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“You’re smart and driven. So is Madison. That’s all I really need to know.” He shrugs. “Plus, like I said, if it means I get to make resort visits while you all reform my image, I’m in.”
I study his face for a moment and smile as I watch him break his second fried Oreo in half and eat part of it.
“So you’re deciding to seriously date then? Is that why you want the image makeover?”
“Part of it. That and the fact that I know my days playing football are waning. That I have to think about what’s next, and my reputation may not help me in the next chapter.”
“Your reputation here doesn’t match the Cooper I know. Why is that?”
He stops mid-bite, and his brow furrows.
“I do my best to be on for Lizzy. Be the good dad. Give her the kind of home environment my parents gave me growing up. Then I guess when she’s not around, I revert to my old habits. Didn’t really have the motivation to do things differently.”
“Well, that’s fair. It makes a big difference. What happened that makes you want to change?” I’m curious from the perspective of wanting to help him in a professional capacity, but I’m also curious as his friend.
7
Cooper
“I gave up on the things I wanted. Thought I couldn’t have them. It still seems like I might not be able to, but now I want to at least give it a chance. Know I tried. Then, if it doesn’t work out, at least I can say I gave it my best shot.”
Her eyes shift over my face as she studies me.
“Well, we’re alike there.” She grins.
“Then we’ll make a good team, right?”
“I think you’re going to be an easy case. I just have to let people see the real you. The one I always see with your family, and they’ll fall in love.”
“Fuck, I hope so.” I smile at her before I put the last of the Oreo in my mouth, trying to keep myself from saying something more obvious than I already have.
I think she’s honestly oblivious—that I’m so deep in the friend zone for her that doesn’t even register that I’m flirting with her most of the time. Knowing now that she has no interest in a relationship has put a damper on those hopes. But I’m not ready to snuff them out just yet. What’s that thing they always say? Hope springs eternal? That’s me when it comes to Trixie.
“Think that teddy bear needs a friend?” I nod toward the bear she has propped on the seat next to her.
“I think I already don’t know where I’ll put him in my hotel room. You sure Lizzy doesn’t want him?”
“Nah. He’s yours. You’re stuck with him. If you don’t want him to have a friend, then I guess you better win something for me.”
She laughs, and the sound of it hits me hard. The way she smiles and pats him on the head. I realize it’s been a long time, more than a few visits back, since I’ve seen her look this carefree. I never asked Rob why they broke up, figured it wasn’t my business. But knowing how incredibly sweet she is and how patient she was with all of Rob’s ups and downs, I know it must have been rough for her. It makes me wonder how he fucked up for good in the end. But I’m enjoying her laughter too much right now to ask.
“Win something for you? I’m not very good at those games.” She gives me a skeptical look.
“I can teach you. No problem, Trix.” I wink at her and hold out my hand. She takes it, and I haul her up to her feet, only reluctantly letting go when she needs both hands to carry her prize. She grabs the bear, and we make our way back out through the fair.
“So are we spying on Lizzy or just hoping we run into her?”
“Just hoping we conveniently run into her and walk past a few times. I trust her. She’s smart and can handle herself, but I just want to be sure that kid doesn’t give her trouble. She doesn’t tell me about things like her crushes. Saves that stuff for her mom, so I have no idea how she feels about the whole thing.”
“You could ask her.”
“I’ve tried, indirectly, and I could tell it wasn’t her thing.”
“You and Evelyn get along really well, don’t you?”
“Yeah. Evelyn’s a good person, and she makes the whole co-parenting stuff pretty easy, honestly. Have to give her credit for that.”
“Evelyn never made you want to get married?”
