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“How can you miss that?” I burst out, before even considering my response.
“I wouldn’t…normally, but—”
“But I said Saturday midday would be best.”
“Yes.”
I bite my lip, considering the options. A quiet lunch would be nice and give us the opportunity to talk and get to know each other better. But Gia’s party, with Cooper’s family, would shed some light on whether I’m reading him right.
“Let’s go to Gia’s birthday party,” I say, deciding to take a chance. “I’d love to meet your family.”
“You got it.” Cooper beams, his eyes lighting up. “Trust me, you’ll fit right in.”
“If you say so,” I reply, already second-guessing my choice.
I grab my purse from inside the house and lock up behind me, thinking about the effortless charm Cooper seems to radiate. It’s hard not to be attracted to him and even harder not to wonder if there might be something real between us.
And as we drive off, with the purr of the motor and the power of his car beneath my fingertips, a thrill shoots through me. But the worry that all of this is heading nowhere fast still lingers in the back of my mind. After all, nothing has changed other than the more I get to know him, the more I find I like him a lot.
But the sun filters through the trees and casts dappled light on the road ahead, and I glance over at Cooper, who shoots me a sexy smile from the passenger seat. I imagine that the dream where we could actually have a future together isn’t just a foolish fantasy, that it could actually come true.
The jarring bump from a pothole jerks me back to Earth. “So, tell me about your family. What should I expect at this birthday party?” Which, according to the screen on the dash, we should arrive at in fourteen minutes.
He reaches a hand over and squeezes my thigh. “You said you’re an only child, right?”
“Yup, and my parents were older, so not a ton of fun there, either.” I wrinkle my nose.
“Well, I’m one of five and the other four are married.”
“With nine nieces and nephews, right?”
“So far.”
“So far?”
“Another is on the way now. My sister, Tabitha, is expecting around Thanksgiving.”
“I’m good with names, but I’m not sure I can remember…” I trail off, trying to count how many people might be there but stop. “And your parents? They’ll be there, too?”
“Yes, but don’t worry. You’ll fit right in. I promise. Within five seconds, everyone will love you more than they love me.”
I shoot him a sidelong glance. “I highly doubt that.”
“Are you saying you don’t believe in love at first sight?”
I pull up to a red light and look over at him again. “Do you?”
“Nine days ago, at this time, I would have said no.”
A pit opens up in the bottom of my stomach, and I swallow hard, willing it to go away.
“But now?” The question emerges as barely a whisper in the close confines of the car.
He lifts a shoulder. “Now, I’d say I do.”
Cooper
Twohoursintotheparty, Eve is surrounded by the women in my life as they all congregate around the kitchen island. My mom is mixing another batch of her famous margaritas as Jessica, my oldest sister, is gushing over the sleepover Eve set up for Gia and her friends last weekend.
