire Jordan’s house.”
“More like an estate,” Josh says.
“There’s room for everyone,” Hailey says.
That’s right. Harper’s mom is Claire Jordan the movie star.
“I wouldn’t want to intrude on a family event,” I say.
“I insist,” Hailey says.
“Yeah, I insist too,” Mackenzie says.
“Up to you,” Cooper says. “But I do need to mention there’s a whole table full of pie.”
I smile for real this time. “Thank you. I’d love to go.”
Hailey’s smile lights up her face. “Good. It’ll be so nice to have you. Cooper, this is the kind of woman I’ve always wanted for you.”
Mackenzie laughs.
