AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Lee glanced at him and then back to Will. “What if it is?”
Will sighed and moved to pull up a barstool. Lee had two at the island, because it was just him most of the time. With the smaller space, he didn’t use a kitchen table, and the computer took up part of the dining area.
“Lee,” he said, but then he didn’t go on.
“What?”
Trav moved to sit by Will, and Lee realized what was happening. He was being intervened with. His first instinct was to rage at them and tell them to mind their own business. Right behind that, a quieter part of himself reminded the hulking rage in his chest that he’d already told Trav and Will about Rosalie. Way down deep, a voice whispered that he should probably ask for their help.
He’d been the first Cooper to get married, years ago. That relationship hadn’t lasted long, and now Trav and Will both had fiancées. Maybe they knew something that could help Lee.
He decided to listen to the whispering part of himself. “I went out with Rosalie on Thursday,” he said, turning his back on his brothers.
“Lee,” Travis said. “That’s so great. Did you ask her to the wedding?”
“Yes,” Lee said, stirring the simmering blueberries.
“Is she going to come?” Will asked.
“I don’t know.” Lee had tried to bring it up right before he’d almost been side-swiped. “She said we should go to dinner first, so we did.”
“And?” Trav prompted.
Lee breathed in and out, turned up the flame beneath his pot of syrup, and faced his brothers. “And nothing. It was a great date until I embarrassed myself. So that’s that. I’m going to attend the wedding alone.” He thought of Cherry showing up with Charlie and how truly and completely miserable Lee would be by himself.
“Come on,” Will said at the same time Travis asked, “What did you do?”
“It can’t be that bad,” Will added.
“Did you guys rehearse this on the way over?” Lee asked, looking between them. “How did you find out anyway?” He watched Will the closest, but the man gave nothing away.
“Shay heard some women talking in the store last night,” Trav said. “She told me last night while we were on the phone.”
Gretchen hadn’t said anything, and relief rushed through Lee. “What were they saying?” He held up his hand. “Never mind. I don’t care.”
“Did she ever say no to the wedding?” Will challenged.
“Have you been talking to Cherry?” Lee threw back at him.
“Yes,” Will said without missing a beat. He didn’t even blink.
Lee didn’t want to argue with his brothers. He didn’t want to defend himself. “Listen, I just don’t think it’s going to work out.”
“You’re not even trying,” Travis said.
“Trav,” Will said, and he shook his head a couple of times. He looked back at Lee. “I think we should do a poll at lunch today.”
“Heaven help me,” Lee muttered, actually looking up at the ceiling as he turned his back on his brothers again. “I think I’ve got work to do in the admin office this afternoon.”
“Rubbish,” Trav and Will said together. “You’d never miss a Sabbath Day meal. Mama would never allow it,” Trav said.
Lee knew he’d never make his mother worry about him intentionally. “I think Ford has to get back early today.”
“Liar,” Will said.
Lee heaved a great big sigh, the syrup nowhere as interesting as he needed it to be. He fixed his best laser-glare on his face and turned around. “Why do you guys care?”
“Because you like her,” Travis said, his voice turning a little needling.
