Cooper

by Hazel Parker

  “Maybe tomorrow. I’ll text you.”

  “Okay, Sara.” Sara, not sweetheart. Not any of the teasing names he called me back in Texas. He smiled at me softly, making me weak in the knees, before he tipped his head at Carla, waved, and sauntered out of there like a boss.

  We stared as the front door closed slowly and there was an awkward silence.

  I felt Carla nudge me. I turned to look at her and saw that she was still giving me that speculative look, and it was obvious she had questions. To my surprise, she started with the one I didn’t expect.

  “Why are you moving out?”

  “This house is too big, and it’s driving me crazy. I needed a smaller space.”

  “Oh.” She paused, and thought it over. “Are you…moving in with him?”

  “Definitely not,” I said firmly. “Have you eaten?”

  “Not yet,” she admitted.

  “Let’s grab something to eat. I am so glad you are home.”

  Carla grinned and her eyes twinkled. She nodded her head and we headed out.

  *****

  Lunch was great. It was so nice to see her gorgeous face. My thoughts strayed back and forth between Carla and Cooper, but I tried to focus my attention on my daughter as I demanded her to tell me everything that was going on with her college life. The way she spoke told me that she was stressed and happy at the same time, doing the thing she loved and just trying to get through every single busy day. It was as college life should be, and I told her to take it easy when she could and not to be too absorbed in it to forget having some fun.

  Eventually, the topic strayed towards the one we’d been tiptoeing around from the very beginning.

  “Mom, how serious is it?”

  There was no point pretending to misunderstand. Plus, it would be an insult to her and to me.

  “It’s not that serious, Carla, believe it or not. We’re just casually dating.”

  She stared at me incredulously. “But you don’t do casually dating.”

  “I did once or twice.”

  “A date or two isn’t called casually dating,” she clarified, and I knew we were both thinking about the businessmen who took me out. We smiled at each other ruefully before she turned those serious eyes on me again. It was unusual to see her lacking her usual cheer, and a part of me wondered if it was because of school or seeing me with Cooper.

  “Maybe we are dating…but I am not sure how serious it is yet, Carla. You know you guys are my priority.”

  “I’m just worried about you.” Her hand took mine over the table where we sat facing each other, and she squeezed it.

  “There’s nothing to worry about. He and I are having fun.”

  “And if I tell you to stop seeing him? How would you feel?”

  The thought of cutting ties with Cooper sent a stab of pain in my heart, squeezing it tight and taking my breath with it. I couldn’t take it. My hand must have tightened around Carla’s, because hers squeezed again until I looked up with the truth shining in my eyes. I knew she saw it because her own eyes widened in response.

  “Oh, mom,” she said softly.

  I forced myself to smile, even while it was shaky. “If you tell me to stop seeing him, if it’s something that’s really bothering you…”

  “Don’t finish that sentence,” she interrupted. “Because I won’t ask you that, ever. I want you to be happy, mom.”

  I felt teary eyed, but I blinked them back.

  “But mom?”

  “Yes?”

  “I want you to be careful. He looks so young. I don’t want you getting hurt. To my knowledge you haven’t seriously dated anyone since dad died”

  I stood up. Then I went over to give her another hug, telling her not to worry about it and that I knew what I was doing. Of course, that wasn’t the entire truth, because the feelings that were bombarding me were certainly not in the plan. Of course, I didn’t know what I was doing, and a part of me worried now I was just projecting my loneliness and misinterpreting it. I couldn’t be having these strong of feelings for Cooper this early on. Carla could be right. I should be careful.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  COOPER

  Sara was avoiding me.

  Well, not exactly full-out avoiding me, per se, because we were still talking. Had she really wanted to avoid me, she’d have changed Gray’s practice schedule already so it wouldn’t keep crossing with mine. Had she really wanted to avoid me, then she wouldn’t look me in the eye with longing—the same longing that I knew were in mine.

