“We both know that’s a bet I shouldn’t take because you’re a cheat.”
“But we both know that win or lose, the prize is the same.”
“I hate it when you’re right.”
“You must be filled with hate.”
Magnolia laughed. “It’s far less than you think. You’re pretty much wrong most of the time.”
“I’m correct when it counts. I was right that you and I would be great together.” Cooper bent down to kiss her but she backed up and looked around to see if anyone saw.
“We can’t kiss, someone might see.”
Cooper straightened. There was a look of panic in her eyes. Was the thought of someone figuring out they were, whatever they were, that scary? He didn’t think so and it didn’t sit right with her that she did. He needed a drink.
“Let’s settle a bet.”
He got two beers and brought them back to the table. She took a sip of hers. He was raising his glass to his mouth when she took it from him and took a sip.
“You can’t double up to try to win faster,” he said taking his drink back from her.
“Oh, I wasn’t trying to double up. I was just making sure you actually had a beer this time. You fooled me once, never again.”
He put a hand over his heart. “I’m wounded that you don’t trust me.”
Somewhere around the third beer in, whatever had been bothering Magnolia the last couple of days disappeared and she was back to normal. Even her aversion to public displays of affection had dissipated. She hadn’t kissed him or let him kiss her, but she didn’t stop him when he put an arm around her waist as they were drinking or when his hand drifted to her butt while they were dancing.
When she excitedly joined all the other single women on the floor to catch the bouquet, he thought maybe he should cut her off because friends told friends when to say when. That was definitely a sign that the commitment phobe Magnolia needed to say when. She even looked disappointed when one of Jack’s adolescent cousins caught it instead of her. He must have been drunk too, because when Diane pushed him towards the single men waiting for the garter to be thrown, he went without protest. He didn’t take his hands out of his pockets, but he did stand there, just like all the other bachelors, as it fell to the floor.
Jack came, swiped the garter off the floor and pushed it into Cooper’s chest, making him take it.
“I don’t want this.”
“I don’t know about that. Diane noticed you and Noli getting cozy by the bar. She told me to aim it for you so maybe you’d be moved to keep her cousin here.”
“I’m not you, Jack. I don’t propose a month after meeting a girl.”
“It’s been more than a month and you two have spent a lot of time together.”
“I was just doing my duty as your best man by helping out Diane’s bridesmaid.”
“You were doing your duty ‘til the wee hours of the morning considering how late Noli made it in some nights.”
“Isn’t it time for you to get on the road for your honeymoon so you can do your husbandly duties?”
“That’s why I came over.”
“You need some pointers?”
“Why would I come to you for that?” Jack laughed. “Seriously, I’m about to hit the road and wanted to come and thank you. You’ve gone above and beyond these past couple of months for me and Diane. I love you, man.”
Cooper shook his head. “You’ve been married for a few hours and already you’ve gone soft.” He laughed. “I love you too, bro.”
The men embraced briefly, ending the hug with pats on the back.
“My turn,” Diane said wrapping her arms around Cooper. “You and Noli are good together.”
“We’re not together,” Noli said joining them.
“I meant you guys were a good team in planning all of this,” Diane said innocently. “You made today flawless. Just like I knew you would.” Diane threw her arms around her cousin and squeezed tightly.
“You deserved a special day. Congratulations, Mrs. Sloan.”
Diane smiled and giggled as she’d done every time someone addressed her by her new name. “Will I see you when I get back?” Diane asked still holding on to Noli’s arms and looking into her eyes.
Magnolia hunched a shoulder and Diane didn’t pursue that line of questioning further. She took her grooms hand and kissed Noli on the cheek before heading to the door. The deejay announced that the newlyweds forthcoming departure. Most of the attendees moved to the doors to blow bubbles and send them on their way.
Magnolia moved to do the same but Cooper grabbed her hand and began to pull her towards the other door. “We’ve said our goodbyes, why don’t we go settle our bet.”
“But who won?” she said following behind him as they walked from the reception towards his bar and the apartment upstairs.
He stopped and looked into her warm brown eyes, then at her full lips. He placed his hands on her waist and pulled her into him. “I think I’ve definitely won,” he said pressing his mouth against her soft lips.
Maybe because all the other guests were distracted yards away or maybe it could be blamed on the alcohol, but this time she didn’t push him away. She cradled his head, crushing his mouth to hers as her lips parted and let him explore her mouth. He grabbed her butt lifting her off the ground and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He carried her that way to the back entrance of The Smithery. Their mouths only broke apart long enough for him to see where he was going and open the door. Even then, he continued to suck and bite her neck.
It had been three days since they last made love. Which was far too long considering his addiction to the touch and feel of her. It wasn’t an addiction because a person could live without the vice they were dependent on. Magnolia had become a necessity to him, as much as water, or air. He needed her. Cooper was like a man that just wandered out of the desert, he didn’t have time to sip her in, he needed to gulp down every drop of her.
