by Terri Osburn
“It’s annoying when you do that,” she huffed. If looks could kill, she’d have offed him right there. “I had dinner with my mother tonight. Does that answer your question?”
Haleigh’s mother had branded herself the all-American mom, and to most of the town, that’s exactly who she was. But Cooper knew better.
“So things are still the same on that front?”
Based on the conversations he’d overheard through the wall between his and Abby’s bedrooms back in the day, Mrs. Mitchner treated Haleigh like a disease instead of a daughter. Nothing Haleigh ever did had been good enough, which Cooper never understood. She’d been a model child. Even graduating top in their class hadn’t softened the woman.
“I don’t know why I bother. Tonight was just another reminder that I’ll never measure up.”
“Hey,” he said, unsettled by the defeat in her voice. “You more than measure up. If she can’t see that, it’s her loss.”
Glancing away, she said, “I don’t want to talk about my mother. Let’s pick a new topic.”
Cooper dodged a spinning couple and moved himself and Haleigh closer to the floor’s edge. Delicate fingers massaged his scalp, making it difficult to breathe, let alone carry on a conversation.
“I know Lorelei and Spencer were at one of those Ruby meetings tonight,” she said. “What were you up to?”
“Same thing they were,” he answered.
She stiffened. “You’re on that theater committee?” She sounded as if he’d admitted to smuggling drugs.
“I haven’t been on it for long, but yeah. I’m putting together a classic car rally as a fundraiser.”
Her hand slid down to his shoulder. “Good for you,” she said, sounding less than impressed.
“What do you have against restoring an old theater?” Glossy lips flattened as she shook her head but failed to meet his eye. “Come on, Hal. What gives?”
“It just irks me,” she snapped. “Some dilapidated building has become a top priority in this town while real issues are ignored. Women like Jessi have no place to go, but heaven forbid we not save an old theater.”
Surprised by the sudden burst of anger, Cooper had no idea how to respond. Lucky for him, the last notes of the song kept him from having to.
“Thanks for the dance,” she said, exiting the floor at a full trot.
Cooper didn’t like Jessi’s lack of options any more than Haleigh did, but he didn’t see how restoring a theater added to the problem.
As he stared after Haleigh, the next song started and dancers began shuffling around him. Before he could step off the floor, a hand clasped his arm.
“Hey there, Coop. Long time no see.” Heavy-lashed hazel eyes looked up in invitation. “You haven’t forgotten about me, have you?”
“Hi, Daisy,” he said. “No, I haven’t forgotten. I’ve just been busy.”
Cooper had dated Daisy Carmichael for the first couple months of the year, until the day she’d snapped his head off for canceling a date without enough notice. The sweet girl with the ready laugh had revealed her claws and an impressive collection of colorful insults—some he’d never heard before.
Having grown up with a quick-tempered father and bearing witness to the abuse his mother had endured, Cooper had no intention of stepping into a similar situation.
He’d ended the relationship within the week.
In a full-on pout, the curvy redhead trailed a finger down Cooper’s forearm as she edged in closer. “You don’t look too busy now,” she cooed. “You aren’t going to leave a girl stranded on the dance floor, are you?”
Reluctant to hurt her feelings, or test her fiery temper, he agreed to one dance. “All right, Daisy. Let’s take a spin.”
Haleigh returned to the table to find her drink waiting. She reached for the self-talk and affirmations that would keep the glass on the table. Listened for Raquel’s voice of reason in her head only to find her mother’s glacial tone.
By all means, don’t let me keep you.
She proceeded to down the concoction in one swallow.
“Whoa,” Carrie said. “You might want to slow down there.”
Excellent advice, except one shot was all she’d needed to cross the line. Haleigh caught a passing waitress’s eye and raised her glass. “Another rum and Coke when you get a chance.” The order was acknowledged with a nod and the waitress melted into the crowd. “I need a beer chaser for that,” Haleigh murmured as heat scorched her esophagus. Motioning toward the longneck in front of Carrie, she said, “Are you drinking that?”
