Page 23 of This Time Around
“Because you’re still sitting here, frozen.”
“Right.”I turned and grabbed my purse from where I’d stashed it in the back of the truck, opened my door and slid out.As I turned, Cooper was already there, holding the door for me and closing it when I stepped out of the way.
He stopped me, blocking me with his body.“Before we go in, and not to freak you out, there’s something you should know.Something I should have said earlier, but I was trying to forget about it.”
Which sounded like bad news was coming.“Okay…”
“Camilla went on a late night talk show last night.She sat across from a man who she cheated on me with, telling him how much she loved me and wanted me back.That shit was apparently all over social media today along with photos of us over the years.It’s spreading like wildfire in part because no one can figure out where I am.”
My gaze darted to the door of The Tavern.We were a small town, but we weren’t some back wood hicks who didn’t have a clue about celebrities.More than one person in there followed everything, Brooke being one of them.“Crap.”
“There’s a chance I could be recognized, even with the wig and the hat, but if you say the word right now that scares you, I’ll do what I said earlier.I’ll head home.I’ll give you your night with your friend, and come back and get you whenever you call.Not kidding, Rebecca.You’re not comfortable with this, tell me.If people are going to be looking as closely at you, and me, as you think they will, I don’t want to turn tonight into a circus show.”
That was really sweet of him.And he’d do it, I knew he would.
“No.”I hitched my purse on my shoulder.I was determined, damn it.Scared out of my brain, but for that moment, determination was winning.“It’ll be fine.”
“You sure?”
“Nope.But we’re doing it anyway.”
I stepped around him and he fell into step next to me, chuckling, and I knew it was at me, or what I said, but I didn’t care and I didn’t look back.
He had a really beautiful laugh and if I looked at him, he might see how much I liked it.And that was something I was going to hide for as long as he was there.
“So,spill it.Tell me why you didn’t let me know you had some hottie living on your land as soon as that hunk of a gorgeous man showed up.”
“You’re so weird.”I grinned at Brooke.
Hers stretched from ear to ear.
I was surprised she hadn’t said that to Cooper when we’d found Brooke inside at a small four-top table near the back of the bar.
There was a time we’d have been front and center, standing at the railing separating the pool tables from the rest of the place, not caring at all if people watched us or heard us laugh.Brooke took a hidden, quiet spot, to make it easier for me.She even took the seats facing the bar so I could put my back to everyone.
Then, Cooper went and slid into the seat next to Brooke.
And I knew they both did that to make it easier for me to avoid everyone staring at me.
I had good friends.
We’d ordered drinks, I’d ordered a plate of nachos because I suspected I was going to be drinking a lot and needed sustenance in me to keep me from falling over.Then I gave Brooke brief details of who Cooper was.Really, I didn’t tell her anything new from when we were on the phone.
She looked at me doubtfully and rolled her eyes.“There’s more, and I want to know it.”
Cooper laughed and pushed back his chair.“I’m going to use the restroom.I’ll give you two a minute.”
Further proof he trusted me to tell her whatever I needed to.I’d thanked him and when he was gone, I turned back to Brooke.
She was staring at his ass.
I cleared my throat to get her attention.
Once I had it, I narrowed my eyes.“Before I tell you anything, you have to promise me you won’t scream or freak out.”
“I wouldn’t do that.”
I leaned forward, elbows on the table and slid my glass of wine to the side.“Promise me, Brooke.Like, this is important, and we might not be teenagers anymore making blood promises to never ever, ever go after a boy the other one liked even if that boy didn’t like us, but it’s that important.”
