I gestured to Cooper before asking Hastings a direct question. “Wanna trade? I’m serious. I’ll take him and you can have her,” I said.
Hastings didn’t answer my question. Most likely because I sounded as serious as a heart attack with more bitterness than intended. I had to remind myself that they didn’t know why I was so blasé about Jennifer. How could they?
“Uh, thanks, but no thanks,” Cooper muttered. He was upset and I’d hurt his feelings. I needed to shut up before I completed a trifecta. “I’m going home,” he added.
“Want me to go with you?” Hastings asked.
“No. I’m tired and have homework to do,” Cooper answered.
“How will I get home? We drove your old man’s car,” he said, suddenly realizing he may have put his foot in his mouth in regards to Jennifer.
“I suggest you call Jennifer.” And with that, Cooper left the kitchen and walked out the front door. The slam of the door let us know he wasn’t happy with either of our comments.
“Shit!” Hastings said. “Fucked that up, didn’t I?”
“Looks like it,” I agreed, sounding happier than I should.
That’s when I heard Mom enter the front door before she came around the corner to the kitchen. “Why was Cooper so upset?” she asked, giving me one of herthis better not be because of you, young man,looks. “He could barely speak when I ran into him in the driveway,” she added. “Mike?”
I quickly looked at Hastings, needing a cover. “I think we may have teased him about something and he didn’t like it, Mom. I’ll apologize later.”
Mom crossed her arms, but unlike Coop, thiswasher go toI’m not happywith you,move. “You’ll apologize right now, young man. I mean it. You know Cooper is more sensitive than you.”
“I know, Mom,” I muttered.
“He loves you, Mike. You need to do better,” she reminded me.
“Sorry, Mrs. Hill,” Hastings said. He’d been watching my interaction with my mother and seemed shocked that Mom defended Cooper. “I’ll be going now,” he added.
“And you too, young man,” Mom stated, glaring at Hastings. “That boy likes you and you better be respectful toward his feelings.”
“Chill, Mom,” I said, noticing Hastings withering in her presence.
“I will not chill. Neither of you deserve Cooper’s friendship,” she said. “And you certainly know better, Michael.”
Hastings started heading toward the front door, a look of confusion on his face. “I’m gonna run,” he said, glancing at Mom and then me. “Sorry, ma’am.” Hastings hunched his shoulders and scurried out of the kitchen.
“That was harsh,” I stated, gesturing toward the living room after we heard the door shut behind Hastings.
“You need to go over and say you’re sorry for whatever it is you said to Cooper.”
“It was just boys being boys, Mom,” I said, standing from the island and attempting to move around her.
Mom stepped in front of me, clearly disappointed. “You are not this blind, son,” she began. The corner of my mouth curled in confusion and surprise at her words. “Cooper is in love with you and I’m sure you know it’s not just as your best friend.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked, unaware that she knew about Coop’s feelings. “Did he say that?”
“He doesn’t have to,” she said. “And regardless of your feelings, he is your best friend, Michael, and you will not treat him as anything less. Understood?”
“Can I go now?”
“No, you may not. What has gotten into you today?” she asked.
Her comment caught me off guard. Could she see that I was different?Did she notice I had years of experiences and feelings coursing through my brain? “Nothing,” I answered, staring at my feet. “I’ll go over and apologize now.”
Her face softened when she lifted my chin so I could face her. “Look, honey,” she began. “I don’t expect you to feel the same way about Cooper unless you really do, but you need to handle him more carefully.”
“I’ll do better,” I said. “Honest, Mom. I will.”
