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“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I say. Twenty minutes later, we roll up to Drew’s parents’ anniversary party.
25
Bailey
A banner announcing the thirty-fifth anniversary of Roy and Sandra Hicks clues us in on which entrance to use as Cooper pulls his car around to park. The event center is gorgeous, tasteful and subtle. Driving past, you’d think it was some upscale home, not party-rental facilities.
I haven’t seen Drew’s parents in ages. I’ve met plenty of his extended family over the years, between dating Alan and being friends with Drew; I assume that’s the reason for my invitation today. Any awkwardness I felt over seeing my ex-fiancé has mostly fallen away over the years, though I suspect he’s gone out of his way to avoid talking to me at get-togethers like this one. Today, however, we couldn’t avoid each other if we tried.
I sneak another glance at Cooper. He’s holding up well so far, if looking a little gray. I’d be less worried if we’d managed to get out of the car by now, but he’s holding onto the steering wheel like the car might start driving itself any second.
“Okay there, Coop?”
My question startles him enough to jerk his hands off the wheel, wiping his palms on his dress slacks. He’s as dressed up as I’ve ever seen him, except that night at the gala, and damned if adulting doesn’t suit him just as much as his usual guitarist-meets-hipster style.
“I’m good,” he says, licking his lips nervously.
“Most days I’d be the first to agree with you on that,” I say, nodding. “But you look a little nervous.”
“This is fucking nuts, Ross,” he mutters, scrubbing a hand over his face. “You’ve met these people before.”
“I have,” I say, reaching over to squeeze his hand. “I promise, they’re not going to burn you at the stake. At least, not on sight.”
“Funny girl,” he says, glaring at me.
“I try.”
“I know Drew said they’re all chill with him being bi,” he says, “But still…”
“But it’s still meeting the parents.”
“And I’m still not crazy about leaving you out of it,” says Cooper.
“I’m not either, but you know it’s for the best,” I say. I’d made my peace with that sometime over the last couple of weeks. I know Sandra and Roy, not to mention the aunts and uncles and a bunch of the cousins. I know they love Drew and want what’s best for him, even if they have conflicting ideas about just what that might be at times. He didn’t like us coming here like this, Cooper and him as boyfriends and me by myself. Neither did Cooper. But we all agreed it was for the best; it’d hardly be respectful to Sandra and Roy if we came out at their big celebration.
All that aside, Cooper’s walking into it all a little blind. Which only makes me admire him that much more. The boy’s got balls of brass. Both my boys do.
“What are you smiling at?” he asks, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
“Just thinking about what we get to do when the party’s over,” I say, aiming to distract him. It almost works.
“Get drunk as hell?” he asks, making me laugh.
“Maybe that too,” I say. “We haven’t done that together since college.”
Cooper’s amusement slides into a leer.
“Know what else we haven’t done since college?” he asks. I know exactly what he’s talking about and my face goes beet red.
“Nope,” I say. “Not going to happen.”
“Really?” The crestfallen look on his face makes me laugh all over again, though I’m still blushing hard enough to light an airport runway.
“I mean, we’re not going to talk about it now,” I say.
“So that’s not a hard no to—”
“Save it,” I say, smacking his arm. He chuckles again, then takes a deep breath. “You ready for this?”
