Page 34 (1/2)

Author: Robyn Carr

She flinched as if she’d been slapped "But I tried to discourage you!"

"You did I didn’t realize I ed Giveto cure what you’ve got"

"I know"

"Here’s what I’ home Don’t callthis exactly one time" Then she stood, ran down the stairs and across the beach

He watched her go and asked hi smart It was reasonable, wasn’t it? They’d met in June It was Septehed and turned his head

Cooper stood in the doorway from the bar His arms were crossed over his chest and his heavy eyebroere furrowed "What the fuck was that?" he asked

"If you’re going to eavesdrop, at least pay attention," Spencer said

"I was paying attention! You brought your gru to have the start of the flu, but what you were having was idiocy You’ve been sniffing after that pretty little thing for months! Did you really just cut her loose and tell her you needed space?"

"Cooper, I’ you--stay out of this We’ll sort it out in a couple of days"

"When men say they need to think, that they need space, wouy inone over on them, but they always knew--it was an excuse because I couldn’t make a commitment You’re such a jackass"

"Fuck you! I’et every day while she was dying! I’ll be Austin’s father till he’s old and gray even though he’s got your DNA! I took care of my parents the best I could! I’htly!"

"Was one more commitment, the one that actually feels the best, just too ot a heap of worries and struggles and I think you probably just broke the hell out of her heart"

"I’ll fix that up," he said sulkily "But right now I think I’ the flu!"

"Flu of the brain, that’s what If you don’t run after her right now and beg for another chance, you’re not getting any sympathy from me when you’re too late"

"I don’t need your sympathy I also don’t need your advice It’s not like you’re that slick o out a chair and sitting at the table with hiun-shy--what you went through with Bridget, that would be rough But Devon’s a good kid and she’s been through a lot, too Maybe you’d be better off working on holding each other up than taking a break to think things over"

"Cut it," he said, drawing a finger across his throat

"All right, then, if that’s the way you want it, do it your way Just trying to share the wealth ofto be useful, bud"

"You wanna be useful? How about a beer? And so into the bar But he didn’t bring back a beer

When Devon got ho on Devon’s couch, reading one of her novels She slowly stood as Devon ca like the ass he is," Devon said

"Oh, dear," Mrs Bledsoe said "You’ve been crying"

"Wasted tears," she said "It’s probably my fault I probably pushed him into a serious relationship I didn’t ive him some ti "Don’t worry tooreputation for things like that"

"Asking for think ti stupid" She shook her head sadly "I don’t knohat it is Men do things like that regularly Take these silly tis on their minds Haven’t you noticed?"

Well, no, she hadn’t Because when had she had aand then there was Jacob, who didn’t count at all because he was not a steady guy: he was a benevolent despot Spencer was nearly her first The first guy to love and want her exclusively

"I had a husband, a son, a grandson and I eat up these romance novels Everyone knows s They’d rather wrestle alligators"

"Maybe I should read more of those," Devon said

"I have a few recommendations and a ton of books if you ever want to borrow a few"

"Maybe I will," Devon said "I think I’ to have a little free time all of a sudden"