Chapter Seventeen
Becca finished getting ready for her evening shift and headed to Starlight. She’d met for coffee with Luci earlier that afternoon but then didn’t know what to say to her about the whole situation. When she’d originally texted her that morning, she was desperate to confide in someone else. She’d wanted to tell Luci everything that had happened with Cooper at the dance and get her take on it. She knew the Stones better than Becca did and maybe she’d have some insight on Cooper that Becca couldn’t see. But then Cooper had come in with the peace banana bread and they made up, or whatever that was that they did, and decided on the “friend” thing. That sort of put the period on that sentence. Case closed. And now Becca was just at a loss. She knew where she stood with Cooper and she didn’t need to talk it out or get her friend’s second opinion anymore. There wasn’t going to be anything between them and Becca needed to just get over it. She would have to forget about that kiss and forget about any possible chance of being with Cooper.
But it was hard. And damn it, that banana bread was good.
“Hey, Jessie,” Becca called out as she walked into Starlight. Jessie was bussing a table of five that had just left.
“Hey, there,” Jessie said. “I was just thinking about you.”
“It was the dirty dishes, right?” Becca joked.
“Must be,” Jessie replied with a grin. Jessie gave the table a quick wipe down and the two girls walked together back into the kitchen area. Jessie took the dirty dishes out of the tub and stacked them in the sink. “Actually, I was just thinking about last night. The dance was so great, wasn’t it?” She had a dreamy look on her face.
Becca tried to smile. It was a beautiful dance on a gorgeous night. And the whole town had turned out. It was definitely one of the nicer town events. And being there with someone you loved, like Jessie was, had to make it all the better. “Sure.”
“Where did you go?” Jessie gave her a quizzical look. “One minute I saw you dancing with Cooper and then next you were gone.”
Becca picked up a white apron off a hook near the sink and tied it around her waist, averting her gaze from Jessie’s. “You saw that? I mean, me and Cooper?”
Jessie leaned against the wall. “Oh yeah, you guys were freaking adorable. Cade says Cooper has it so bad for you that he’s making himself crazy. But he thinks he’s afraid to admit it. Guess he wasn’t so scared last night, huh?” Jessie joked.
Becca just stared at Jessie for a moment. Had Jessie seen them kissing? “Cade said that? I mean, I know you said before that Cade thought Cooper liked me, but I thought you were just teasing me then. Besides, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t.” Actually, Becca was certain that he didn’t. Not in the way Jessie thought, anyway. He had really clearly told her just that earlier that day. Amazing kiss or not, Cooper wanted to just be friends.
“Why do you think that?” Jessie asked.
Becca considered how much information she should share with Jessie. Luci was her close friend and she hadn’t given her all the details yet. She would feel funny confiding them in her sister now. Not to mention, it’s pretty humiliating to share that a really great guy you’ve been falling for has zero interest in you in return. It was wiser to say nothing.
“It was just something he said,” Becca finally replied.
Jessie waved a hand in the air. “Don’t listen to Cooper. I’m sure he didn’t mean whatever he said. He’s so into being Mr. Serious, Hardworking, I’m not allowed to have any fun guy. He doesn’t mean it. It’s all talk. He’ll come around.”
“You say those like they’re all bad qualities,” Becca said with a little laugh.
“It’s not bad to want to work hard,” Jessie started. “He just needs to lighten up a little. He wrestles with his head versus heart. Something tells me his heart will win out this time.” Jessie gave her an encouraging smile.
Becca nodded but she wasn’t sure Jessie was right. Though she really wished that she was.
Becca sighed and started in on the enormous pile of dishes waiting in the sink.
Jessie took a swig of a water bottle and looked like she was headed back out to the dining room but then stopped. “Oh, hey,” she said, turning her attention back to Becca. “Did you get the invitation from the mayor? About some movie premiere they’re holding at the Bijou? Isn’t that wild?”
Becca stopped washing and turned to Jessie. “I did. I thought it was a joke at first. Why on earth would anyone hold a premiere here? It makes no sense.”
“I know. It’s so random. Everyone is talking about it. Nothing like that has ever happened in our little one-movie screen town.” Jessie shook her head in awe.
Becca had seen the invitation but tossed it aside at first. It seemed like a prank someone was playing. Not to mention, she’d never received contact from the mayor personally so she didn’t know why she’d get it now. “Are you going to go?” Becca asked.
“Heck yeah, I’m going! I wouldn’t miss it,” Jessie said. “All of the businesses in town are going to close early so everyone can attend. The whole town is going to come out for it. You have to go. This is a once-in-a-lifetime-event in Snowy Ridge.”
Becca wasn’t sure she was in the mood to see a movie with the entire town. But she also knew she couldn’t sit home and pout. “When is it?” Becca asked.
“Wednesday night. We’re all going. My sister, my mom, Cade and his brothers. No one wants to miss it. This is the most excitement this town’s ever seen.”
So, Cooper would be there. It would probably be the first time Becca would see him since he told her he just wanted to be friends. She didn’t want things between them to be uncomfortable but she knew they would. At least for a while. She’d have to get over it soon though because she was sure to keep bumping into him around town. They would need to figure out how to be with each other. And being in a movie theater with a bunch of their friends was probably as good a place as any to work through the awkwardness.
“I guess if I’m not working I’ll be there then.” She set a clean plate on the drying rack.
“You know Bets? She heard that a couple of the stars of the movie will be making a surprise appearance for it. Can you imagine? Celebrities in Snowy Ridge. It’s wild.”
“That does sound wild,” Becca agreed, running her dish rag over another plate. “Okay, you talked me into it. I can’t miss it.”
“Good,” Jessie smiled at her and then looked out into the dining room. “Customers coming in. Gotta get back out there.”
Becca nodded and returned to washing dishes. She hated that seeing Cooper was now something she had to worry about. It felt so juvenile to her. She was twenty-six years old and felt like she was in junior high worrying about does he or doesn’t he like her. Maybe she should slip him a piece of paper during passing period with a “Do you like me? Check the box for yes or no.” written on it. But didn’t he already do that? He verbally checked the box for no. So, whatever Jessie thinks she may know about Cooper and his wants and desires, all Becca could go on were his words. And his words were crystal clear to her. He only wanted to be friends.
Becca sighed and dumped more soap into the hot water. What’s wrong with me? she thought. Maybe she was just terrible at being in relationships. Or maybe she never would find the right guy for her. Luci had asked her if she wanted her help setting up a Tinder account. She had helped her mom navigate the murky Tinder waters earlier that year, but Becca said no. She had decided she should just be patient and not push herself into dating just to date. But she hadn’t felt that way with Cooper. She genuinely felt a spark with him, a true connection. And gawd, that kiss. It was just too bad his feelings weren’t reciprocal.
Becca dried her hands and pulled her phone out of her pocket. She launched her Instagram and looked at the last picture she posted: a shot of the banana bread Cooper had given her with one slice cut from it. She’d captioned it, “From a friend,” and it had thirty-two likes. She couldn’t put it into words, but this made her incredibly sad.