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“You remember?”
“How could I forget? I still have the originals you gave me.”
I laugh, a little embarrassed now. “I can’t believe you held on to those.”
She says, “I’m Heather, by the way. Cooper told me you went to college together?”
My gaze travels from her to him. “Story,” I reply, shaking her hand. “Yeah, we’re old college chums.” The three of us stand there awkwardly with the laughter dying between us. That’s my cue to leave. “Thanks for stopping by. It was great to see you.”
With our eyes on each other, the intensity returns, piercing me in ways that I haven’t felt in years, fixing me to the spot. He asks, “Heather, do you mind giving us a minute?”
“No problem. I’ll just wait outside.” To me, she says, “It was a real pleasure to meet you.”
“Thank you for coming.”
As soon as she walks away, he says, “I work with Heather. Nothing more.”
“I almost expected her to be Camille,” I snap back.
He shoves his hands in his pockets and shakes his head. “No.”
Despite how honest he appears, my guard is still up. “I have no right to say anything, even if you were dating, so don’t explain for my benefit.”
“I want to.” Moving into my personal space, he doesn’t make apologies. He stakes a claim. “We once said the universe brought us together.”
“I don’t have room in my life to believe in such frivolous notions anymore.” I want to tell him I have a son to protect at all costs. I can’t let the innocence I once had put us in jeopardy. “Everything is cause and effect. We both know that all too well.”
“Okay. You held an opening, and I showed up. Cause and effect. We can call it whatever we want, but have coffee with me?”
Taken back, I stare at him like he’s a lunatic off the street. My hands fly up in front of me. “Slow down. I’m seeing you for the first time in years, and you want to have coffee?” I stab my chest. “With me?”
“With you, I do.” His eagerness is slightly contagious, but I temper myself.
“Like you didn’t give up on us? Like you fought for me?” My thoughts run wild, not quite comprehending how we got from shouting on a street in Atterton six years ago to standing here together cordially as though none of that happened. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Maybe a drink, if that suits you better?”
“It’s not the liquid, Cooper. It’s the history.” I’m not sure I’m strong enough to revisit that part of my life. Shifting, I need distance and air to breathe as if he’s sucking it right out of me. I remember how much we consumed each other. I remember because when we went our separate ways, there was nothing left of me. I spent days, weeks, months, and years putting myself back together piece by broken piece.
I can’t go through that again with him.
“I want to buy one of your pieces.” I almost ask which one, but I don’t need to. I already know the answer before he says, “Reed.”
And that’s the reason I agree. “I’m free for coffee.”
“Excellent.” His smile is just as charming as it always was, the age only making him more handsome. Damn him.
35
Cooper
“Dr. Haywood?”
“Hm?” I scan the list of symptoms and am glad I don’t see anything popping out at me. Growth and weight are tracking—
“Dr. Haywood?” I look up from the chart. With a purple stethoscope around her neck and dipping into the pocket of her white jacket, Heather is waiting in front of me as if I’ve missed the question. “What is it, Dr. Lazarus?”
She adjusts the tortoise-framed glasses with fake lenses on her nose. She once told me that she started wearing them in medical school to distract from her attractiveness. She started getting more respect after that. It wasn’t a confession to brag but more a frustration that she had to do it at all. I imagine it would be quite maddening. She’s a bright doctor, and for that alone, she’s always had my respect. “I was saying I had a lovely time last night.”
“The food was good.” The food was fuel at best since it had very little flavor. At Heather’s suggestion, we tried the restaurant. I was working late and hadn’t eaten, and we had work to discuss. Two birds. One stone.
When we arrived, it crossed my mind that maybe I’d been set up. The lights were too low, and the piped music playing in the background didn’t give a sense that we were in Italy but more of a themed tourist trap. We got the opportunity to discuss the new schedules, but other than that, the only thing that redeemed the night was the gallery next door.
We’ve become friends over the past two years . . . Well, not friends who hang out, but it’s pleasant to see her at work when our paths cross. Though last night was probably a mistake. It will probably be best if we keep our meals relegated to the break room or cafeteria downstairs.
