AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes. I’m sorry he didn’t give you a warning. It’s been busy for us. I didn’t think about how awkward it could be when Lizzy asked me to come for her birthday. I just thought it would be fun to be at the lake house with her again.”
“Oh. Lizzy.” He smiles softly, and then it fades. “Yeah, she does love you. I didn’t mean you made it awkward, just that it was given everything. I hope you’re okay.” His concern grates on my nerves because it feels more like he’s probing to see if there’s any jealousy on my part under the surface.
“It’s fine, Rob. Truly. Happy for both of you.”
“Thanks…” He stares down at the floor, and I get the feeling something else is coming. “She doesn’t know about us. That we were together, and I don’t really want to explain. She thinks of you as Cooper’s girlfriend, and I’m fine with her believing that. I don’t want any drama with her being happy right now and Lizzy’s birthday, so I don’t want to explain. Do you think we could keep that between us?”
I blink. Keep several years of my life to myself. I suppose it’s possible, but more than a little difficult to constantly remember. Especially when I’m surrounded by people who only know me because we were together first.
“I already talked to my parents about it. We all agree it makes sense not to bring it up to keep the peace. For Lizzy.” Rob adds as though he’s trying to convince me.
“Okay,” I agree. “I don’t see why it would come up anyway.”
I mean, I’m not exactly dying to reveal to his fiancée that I’m the former girlfriend and all the extra awkwardness that would create. But something about the request cuts and irritates all at the same time. Just not enough for me to want to argue.
“Are you really?” Rob asks after a beat.
“Am I what really?”
“Involved with my brother.”
“I’ve been staying with him while I work for the Chaos for the summer. We’ve always been friendly.”
“Cooper’s friendly with a lot of people.”
I don’t miss the tone in his voice when he says it.
“I don’t really think it’s appropriate for us to discuss this.” I’m growing increasingly uncomfortable with the direction this is going. What Cooper and I have might not be what he and Carly have, but I still feel protective over it. The last thing I want is to be discussing the details of it with him.
Rob makes a face I can’t quite read, but it clears a moment later, and he looks down at the bowl in front of me.
“Cupcakes?”
“Yes.” I’m happy to change the subject. I’d be even better if he’d go find Carly and leave me alone.
“You did always make the best.” Without asking, he dips his finger in the batter and takes some, grinning as he tastes it. “Can’t wait to have one later. Hitting the lake with Carly. See you at dinner.”
I glare at his back as he leaves the room. Even if I was sad over our breakup, I wouldn’t be after that. Rob has a way of doing the smallest things that irritate me to no end. Like putting his grubby hands in my batter. I dump it into the trash and go back to get the ingredients to start over, cleaning the measuring cups in the sink and pulling the eggs out again.
I mutter to myself as I do it, cursing the fact that I was ever stupid enough to date him or waste any of my life on him. That’s the part that still hurts. That I can’t have those years back to do something better with my life. Have some of the adventures I’m now trying to cram into one summer.
By the time I’ve got the cupcakes in the oven, waiting on the timer, I’m wondering why I came out here. This is Rawlings family time, and I’m not a Rawlings. As much as I want to celebrate with Lizzy and as much as I like being around Cooper, I’m an interloper. An interloper and now an accomplice to Rob not telling the truth to his fiancée. Something that makes me more uncomfortable the more I think about it too. This situation is exactly why it could never be anything else and is probably a good reason for me to clear out earlier altogether. I can probably get a flight back tonight. Give Lizzy her cupcakes and her present and then head off to go home. Get back to work.
When the timer for the cupcakes dings, I’m set on the idea. All I need to do is work out the details. I pull out the cupcakes from the oven and set them on the rack just before I hear the sound of bare feet padding along the floorboards. I look up to see a half-awake Cooper making his way into the kitchen. A lazy yawn is followed by the sweetest grin as he surveys the mess I’m making.
“I’m going to clean up.” I promise.
“And I’m going to help,” he answers, kissing the side of my cheek as he peers down at the cupcakes. “Morning, Trix.”
“Morning.” I offer a smile in return, but I’m distracted by how good he looks, by how good he makes me feel. By how attached I’ve gotten to having him around. It’s probably another sign that I need to be careful with my heart.
“Already busy in the kitchen so early? You know you’re supposed to be on vacation too, right?” He shakes his head as he opens the fridge to get some iced coffee.
“I was going to talk to you about that. I think I’m actually going to head back to Cincy.”
“What?” He turns abruptly, the container of cold brew still in his hand.
“I think Madison could use my help, and after everything, I still feel a bit awkward here, you know?”