He didn’t make it the few feet from the door to the bed. He stood her on the floor and caressed his way down her body until he reached the hem of her dress, then his hands began to ascend back up her body under her clothes until he reached her panties. He pulled her panties off, unzipped his pants and lifted her to her previous position, with him deep inside her within seconds. It didn’t take much longer for them to find their release as he took her right there against the door.
“That was…” Magnolia said trying to catch her breath.
“Yeah, it was,” he said as he nuzzled the soft flesh just behind her ear.
He laid her on the bed. She looked up at him with hooded eyes and smiled as he began to undress. The bottom of her dress was bunched around her waist, the strapless top had come down to barely cover her breast and her hair had partially come undone but her heels were still on. He was so turned on by her disheveled appearance and the innocently wanton look on her face that he was already ready for her again. This time he’d take his time.
Later, they lay in the bed, the faint glow of the moon lighting the room through the small window. Cooper lay on his back with Magnolia’s head resting on his chest. His arm caressed her bare back.
He took a deep breath and said her name to see if she was still awake. She made a soft sound that he took to mean she was. He took another steadying breath. He was about to say something he’d never said before and he was nervous.
“I know we agreed this was supposed to just be nothing more than us giving in to a mutual attraction,” he began. “And that was all I meant for it to be, but somewhere along the line I started falling in love with you. Magnolia, I love you.”
A few seconds of silence passed and there was no response. He lifted his head just enough to see her face without disturbing her. Her eyes were closed, she was sleep. He pulled the covers up over them and fell asleep with the woman he loved in his arms.
The next morning, he woke to an empty bed.
Chapter 11
PART TWO: Present Day
Cooper stood frozen in place like he’d just looked into Medusa’s eyes and turned to stone. Noli imagined she didn’t look much better as they both gawked at the growing puddle on the floor. In a second this all became very real. It went from months of going to having a baby, to having a baby and in a few hours, to holding a baby. Not just a baby, her baby. No, it was her and Cooper’s baby. She was about to deliver their baby and she could not hide from that fact any longer.
Another contraction hit harder than the last, which caused her to let out a scream of pain. She wasn’t ready for this. She was too far away from the doctor she had prepared to deliver the baby. The pain interrupted her thoughts and she couldn’t think of what to do. She couldn’t think of anything but getting through the pain. “Cooper, I need you,” she whimpered as she reached out her hand to him.
Her plea released him from his petrified state and he went to her side. “I’m here. I’m here for you, Magnolia.” He took her hand into his. “Kayla! Kayla!” he yelled. Noli’s grip on his hand lessened and he looked at his watch. “Call 911. Tell them there’s a woman in labor. She’s about three weeks early.”
“OMG. Noli you’re like for real pregnant,” Kayla said.
“Kayla, call 911,” his voice lacked any patience.
“Oh, right.” She pulled out her cell phone.
“Don’t call the ambulance.”
“Is the contraction over?” Kayla asked as if the emergency had passed.
“Yes.”
“We still need to get you to the hospital. Your water just broke,” Cooper said.
“I know, but you should take me. It would be faster”
“It’ll be safer if we wait for the ambulance.”
Noli could only nod as another contraction began. Her hand in Cooper’s was all the comfort she had. She looked up into his hazel eyes and saw the specks of green that were more noticeable when his emotions were heightened. She couldn’t imagine going through this without him.
“Cooper, I don’t want to go in an ambulance.”
He nodded and gave her hand a squeeze. “Kayla, will you call the hospital and tell them we’re on our way.”
“Of course. Is there anything else I can do to help?”
“I won’t be back tonight. You and Trevor will have to handle tonight?”
“Seriously? It’s a big night,” she said surprised that he’d entrust her.
“I need to get her to my truck.” He scooped the pregnant Noli into his arms with the usual ease.
“You should probably take my car, it’ll be easier to get her into than your truck.”
Kayla ran behind the bar and told Trevor something with an excited bounce as she retrieved her keys. She handed them to Noli since Cooper’s hands were full. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Congrats, Noli. You’ll call with an update?” The question was directed to Cooper.
“I will,” Cooper responded as he walked through the door.
Cooper got to the hospital in record time, breaking every traffic law that existed and some that had yet to be written. Her contractions were coming at a steady pace. The only thing that could be heard in the car was Noli’s sounds of agony through two more contractions. He pulled into the semi-circle driveway of the emergency entrance of the hospital. He left the driver side door open as he ran in. A nurse followed him out pushing a wheelchair to carry Noli to the maternity ward.
“How far apart are her contractions?” the nurse asked.
“About eight minutes,” Cooper answered.
“Have there been any complications during the pregnancy?”
“I don’t know.” There was an edge to his response.
“No,” was all Noli could manage.
Cooper helped Noli into the wheelchair and let the nurse push her in so that he could park the car. On his way to her room Cooper began to make some phone calls. He hoped that Kayla hadn’t beaten him to spreading the news as he called his mother. “Mom, you need to get to the hospital.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Everything. You’re going to be a grandmother before the morning.”
This time her silence was stunned shock. “What do you mean?”
“I mean I’m about to be a father which would make you a grandmother.”
