Page 4 of The Sexy Part
“No, it’s scattered around a messy bridal suite. I can do it.”
I take a long drink of water, my limbs heavy. The energy it would take to get off this barstool, walk across the street, and face a fully decorated wedding is too much. “Maybe later.”
“Sure.”
“Tell me all about you. I’d like to stop spiraling about my doomsday.”
His lips curve up. “Not much to tell. Grew up here in Clover Park, love it, never want to leave. Love working here.”
“What else?”
“Let’s see. I love basketball, playing it not watching it. Baseball’s fun too. I take life as it comes, and life is good.”
“You sound really happy.”
“I am.”
“More,” I say.
He smiles gamely and goes on about his huge extended family and all the fun he had growing up with his cousins. I can’t keep the names straight, there’s too many of them. I just soak in the warmth of his voice with its deep soothing tone, drawing me into a different world full of love and good times.
Finally, he says, “And that’s about it.”
I stare at him for a long moment.
“What?”
“Do you know how rare that is? To love everything about your life? To have such a big happy family?”
“Well, we’re not always happy. I gave you the highlight reel. There’s been some rough stuff, but we stick together.”
A sharp pang of envy hits me. Hebelongs. “So you’ve never left Clover Park?”
“Left for college. Came back. It’s home.”
“Wow. Deep roots.”
“Guess you could say that.”
I think back to the upheaval of my own childhood and quickly shut down that line of thought. I need to focus on the crisis I’m dealing with now.
A redheaded woman approaches the bar and says in a husky voice to Cooper, “There you are.”
Cooper smiles, his voice warm. “Hey, Gina. How’s it going?”
“Good. Is there some kind of event going on?”
“Yeah, but you can stick around if you want. What can I get you? Open bar, so it’s on the house.”
“Really? I’d love a pinot grigio.”
“You got it.” He goes for a wineglass and serves up her wine. “How’re you liking the apartment?”
“Fantastic. I can’t thank you enough.”
“No thanks necessary. I know people for everything.”
Her voice turns flirty. “You should stop by. See what I did with the place.”
