I guess I’ll leave the worry for tomorrow and pull out my credit card to handle Hazel.
“Oh, it’s paid for.” Hazel tells me.
“What… how?”
“Cooper called me earlier, I’ve got his card on file for whatever you wanted to buy.” Hazel taps the notebook sitting on her desk.
“He… I… How?” I don’t even know how to speak words.
“He told me to tell you,don’t argue with Hazel. Get whatever you want, and whatever is going to make you feel good.”
Tears spring to my eyes. How does this man always know what I need? Because now that I’m looking at the price tags, it would have put a big dent in my practical budget.
“Just say thank you and add an extra lingerie set.” Evelyn laughs.
But I spy a silk nightgown across the shop that doesn’t leave much to the imagination in a cream and navy floral pattern. I reach up and quietly bring it to the checkout with the rest of my clothes.
“This too.” Hazel smiles, and packages everything up for me while the rest of the girls try on their outfits.
Me:You didn’t have to do that. >
Cooper:Are you happy with what you got?
Me:The jury is still out on that. But the girls are happy.
Cooper:I’m sure you’ll look amazing in anything you wear. P.S. I really like purple.
Me:Did you tell Emma that?
Cooper:Are you asking if I discussed my sexual fantasies about you with my sister? If you are, the answer is hell no.
Me:Sexual fantasies about me?
Cooper:Have you seen you? Images of you soapy in that shower star in my daily fantasies, even when I don’t want them to play.
Me:I’m not that special.
Cooper:Don’t put yourself down with me. You are gorgeous. And I’d count myself the luckiest son of a bitch the day I get to touch you again if you let me.
Me:Keep playing your cards right, mister.
Cooper:One day I’ll call you Missus.
Cooper:I’ve seen those three dots appear and disappear. I’m sorry for pushing you out of your comfort zone, but I can see it so clearly. A life with you and Lily. Don’t freak out about it.
Me:I’ll try. I’d like not to be this girl.
Cooper:Never change.
I smile at my phone.Never change.He likes me for me, he wants me at my lowest. And that is by far the sexiest thing a man can do.
Aubrey spent the afternoon getting ready with all the girls, so she’s catching a ride over with them.
I was a little disappointed, but she was having fun, so I wasn’t going to selfishly caveman-style insist that she come with me.
Instead, I’m sitting at a table in Rebels with my brothers, listening to them giving each other shit about something or other while I wait for Aubrey to walk through the door.
I feel like I’m in high school again, which is par for the course with her, unfortunately. Waiting for my crush to come to the party.