“But how? You’ve not even been on a date in months.” Then she remembered the reason why he hadn’t been on a date. It had been about nine months since Noli had left.
“Ma, we can hash out the specifics when you get here. Just hurry.” He ended the call before his mother could respond with more questions. He wanted his mother there for the birth of his child, but he needed to talk to his best friend’s wife.
“Hi Cooper. Did you mean to call Jack?” Diane answered her cell and he could hear the smile in her voice.
“I meant to call you. Why didn’t you tell me about the baby,” he barked.
“Jack told you we were expecting soon after we found out.”
“I’m not talking about your baby. I’m talking about Noli’s baby! I know I’m Jack’s friend and not yours, but how could you keep that from me?”
“Cooper, I need you to calm down and speak slowly because you’re not making any sense.”
Cooper took a deep breath. “I’m at the hospital with Noli—”
“Which hospital? What’s wrong with her?” There were no traces of a smile left in her voice.
“She’s having the baby early, that’s what’s wrong,” his voice was still raised.
“What baby?”
“The baby you didn’t see fit to tell me she was having.”
“Stop yelling at me, Cooper. Are you drunk?”
“I wish I were drunk. I’m angry that you would keep this a secret.”
“I have no clue what you’re talking about.” Cooper could hear the muffled sound of his friend’s voice in the background. “It’s Cooper. I think he’s drunk. He’s not making much sense right now,” she said to her husband holding the phone away from her mouth. “Listen,” she said, speaking into the phone once again. “I, Diane Sloan, am having a baby, not Magnolia Freeman. I’ll talk to you in the new year when you’re sober.”
His anger turned off as the realization turned on. “You didn’t know.” It was a statement and not a question.
“I still don’t know.”
Cooper spoke at a slow even pace to calm himself. “I’ve seen with my own two sober eyes that your cousin, Magnolia Freeman, is pregnant and in labor with contractions about eight minutes apart.”
“Oh, Cooper. We’re on our way.”
***
Magnolia was holding her daughter. She’d been told the love she felt would be instant and unimaginable, and it was. She’d never seen anyone so perfect. In fact, Cooper kept alternating between calling their newborn baby girl perfect and beautiful. He’d even said her cry was perfect. She thought being in that room as a family was perfect. She couldn’t imagine him not being there.
He had every right to be livid right then, but instead, he was excited and happy. Well, that was the way she knew he felt about their baby. A hint of pain fueled anger was still in his eyes when he looked at her. The room was still full of people. The hospital staff was still there doing their thing. His mother was there in a mixed state of shocked and happy. Diane was there with her growing pregnant belly, her husband, and her in laws. She had planned on doing this alone. That seemed crazy now.
“What are you guys going to name her?” Daphne said.
Cooper looked at Noli. She shook her head. “I thought I had three weeks to decide. And by decide I mean pull a name out of thin air.”
“We don’t need a name today, just some time before you leave the hospital will be fine,” the nurse chimed in.
“That gives you two time to decide. Speaking of time, you delivered just in time for my granddaughter to ring in the New Year with us.”
Noli noticed Daphne’s sequin dress for th
e first time. “I’m sorry to have ruined all your New Year’s Eve celebrations.”
“Nothing is ruined. It would have been nice to know this was a possibility, but it’s a good surprise for the New Year,” Daphne stated without bitterness.
“Jack and I were just planning on celebrating our anniversary at home. There was no midnight champagne toast in our plans.”
“Your anniversary is in May,” Noli said confused.
“The other anniversary. We were going to celebrate the anniversary of our engagement. A year ago I asked Diane to be my wife, with a little help from Cooper.”
“When did you become so sappy Diane?”
“I’m pregnant and in love so I can be as sappy as I want to be.”
Noli glanced at Cooper just in time to see him take his eyes off her. The emotion in his eyes hurt more than labor. “How much time do we have before the new year?” Noli asked no one in particular.
“About five minutes,” Cooper answered, pausing from snapping pictures with his phone long enough to see it’s time display.
“Jack, do you have some cash on you?”
He looked a bit confused. “Yeah.”
“Perfect. Run to the vending machine and get a couple of sodas. Where could we find enough cups for everybody?” Noli asked the nurse.
“They have some at the nurses’ station.” Before Noli could issue instructions, Diane walked out after her husband while rubbing her swollen belly.
The cups were passed around and each person poured a bit of the soda in their cups. The TV was turned to one of those televised celebrations that showed the ball drop in New York as the last seconds of the year were counted away. With a couple of minutes remaining in the year Noli felt a sharp pain. “Cooper, will you hold the baby?”
“Of course. Are you okay?”
“Just a little pain.” She closed her eyes bit her lips as she bared through the pain.
The machine that monitored her heart rate changed its beeping pattern. Cooper put the baby in the incubator and headed to the door. “Can we get a nurse in here?” he shouted out the room.
“Noli? Are you okay?” Daphne asked. Noli was unresponsive and the digital numbers for her blood pressure and heart rate were falling. She gave up on the struggle to keep her eyes open.
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