  Since her daughter Carla had visited, we hadn’t really had much time to interact save for the occasional call and nightly texting. I didn’t mind because I knew her daughter being here was important to her. I got the vibe from her that she wanted to lie low for now, and I respected those wishes and bided my time. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t miss her silently.

  Because I did. And it was driving me insane.

  “Hey, Cooper.”

  I turned to Gray, who’d just finished his rounds and was approaching the garage.

  “Hey, Gray.”

  We hadn’t had much interaction lately, either, though it wasn’t due to any avoidance on our end. We talked for a bit about the upcoming Daytona 500 in a few months, though my mind wasn’t really in it. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched as Sara started coming down from the bleachers with Carla in tow.

  They approached us, with Sara greeting Gray first. Gray was quick with his greetings as he hurried out, no doubt off to meet his wife somewhere. When it was just the three of us, I returned Carla’s polite smile with a huge one of my own, tipping my head at her before I turned to Sara. Our gazes met at the same time, and in them I saw banked emotions before she gave me a soft smile.

  “Hey. Are you practicing soon?”

  I nodded my head. “Not so much driving as car maintenance.”

  She raised a brow at that, and I explained that I was doing it some tinkering with the car. Sara made some approving noises, and it distracted me so much that I stared at her mouth, barely fighting the urge to yank her towards me and just kiss her hard. Yep, caveman instincts. But I remembered Carla was there, so I mentally took a step back and grinned.

  Just because I couldn’t kiss Sara now didn’t mean I was going to refrain from doing something else.

  “We’re going out for lunch,” Sara said. “Have fun tinkering. I’ll let you know when I’ll be free for the apartment hunting.”

  And just like that, they were both gone. I stared at their backs—well, more like Sara’s backside—for a few seconds before shaking my head. Then I sighed and stared at my orange car, wondering when I was going to see her again.

  They said patience was a virtue, but currently, I was skating on thin ice.

  *****

  I did end up riding the car around the race track after some tinkering, though my mind was elsewhere. I was just riding for the hell of it without thought, though it did nothing to ease me. When I finally slowed the vehicle down and eased it back in the garage, I saw a man standing there and eyeing me closely. He looked unfamiliar, and I wondered if there was another newbie in town. He certainly looked young enough. Amusement slid inside me at the thought that these newbies seemed to come perfectly when I was around, and I half-expected to see the same nerves as Honey when I got closer.

  But there were no nerves. I eyed the man again, noting the blond hair and the rather muscular built he had. He was wearing jeans and a cotton dress shirt that looked pressed, and something in me already realized who he was.

  When our eyes met, I saw blue-green, and I knew my suspicions were correct.

  I tried to recall my mind for his name, not sure if Sara ever mentioned it…oh, yes. Christopher. Christopher Montgomery looked every bit as polished as his mother, though his was a younger version and obviously still not that perfected. But there was no mistaking the half-wary, half-stony look in his eyes when I approached him, though it couldn’t exactly be called hostile.

  Dec
iding to bite the bullet, I smiled. “Hey. I don’t think I’ve seen you around here. I’m Cooper. Can I help you find someone?”

  “I’m Christopher Montgomery.”

  I tilted my head, my expression not changing. “Ahh, Sara’s son.”

  “Yes, Sara’s son.”

  “It’s nice meeting you. Your mom has spoken a lot about you. She didn’t think either of you guys were coming home. Great you guys could both make it. ” I held out a hand, waiting in silent suspension as he looked at it for a few seconds. Finally, reluctantly, he shook it, telling me more about his character than any words would. He wasn’t an outright rude guy but he was definitely letting me know he wasn’t exchanging pleasantries at the moment.

  The fact that he didn’t return my words “nice to meet you” also told me he wasn’t faking this.

  “Sara and your sister went out for lunch, if you’re looking for them.”

  He shook his head, as I figured he would. “I wasn’t looking for them.”