“Not anymore,” Carrie answered, sliding the bottle Haleigh’s way. “You seem to need it more than I do.”
“Good observation.” After a long draw, Haleigh wiped her mouth on the cuff of her jacket. The beer cooled her throat but did nothing for the heat pumping elsewhere. Not only was she drowning in her mother’s disapproval, but her body had developed more than a passing fancy for her hard-bodied dance partner.
She shouldn’t have snapped at him like that. Haleigh had been angry at herself. Angry for being there. Angry for wanting him. Angry that a young girl and her baby had some limited resources in a country as wealthy as theirs.
“Are you part of that stupid Ruby Restoration thing with the rest of them?” she asked Carrie.
“Afraid I’m too busy restoring my own life to worry about an old theater,” the single mother replied. “But what do you have against restoring the Ruby?”
“Nothing,” Haleigh answered. “Everything. I mean, there are a lot of things this area needs. A renovated movie theater should not be at the top of the list, you know?”
Carrie nodded. “I do know. Dr. Mitchner—”
“Stop calling me Dr. Mitchner,” Haleigh interrupted. “I just drank your beer, for heaven’s sake. Pretty sure that puts us on a first-name basis.” Realizing that Cooper hadn’t returned to the table with her, she glanced back to the dance floor. “Where did he go?”
Carrie didn’t ask who he was. “Cooper is dancing with Daisy,” she said, pointing toward the far end of the dance floor near the DJ booth.
The moment she spotted them, Haleigh’s teeth went on edge. A redhead with centerfold curves looked as if she were trying to climb inside Cooper’s clothes. And from the look on her face, she’d achieved the feat before.
“Who the hell is Daisy?” she snarled before taking another swig of beer. “And why is he letting her paw him like that?”
“Daisy and Cooper dated a few months ago,” Carrie said. “I’m not sure why they broke up, but from the looks of things, she’d like to have him back.”
The new rum and Coke appeared out of nowhere, and Haleigh said, “Bless you,” to the waitress before once again downing the cocktail like a shot. “Keep ’em coming,” she coughed, tipping the beer bottle to her lips. As the waitress spun to leave, Haleigh hollered, “And two more beers while you’re at it.”
“Are you sure you want to do that?” Carrie asked.
What Haleigh wanted didn’t seem to matter tonight. She didn’t want to have dinner with her mother, but she did. She didn’t want to come to this bar, but she did. And she sure as heck did not want to have these drinks, but if she downed a few more she might forget the fact that her mother hated her.
Haleigh waved away the question. “Do you think Cooper wants her back?”
“You’ll have to ask him that question.”
Slamming the bottle onto the table, Haleigh turned on her former patient. “I don’t need to ask Cooper anything.” Gesturing toward the couple in question, who were twirling by not far away, she added, “Look at all those curves. Of course he wants her.”
Dragging her arm out of the air, Carrie propelled Haleigh until both their backs were to the dancers. “Have you lost your mind?” she hissed. “I don’t know what happened between you and Cooper during that dance, but I’m not about to let you embarrass him or yourself. Let’s get you some coffee.”
“I don’t need coffee,” Haleigh argued.
“Coffee doesn’t make you forget things. I want to forget things tonight, and that means I need another rum and Coke.”
“I’ve got this, Carrie,” Cooper said, showing up like the freaking white knight that he was. “Come on, Hal. It’s time to go.”
“I don’t want to go. The waitress is bringing me another drink, and I plan to drink it.”
“How many has she had?” he asked Carrie. “She’s only been up here for five minutes.”
“Don’t talk about me like I’m not here.” Haleigh hated when people did that. Her father had done it all the time. Talked about her as if she were a new car or kitchen appliance. Bragging to his friends about all the upgrades and fancy features while she kept her mouth shut and looked pretty.
“Two rum and Cokes so far. Plus my beer.” Carrie waved the returning waitress away. “We changed our minds, thanks.”
“Where’s she going with my drink?” Haleigh whined. “I need that.”
