Chapter Twenty-One
Becca checked the time on her car’s dashboard. It was five p.m., on the nose. She sat in the parking lot outside of Cooper’s apartment, mustering up the courage to walk up the steps to his door. It felt weird coming to his apartment this time. She had no agenda the last time she’d been there, other than to thank him for helping her out so much. But that was the day things had started to change for her and she’d realized Cooper was more than just some random guy she’d rammed her car into.
Becca didn’t know why she had to drive to his house at that exact time to pick up some random pot she’d left, or why he couldn’t have just dropped it off at Starlight the next time he was in town. That would have been the easiest thing to do. But he seemed so insistent upon it and so here she was.
It made her a little sad each time that she saw Cooper, knowing that all they would ever be was friends. She didn’t know how he hadn’t been moved by Cade and Jessie’s engagement. She sure had been. Why couldn’t he see that he didn’t have to spend his whole life alone and that it was possible to balance work and relationships? Then again, maybe that whole work comes first speech had all just been a cover. Maybe Cooper truly had no interest in Becca and it was just something to say to make her go away. She hoped that wasn’t it.
Becca rubbed her eyes. She was tired from an eight-hour shift at Novel Idea. She’d been restocking all day and those heavy boxes of books had strained her back and quad muscles. She was happy that she had the night off from Starlight and had been looking forward to going home, heating up some macaroni and cheese, and vegging out in front of a bad Lifetime movie on television. Her parents played Bingo that night so she’d have the house all to herself. Becca glanced up at Cooper’s door. She could just leave now and shoot Cooper a text saying she was tired and had gone straight home. She could pick up the pot another time. It wasn’t like she was throwing a dinner party any time soon.
Becca put her hand on the gear shift, debating with herself. It would be easy to throw it in reverse and get out of there. Cooper would never even know she had come by. And she’d bypass the sting of seeing him.
But he was expecting her. And it would be quick. “Ugh,” she said out loud to her empty car. “Just go and get it over with.”
Becca turned off the ignition and checked her reflection in the car mirror. She tucked her hair behind her ears and patted the top of her head, smoothing the fly aways, and then touched up her lipstick. She looked good enough for a thirty-second dish pass off, she supposed. She wouldn’t even need to walk in. She’d ring the bell, grab the pot, and then it was straight home for a cheesy TV love story.
Becca slid out of the car and climbed the steps to Cooper’s place. She rapped her knuckles on the door several times and took a step back to wait. A minute or so passed with no answer. Seriously? she thought. He’s not even here? Becca knocked again, louder that time.
“Come on in,” Cooper yelled from inside the apartment.
“Really?” she said to no one other than herself. Becca found it strange that Cooper couldn’t answer his front door but she twisted the knob and let herself in. Becca looked around the room. The living room lights were on and it was quiet. Everything looked tidy.
“I’m in the kitchen,” he called out again.
“Okay,” she muttered, trying to hide her irritation. Becca made her way to the kitchen and pushed open the door. Her breath was instantly taken away.
Becca’s eyes roamed the room, taking it all in. Cooper stood beside the kitchen table, which was covered in a white linen and topped with two fancy plate settings and a big vase of white daisies in the middle. Daisies were her favorite flower. Had she mentioned that to Cooper before? The lights were off and there were lit white candles everywhere, scattered on the table and throughout on the countertop and cabinets. The whole room glowed.
Cooper looked so handsome in the candlelight, wearing a gray button-down shirt and dark slacks. He beamed at her.
Becca’s knees grew weak and she felt like she might cry. “I-I don’t understand,” she said. “What’s going on?”
Cooper held a hand out to her and before she knew what she was doing, she’d crossed the room and placed her hand in his. He felt warm and strong.
“I wanted to do something special for you.” He waved toward the stove.
Becca saw that there were pots with sauces simmering in them and she breathed in deeply. It smelled heavenly in that kitchen. She couldn’t believe Cooper had cooked for her. She was simultaneously shocked and touched by the gesture.
“Baked chicken roulade with a mushroom risotto and garlic roasted baby red potatoes,” he rattled off.
Becca was in complete awe. “It-it looks amazing. But why?” she asked him.
Cooper gently tugged her closer to him and smiled down at her.
Becca looked up at him, her eyes wide.
Cooper cleared his throat. “Because I realized something yesterday, and I wanted to tell you in a special way.”
“Okay,” she prompted.
“I realized,” he continued, “that I was a total fool. I was trying so hard to be the person I thought I needed to be for myself and my family. And I think I was punishing myself, too. I’d already taken a shot at love and failed. I didn’t deserve another chance. But,” he went on, “I can’t stop living. I need to move on. And I want to move on with you.”
“Me?” Becca asked in a small voice. She couldn’t believe this was really happening; that these words were coming out of Cooper’s mouth. He had been so insistent and serious. And stubborn.
“You. I’ve fallen in love with you, Becca,” he admitted. “I tried really, really hard not to,” he added with a small laugh, “but I did. And I was hoping that you might love me, too.”
Becca could feel tears sting the corners of her eyes. This was hands-down, the most romantic thing anyone had ever done for her. She’d wanted to be with Cooper so badly and had been restraining herself because she thought he didn’t want her. And now here he was, offering himself to her. It felt like a dream.
Becca reached up and put a hand on each side of Cooper’s face, pulling him toward her. She pressed her lips to his and they were soft and warm. She felt a swirl of emotions inside: lust and desire. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close to him.
When they broke apart for air he joked, “Does that mean you like me, too?”
“You had me at the banana bread,” she replied.
Cooper leaned back toward her and cupped her face with one hand. He gently pressed his lips to hers, softly at first but then deeper and more intense. It was the kind of kiss that promised there was more to come.