  “Hmm.” I waited, which had him hesitating for a bit. But he straightened his back.

  “Carla told me that you and my mom are dating. I just wanted to ask if that’s true.”

  Oh, Christopher obviously knew it was true. But I nodded my head, anyway. “It’s true. In fact, no words have been truer.”

  He looked taken aback that I actually admitted it, but quickly covered up the reaction. Irritation flickered at the thought that they were expecting me to deny it, but the irritation simmered as soon as I reminded myself that they were just being overprotective. As far as I know I am the first guy she has dated seriously since Gary died. So I get it.

  “I just have one thing to say on the matter,” Christopher was saying, eyeing me levelly. I eyed him back, never taking my gaze off him.

  “Yes?”

  “Don’t mess with my mother. If you do, then you mess with me and my sister.”

  It was said with conviction, and just a little bit of heat, which had me backpedaling on the whole polished opinion I had of him. But then again, he was still young.

  And he obviously loved her very much but...this was hilarious. I am not 14 buddy.

  I wanted to laugh but that would not be a good start. I could have been defensive. But I decided to let this one go, knowing how much my answer probably mattered to him. I nodded my head, still not taking my gaze off his.

  “I understand. And it won’t happen.”

  There was certainty in my voice, and even I could hear it. Something flickered in his gaze, but I couldn’t read it enough to determine what it meant. Then he nodded back firmly.

  “Good. If you could, please leave her alone.”

  “No.”

  The testosterone in the air was so thick, you could have cut it with a knife. His eyes narrowed at my response.

  “That’s your choice. But know that I’m here if ever you mess up. I won’t let it slide.”

  “You got it buddy.”

  And then Christopher turned around and left the premises, making me stare in wonder. So weird they wouldn’t want their mom to be happy. These kids need to relax. I get it but seriously, relax.

  A few seconds later, a flash of red hair appeared, and in came Honey holding out some food.

  “Hey, hotshot! I have something for you.”

  She and Christopher passed each other, and I watched the awe on his face when he stared at her. I couldn’t blame him, considering how pretty Honey is. I was already on the verge of teasing her but kept my mouth shut as Christopher’s awe changed to speculation when he finally seemed to realize what Honey had just said.

  I was pretty sure it was going to get worse once he read the gossip sites wanting to put me and Honey together—or those that already had with their so-called “evidence.” It wasn’t that spread out yet considering how careful Honey and I were when we hung out, but it was getting there and that day I let her drive my car didn’t help. Since I had no control over that, I decided to just take it a day at a time and wait it out, knowing those kids were leaving soon to get back to school.

  Once Christopher was out of sight and earshot, I gave Honey a grin. “I hope that’s some good grub you got there.”

  She beamed, looking absolutely pleased. Then she nodded her head and told me about how she cooked some really good fried chicken and couldn’t wait for me to try it out. I did, and it was amazing.

  A flash of Sara’s burnt food came to mind, and suddenly I couldn’t stifle the grin. At the same time, it bothered me that her kids just didn’t want me around her, and it bothered me more that I hadn’t really done anything to disabuse them of the notion.

  Maybe it was time to change that.

  Honey talked about some car she purchased, but I was barely listening. Restlessness stirred in me, my body wanting to practically skyrocket towards where Sara was having lunch and just…tell her things. And show her things. But I couldn’t, not when it was obvious there was still some underlying confusion that needed to be sorted out.

  I glanced at Honey. “Would you mind if I take some more minutes off your practice schedule? I just need a few more rounds on the track to get my mind off things.”

  Worry flickered in her gaze. “Is something wrong?”

  “Nothing. Just tiny stuff.”

  “Go ahead. I want to eat first, anyway. I’ll hang here.”

  I got in my car right away and left her in the garage. I gave it a whirl, my thoughts pooling in a mudslide and not likely to get out soon. I was thinking too much of Sara—and while thoughts of her inspired me, it came to the point where I almost thought of nothing else. It was unhealthy.