Cooper leaned so close that their noses nearly bumped. “Haleigh Rae, you have two choices. Get your shit together and walk out of here like a normal person, or go out kicking and screaming over my shoulder. What’s it gonna be?”
Haleigh weighed her options. Even with an alcohol-fogged brain, she knew that Cooper would make good on his threat. Sadly, the knowledge that the scene would no doubt reach her mother’s ears by lunchtime tomorrow made her surrender. Challenging her mother in private was one thing. Embarrassing her in public was another.
The possibility of damaging her own reputation registered somewhere in the distance, but Haleigh was too caught up in her pity party to focus on self-preservation.
“Fine,” she growled through clenched teeth. “I’ll walk out.”
“That’s my girl.” Cooper slipped something into Carrie’s hand. “Tell the guys I had to go. That’s enough to cover the next round.”
Keeping her balance required full concentration, but Haleigh was determined to leave the bar under her own power. She made it within ten feet of the exit before the room began to spin. “Carrie was right,” she slurred. “I need coffee.”
Somehow her feet stayed under her as Cooper swept them both out the door. “What you need is food,” he said, lifting her off the ground the moment they reached the parking lot. “When was the last time you ate?”
“I had a bite of meatloaf,” she answered, dropping her head onto his strong shoulder. “And some chips for lunch.”
“That explains it,” he said, stopping next to her car. “Where are your keys?”
Haleigh’s head popped up. “Am I driving?” she asked.
“I’m driving. Now where are your keys?”
Struggling against Cooper’s wall-like chest, she squirmed to get her hand into her pocket. “This would be easier if you’d put me down.”
Not that she wanted him to put her down. Ever.
“Unlock the doors and I’ll put you down in the car.” She did as ordered, and Cooper did as promised, going so far as to buckle her in.
Toying with the dimple in his chin, Haleigh whispered, “What about Daisy?”
He caught her wrist as she traced the outline of his bottom lip. “Daisy can take care of herself.”
They stared at each other for several seconds until Haleigh nearly dragged his mouth to hers. Before she had the chance, Cooper pulled away. “We’d better get you home,” he said, then closed her door.
As she watched him cross in front of the car, Haleigh let the self-hate wash over her as she spoke her thoughts aloud.
“You’re too good for me, Cooper Ridgeway.”
Chapter 11
By the time Cooper reached the driver’s seat, Haleigh was snoring. First, she took his head off over the Ruby committee, and then she slammed back enough alcohol to get herself toasted in a matter of minutes. Since he was pretty sure the theater wasn’t the real source of her sudden mood change, Cooper laid the blame at Meredith Mitchner’s feet.
If he hadn’t overheard all those conversations between Haleigh and his sister, Cooper would be as clueless as the rest of the town about the older woman’s true nature. She’d been genial enough at school gatherings. Conversed with his mother about whatever mothers talked about when their kids were friends. But, based on his teenage eavesdropping, she’d been a completely different person at home.
Snippets of Haleigh’s complaints came back to him. Phrases like I can’t do anything right and the woman hates everything about me made him cringe. True or not, no kid should ever be made to feel the way Haleigh had. Unfortunately, Cooper knew the feeling all too well, as his father, too, had a knack for throwing verbal punches in his son’s direction. The constant reminders of every way in which Cooper had disappointed Malcolm Ridgeway were impossible to forget.
At least Cooper understood the source of his father’s hostility. A failed academic, the elder Ridgeway had expected his son to accomplish everything he’d been unable to do. As if he could achieve success through one degree of separation. The fact that Cooper wasn’t going to be the book-smart type had been apparent early on, but that hadn’t stopped his father’s attempts to force-feed facts, figures, and philosophy to his child.
When Cooper hadn’t coughed them back up in the right order, or repeated them with enough eloquence to meet his father’s expectations, things got ugly. Heavy books flew across the room. Beloved toys were ripped away, and long hours were spent in his room to “think about what he’d done.”
