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This was one of the many reasons I kept my last name a secret and hated dating. Too many of these guys, if they knew who I was and the connections I had, would only care about that.
“Oh. That sounds like fun!” I don’t know what else to say because there isn’t much room to say something that wouldn’t be awkward.
Darren hadn’t been a terrible date so far, although we’d spent most of the night talking about him and his friends. I’d only learned a few trivial facts that gave me any context on why he was single and what he was looking for..
He’s divorced and, apparently, very into his “me and the guys” era right now. I’m very into my “me and the girls” era, so I’m not judging, but I’m also not regaling him with tales of our late-night chats and skincare tips. So I could do with a little less play-by-play of his adventures drinking beer and hitting up casinos on the river. Still, he hasn’t completely failed the screening phase yet. I’m trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. Even with those downsides, it was going better than half the dates I’d been on since Rob.
“He’s signing autographs. Do you mind if I ask him? I can get one for you, too, if you want?”
“I’m good, but sure, go ahead.” I don’t know how to tell him I know the guy, and I’m not sure what Cooper is even doing inside right now. I thought he was going to text, and I’d meet him out at his truck.
“Oh shit. He’s coming over here,” Darren curses under his breath, his eyes dodging around, watching behind me. A moment later, I feel a hand on my shoulder, and I look up to see Cooper smiling down at me.
“There you are. You ready?” Cooper asks.
I can feel Darren’s eyes boring into us.
“I thought you were waiting outside.” I offer Cooper a small smile.
My cheeks heat because I feel like Darren is probably going to think I’m weird as hell now for not saying something. The confused and slightly irritated look on his face I can see out of the corner of my eye confirms it.
“I texted. But Lizzy wanted something. We were here early, so I thought I’d come in and grab it instead of going through the drive-thru.”
I look around for Lizzy and then give him a questioning look that he answers with a smirk.
“She’s on the phone in the car. Facetiming her friend about what outfit she’s wearing tonight.”
“You know each other?” Darren finally manages words.
“We’re old friends,” Cooper speaks up for us and flashes a bright smile to Darren. “Just picking her up to take her out to the county fair. Have some funnel cakes and ride a Ferris wheel or two. You been yet this year?”
Darren’s eyes are wide for a moment, and then they go heavy. A cloudier look overtakes the bright-eyed optimism of meeting one of his idols, replaced by the idea that another guy is picking his date up to go on a second one after.
“No, I haven’t been,” he addresses Cooper. “I didn’t know you had plans after this.” Darren’s eyes shift to meet mine.
“It wasn’t going to be until later. I promised to go to the fair with—”
“It’s my fault,” Cooper interjects. “Practically begged her to go with me, and then I’m here early. I can wait in the car for a bit if you want, Trixie.”
“Trixie?” Darren repeats the nickname like it leaves a bad taste in his mouth.
“Sorry! Bea. I keep doing that. I forget I’m the only one who calls you that.” Cooper grins at me, and I swear if I didn’t know better, I’d think Cooper was making this awkward on purpose. I smile back because I don’t know what else to do. “Do you want me to wait in the car for you?”
“Nah. I think we’re good. I should let you two go. It was nice meeting you, Bea.” Darren stands abruptly, glancing between me and Cooper. “Have a good evening.”
Darren gathers up his drink and his phone, where he’d been showing me pictures of his latest guys’ trip, and heads for the door without another word. My stomach drops because I’m fairly certain I’ll never be hearing from Darren again. I can’t believe I’m already failing, and it’s only the first date I’ve been on here.
“What was that?” I turn my frustration toward Cooper.
“What was what?” Cooper looks at me like he has no idea what I’m talking about. Like he’s just a sweet, innocent boy with a megawatt smile who was trying to be helpful.
“Rawlings!” The barista calls out.
“Hold that thought.” He moves to get the drink he ordered for Lizzy while I gather my purse and my tea, moving toward the door where he meets me. As I stand waiting, I can see Darren climbing into his car, and I feel a twinge of disappointment for a moment before I shrug it off. It probably wouldn’t have worked anyway, and if his ego’s that fragile, I don’t need it in my life. But I’m still a teensy bit cranky with Cooper.
“He’s kind of an ass, no?” Cooper nods toward him.
“I mean, he was thrown off by your sudden appearance. He was a fan.”