  It was nagging me in the brain and telling me something.

  It wasn’t until my third round on the race track that I realized something was off with my driving.

  At first, I attributed it to my muddled thoughts, but as the rounds went by, I began to comprehend that there must have been something that got loosened up while I was tinkering—something that could be handled earlier, but only got worse as I kept driving.

  Without warning, my car slid to the side as I lost control of the wheel. I power-turned it in the other direction, steering hard even while the sound of skidding rubber hit me on the ear. Then something else hit me, and I heard the sound of my car crashing right before I felt pain on my left shoulder.

  It didn’t last long because everything went black afterward as consciousness left me.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  SARA

  I stared at my son incredulously as I heard the words come out of his mouth, wondering if I was imagining it or if he really did say it.

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “I already told him off for you.”

  There was no need to ask who “him” was, because there was only one him that he could have told off. The surprise of seeing Christopher coming home today for a so-called “vacation,” followed by him suddenly leaving to take care of some important matter, vanished all at once as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place, and I realized exactly why he came home.

  I turned to direct the incredulous look towards Carla, who was cringing very hard. She, in turn, shot an accusing look at Christopher.

  “I didn’t tell you to confront him!” she hissed.

  Oh, boy.

  We were all still in the restaurant, where Christopher caught up with us just as we were having the main meal and talking about the things we could do today. But he was preoccupied, making me worry and finally asking what was wrong.

  Which, of course, led us to this moment.

  “I wasn’t about to let it go,” Christopher was saying in argument to Carla’s hissing, and they went on like that for a few seconds. It was fascinating to watch, really, reminding me back to the times when they were still kids and fighting over the pettiest things. I wasn’t sure whether to be amused or horrified.

  Of course, horrified won as I remembered Cooper.

  I cleared my throat.

  Just like that, the murmured ar
guing stopped as they both looked in my direction. I leveled a stare towards Carla, a silent scolding for her running her mouth like that. She bit her lower lip and sat back, which usually meant she wasn’t going to argue anymore.

  Satisfied, I then zoned my gaze in on Christopher.

  My eldest was more iron-willed than my youngest, and I could see the stubbornness glitter in his gaze as he looked back at me. But I waited him out, knowing he wouldn’t be able to resist me for long.

  And he didn’t. His expression gradually softened, and Christopher cleared his throat.

  I leaned in.

  “Tell me what you and Cooper talked about, word for word,” I said in a soft tone. It was the soft kind of tone that was also cool, cutting with frost, letting him know I wasn’t exactly pleased.

  He winced. Then he grudgingly repeated what they talked about, and I listened with an open mind as he got to his telling Cooper off.

  “And what did Cooper say?”

  Christopher’s jaw tightened. “He said he’s going to keep seeing you.”

  My heart skipped a beat at that, then pumped faster than ever. I tried to hide my reaction from them, though there was no hiding the pleased feeling I got. I nodded my head and sat back, as if satisfied with the discussion.

  “And what does that say to you?”

  Christopher frowned, obviously realizing he’d lost the argument. Carla stared at the two of us in fascination, her brows raised.

  Finally, my son mumbled, “It says he’s got balls—um, he’s firm on his stance.”

  I almost laughed, but didn’t. “And if he’s firm on his stance, and so am I. Tell me honestly, both of you. Don’t you want to see me happy? I realize you are not used to this but come on you guys. I am a big girl.”

  It was the gold card, and I knew I shouldn’t be using it. But I did anyway, and I watched alarm fill their faces before they hurriedly began to assure me that of course, they wished me happiness. The topic wasn’t broached again, and we managed to salvage lunch, but I excused myself just before dessert and got into a private spot to call Cooper. I was pretty sure whatever went on in their conversation was much tenser than how Christopher said it, and I guess I just wanted to check on how he was taking it.