Until age thirteen, he’d believed himself the dumbest person on the planet, because no matter how long Cooper stared at his bedroom walls, he never could figure out why he was being punished. Abby didn’t have any answers either. Their father hadn’t been as hard on Cooper’s twin, but then he’d barely acknowledged her presence. An entirely different cross that no child should have to bear.
“I give you everything,” Haleigh mumbled from the passenger seat. Her eyes were still closed and her lips pushed forward in a pout. “Why can’t you ever be happy?”
Afraid the waterworks might start next, Cooper tapped the side of her leg. “Wake up, Hal. We’re almost home.”
“I don’t want to go home,” she argued as her head flopped toward the door. “Home sucks.”
Cooper wasn’t sure if that was her liquor-soaked brain wanting more alcohol, or if by home she thought he meant her mother’s house.
“Come on, hon,” he said as he parked next to Abby’s red Camry. “We’re here now. At Abby’s house.”
She’d have to wake up enough to at least down some water before bed. Otherwise, she was going to feel like hell in the morning. After undoing his own seat belt, Cooper freed Haleigh, who fell against his arm and nestled into his shoulder. He’d heard somewhere that alcohol always told the truth. If that was the case, his drunk little friend liked him more than she let on while sober.
“Lean this way,” he said, lowering her down to the console between the seats. “I’ll be right over to get you.” After a quick trip around the car, he gave Haleigh a gentle shake. “Time to get on your feet, darling.” He could carry her, but Cooper preferred to minimize her embarrassment in front of Abby and Jessi. At barely ten in the evening, chances were good that both would be awake.
When he tapped her cheeks, Haleigh finally stirred. “Stop that,” she ordered, swatting his hands away. “I’m good. Just give me a second.”
Her words were clearer. That was a good sign.
Brown eyes blinked open as she slapped her lips together. “My mouth is dry.”
“We’ll get you water inside.”
“Let me try standing up.” Moving slowly and with a tight grip on his sleeve, she set both feet on the driveway. “No spinning so far,” she reported. “But my head is still buzzing.”
Cooper chuckled. “That’s what rum will do to you.”
“I think the bartender skimped on the Coke part.”
“If Denny made them, that’s probably true.”
Haleigh pinned him with a one-eyed glare. “Do you know ever
ybody?”
“I’ve lived here all my life,” he said with a shrug. “It’s a small town.”
“Yes, it is. Tell me I didn’t do anything that’s going to race through the gossip mills tomorrow.”
He hadn’t checked for witnesses during their exit, but saw no need to add to her worries. “You didn’t dance on the tables or flash your bottom, so I think you’re good.”
Massaging her temples, she said, “You just described my first two years of college.”
With complete honesty, he said, “Wish I could have seen that.”
“Trust me,” she answered, “no one needed to see that.” After a deep breath, she squared her shoulders. “Let’s do this.”
Once upright, Haleigh listed to the right, but Cooper caught her. “Maybe a little slower,” he said with her hands in his. “That buzz isn’t going away for a while.”
“The sad thing is,” she said, gingerly putting one foot in front of the other, “I’d go back for more if I thought I could get myself there.”
Letting her set the pace, Cooper asked, “You want to tell me what’s so bad that you’re trying to drown it in booze?”
She stopped and met his eye. “Not really.”
Disappointed, he said, “Fair enough.”
Haleigh squeezed his hands. “Cooper, I know you mean well, but I’m not dumping the black hole that is my mental baggage in your lap. However, if you don’t take two steps to the side, I am going to toss what little is in my stomach all over your boots.”
Cooper heeded the warning just in time. As Haleigh retched into Abby’s flower bed, he held her hair out of her face and kept a soothing hand on her back. When she was finished, he handed her the handkerchief from his back pocket.
“How do you always happen to have one of these handy?” she asked, dabbing at her chin.
There were things Cooper didn’t feel like sharing tonight either. “Just do. You ready to go inside?”
She nodded. “Yeah, but I feel bad about Abby’s flowers.”