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I ball my hands into fists, the shame of that experience surfacing. The rejection. Being ignored. Forgotten. “You didn’t have sex with me because your brother talked some sense into you and told you that if you did, you’d have to seriously date me and you don’t seriously date anyone.”
His voice softens. “Look, for one, I’m sorry about that. I never should’ve treated you like that. I didn’t know how to handle things with you back then.”
“No kidding.”
“But for two, that’s only partly true. I knew you wanted Ethan. And I was a competitive little shit about it so I wanted your eyes on me instead. But when he pulled me off you like that? That’s when I knew he wanted you back. I wasn’t going to get in the way.”
Oh. . . “I never thought of it like that.”
He nods and visibly relaxes. “Because he’s my brother and I love him, so I wanted him to be happy. And if the Laurences really love you, they’ll want you to be happy too.”
“But what about Sybil and all the bad blood?”
“Sybil doesn’t love Ethan. You love Ethan. That’s what matters. And as for the rest of it, that’s between our parents, not us.”
Maybe, but what happens if I let Ethan into my heart again and he breaks it twice? I don’t know if I can go through that again.
I’m not brave enough to ask this question, but it’s like Cooper reads it on my face because he answers it anyway.
“For the last two years, he hasn’t dated anyone. I couldn’t figure it out but now that he’s told me everything that went down with you two, it’s clear as fucking crystal. Trust me, my brother has missed you. He’s paid his dues. He’s not like me, he’s not a fuckboy. Ethan is a relationship guy. Monogamy or nothing. But nobody interested him.”
I snort. “You’re calling yourself a fuckboy?”
“We both know I am.” He laughs it off. “And then we saw you at that party and all the pieces clicked into place. I know my brother better than anybody, so I confronted him about it and he finally told me everything that went down. He hasn’t moved on because he’s still hung up on you.”
The worst part of this is that I’m equally hung up on him, but what does it matter? I’m not going backwards. I have a new life now. A better life. Even if I don’t have romantic love, I have family love. I have Sybil and Chandler and Hayes and Amelia and Gregory.
“I’m not saying he’s your soulmate or that you’re going to get married, but I am saying that you both owe it to yourselves to give this thing a real shot.” He clicks his tongue. “Trust me. I know what I’m talking about.”
That gives me pause and I step back, giving him my most skeptical look. “Since when do you know the first thing about relationships? Have you ever even been in one?”
His face falls and I wince inwardly. It might’ve been a low blow, but it’s the truth.
“Never anything serious or public or real and that’s exactly why I know what I’m talking about. I date around a lot. I know what’s out there.”
That’s the understatement of the century. He must be able to read what I’m thinking on my face because his cheeks go adorably pink and he shakes his head earnestly. “The kind of spark you guys have isn’t something that comes along every day, okay? You’re taking it for granted.”
“I’m not.”
“You are. What if this love you guys have is the best either of you are ever going to find? What if he’s your person and you’re being too stubborn to forgive him?”
I don’t know what to say to that. This all feels too fast while simultaneously feeling like it’s been years in the making.
“Just think about it.” He rakes a hand through his sun-kissed brown hair and shakes it out, looking like he’s exactly where he belongs on this beach.
“You really care about him, don’t you?”
“He’s my twin brother, of course I do. Yeah, we’re competitive as shit and give each other a hard time sometimes, but at the end of the day he’s my person and I want him to be happy.”
“And you think I’ll make him happy?”
“I know so . . .” He worries his lip between his teeth and nods once as if resolving something in his head. “You know those docks you guys were at during the party?” He doesn’t wait for me to answer. “You can find him there most days. He goes sailing in the mornings and finishes up by early afternoon. We’re here for another week. Longer if there’s reason to stay.”
“Sailing, huh?”
“It’s his new thing, apparently,” Cooper chuckles and winks. “Whatever floats your boat. Pun intended.”
I playfully punch him in the arm. “You’re so weird.”
