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Joseph shook his head and grumbled, “Women.”
To which Ellen’s only response was another elbow in the side.
Chapter 8
LAUREN
With a large yawn, I climbed out of my car and shuffled across the lot to the mom-and-pop diner that had been my Saturday tradition since I could walk.
Well, sort of.
There’d been a time when I’d forgone the tradition in favor of sleeping in while my mom and dad came and ate here, but the invitation had always been open.
Only when mom had gotten better after that last bout of treatment, had we started the tradition over, and now, they always came a few hours earlier while I dragged my way in at ten or so and they watched me eat while they talked to me about their week.
I lived in town still but I had my own place. When mom had gotten over the treatment, I’d decided I needed my own space. I wanted to stay close because I’d almost lost her, and that potential loss had terrified me.
Sure, I could have tried to find my place in the art world again. There wasn’t such a thing as never too late, after all. But my heart wasn’t in it. Not on the big scale.
I’d dreamed of one day helping replenish and protect the world’s most treasured arts. Of being the one who could see the Mona Lisa or a Botticelli masterpiece beneath the protective glass that regulated climate and light control…
I’d dreamed of seeing what the grand masters of the art world had once seen, and though that dream hadn’t died a death, it wasn’t worth losing out on time with my mom and dad.
Maybe it was gloomy to focus on death so much, but mom’s illness had scared me. Made me realize what I could have lost if I’d gone away.
I guessed many kids would think about how much they’d missed out on by not going through with their career plans, but I had no regrets.
My staying here in town meant I had such a close relationship with my folks and that was something I never wanted to change.
Still, ten AM was always way too early for me on a Saturday. My hair was barely combed and I’d put it up in a topknot to keep it out of my face.
In the chilly wind and the splats of rain that kept tumbling down and hitting me on the back of the damn neck, I rushed from my car to the entrance of the restaurant, grimacing as more strands of hair tumbled from the rough bun. I pulled it out as I made my way inside, and quickly stacked it on top of my head.
When I sought out my parents in their usual booth, I froze.
Cooper was there.
Cooper was sitting with my folks, laughing and grinning like not a day had passed since we’d split.
I frowned at the sight, uncertain if I was unsettled or comforted by the sight.
One thing I’d always loved was how well he’d gotten on with my parents, and seeing it again hit home with me.
Of course, the instant I thought that, I freaked out about what I was wearing. My sweats weren’t exactly sexy and my Tee was a size too big. I looked like a slob, and I really didn’t want Cooper to see me like this when he looked as polished as he did.
At that exact moment when I was about to turn tail and drive back home to change, my mom caught sight of me.
Her grin widened and she wafted me over. Cooper, of course, spotted her gesture, and turned to look at the direction she was pointing to.
He saw me, and when he did, it was cliché, but the rest of the world seemed to freeze.
All around me, the café slowed to a stop. It was like they were wading through molasses. They were all going about their regular routines. Eating, drinking, Karen was even serving, and my mom was still waving as time slowed around me when our gazes caught and held.
I swallowed down the lump that caught in my throat when the heat flared between us as it had always done.
Looking back, I had to give him kudos for never pressuring me.
I hadn’t realized what desire really felt like until Cooper. And after, with the guys I’d dated, it had never felt like this. Not even a smidgen.
