“Did it?” my mom said, wincing like I’d made a bad financial choice.
“It was aninvestmentin myfuture,” I said, slugging at Cooper’s midsection again.
He darted back, and I missed.
That’s when Ashley and Brody showed up wearing matching T-shirts that read, in big scripty letters with arrows pointing at each other,I’M WITH MR. andI’M WITH MRS.
Cooper stepped forward to give the bride a civilized hug.
“Ashley doesn’t get a headlock?” I demanded, finger-combing my hair back into place.
“That’sourthing,” Cooper stated. “Plus, Ashley’s a grown-up.”
“We’re so glad you could make it,” Ashley told Cooper, grown-upishly.
“Me, too,” Cooper said.
Brody was older and hadn’t known Cooper in high school. He squinted, trying to figure out exactly who Cooper was. “Are you”—Brody glanced my way without making eye contact—“JoJo’s childhood bestie?”
“That’s me,” Cooper said, sounding oddly proud.
“That’s a tough job,” Brody said, like we could all agree I was a real pain in the ass.
But Cooper just gave me an affectionate look and said, “Yeah, but somebody had to do it.”
“The word in the family,” Brody went on, “is that you’re the only guy she’s never dumped.”
Oh, god. This again. “Cooper and I neverdated, Brody,” I said, not hiding my annoyance. “So I never got a chance to dump him, did I?”
Cooper gave me a sly smile. “Missed opportunity.”
I was still mad about the rooster thing. “I’ll say.”
Ashley leaned toward Cooper, gesturing at Brody to explain: “Brody and JoJo dated in high school. Briefly. For like a week. But they never even kissed before she dumped him.”
“I remember,” Cooper said. Then he looked at Brody. “Still mad about it, huh, buddy?”
God. Where was myEJECTbutton?
Then I had an idea. “Hey,” I said to Cooper. “You aren’t trying to cut the line, are you?”
Cooper looked around. “I was just saying hi.”
But I was already rolling my suitcase his way. “Come on, pal,” I said, tugging on his arm until he grabbed his bag and followed me. “No cutting. Let’s move. All the way to the back.”
Nine
AT THE BACKof the line, where I intended to stay, I couldn’t stop staring at Cooper.
“What the hell did you do to yourself?” I asked, peering at him. “Last time I saw you, you wereferal. And now you’re some kind of English lord?”
Cooper smiled and looked down.
My tone was pure outrage. “And not some old, fat, snaggletoothed English lord, either! AhotEnglish lord!”
Now Cooper gave me a look like I was irresistibly absurd. “My apologies.”
“What’s with the pectoral muscles?” I asked, poking one with my finger. “You can see themthrough the vest.”
