Page 25 of The Sexy Part
My hand goes to my heart. “Me? But I’m not family.”
“You should go,” Finn says. “Dad’s a great cook. Like gourmet level.”
“Well, it’s not like I’ll be having gourmet food any time soon.”
“That’s the spirit,” Cooper says with a wink.
“Sorry, I’d love to go.”
“Later!” Finn takes off at a jog.
I turn to Cooper. “Is he going to run back to campus?” He goes to NYU, which is a half-hour subway ride from here.
“Probably. Ready to go?”
“Yeah.”
We get into the truck. Cooper starts it and pulls slowly down the street. I take one last look at the apartment I lived in for nearly two years and sigh. In thirty days, more or less, I’ll be back in the city. Hopefully, I can find an apartment in my price range. If only they had Clover Park prices here. Of course, there’s a reason rent’s so high here; it’s an awesome, exciting place to live. I’m sure I’ll feel that excitement again in time. It’s just Dave that’s bringing me down.
“You doing okay?” Cooper asks.
“Yeah. It’s a relief to have some of my stuff back at least.”
“Harper has a she-shed in the backyard where we can store it temporarily.”
“A she-shed?”
“Yeah, like a man cave but for women. She converted the garage. It has power, heat, and air conditioning. She uses it like a home office, but she says there’s room for your stuff too. She just has a desk in there and a chair.”
Apparently, Cooper’s been talking to Harper for me. I’m a little embarrassed he’s advocating on my behalf. I can speak up for myself.
“Next time, let me handle talking to people about my stuff, okay?” I say.
“Sure. It just came up. She’s my cousin, and we talk regularly.”
“Well, I hate to mess with her home office. She’s already done so much for me, welcoming me into her home.” Mackenzie and Harper were enthusiastic about me staying on longer. Their easy acceptance is strange to me. A good strange, though.
“Not everything is transactional. She’s fine with it.”
I consider that. I’m used to a transactional relationship. You listen to me; I’ll listen to you. You get me lunch; I’ll get you lunch. It’s basically how I was raised. “I guess so.”
“Sometimes it’s enough just to be you.”
It’s never enough. I keep that to myself. No need to unload on Cooper yet again.
We’re quiet for a bit as we leave the city and get on the expressway back toward home. I mean my temporary home. Have to remember that.
“Anything you need, just ask,” Cooper says. “If I can’t help you, I know someone who can.”
Why?I nearly blurt.
“Thank you.”
“Stop by Happy Endings tonight. I’m working, so I can get you drinks on the house. Dinner too.”
I shake my head. “You’re stealing from your employer.”
“I am my employer.”
