page49 (1/2)
“I know it”
“But maybe it’s time to put myself first Maybe?”
“Not maybe, Jess Definitely I cannot tell you how happy I am to hear you say this”
“So you don’t think it’s crazy and irresponsible and immature and—”
“No None of that Sometimes life just doesn’t work out the way you hoped and no e it I have a forty-year-oldas an intern in my office He was a dentist for fifteen years and he decided one day he was miserable and that he wanted to start over”
“Really? You’re notthat up to make me feel better?”
“His name is Mike Lowery I can put him on the phone if you want”
I laughed “Okay, I believe you”
We were silent for a while
“I can hear the waves,” he said softly
I stared out along the stretch of sand “It’s beautiful here Peaceful”
“You do what you need to do, sweetheart And when you’re ready I’ll bring Helena and Perry out to see you so we can check that you’re doing alright”
I sed the lump in my throat “No one will ever care about me like you”
“Jessthey will if you give them the chance”
“This is a bad idea,” I hissed into Bailey’s ear as we followed Tom and Andrew into Cooper’s
“I think it’s a great idea It’ll clear a few things up for you” She s the subject deliberately “She’s got some stuff to do, but she promised to meet us for drinks before you leave I can’t wait for you to meet her”
“Nice try,” I said
She just smirked and then that smirk wilted a little when her attention moved to the bar
I followed her gaze
Andrew and To at the bar and I suddenly wanted to rush over and take Andreay Cooper’s expression was completely blank as he looked toward Bailey and me
“This was a bad idea,” Bailey muttered “Shit”
“Oh, what makes you say that?”
She ignored ht if you could see Dr Arrogance next to the a Cooper Lawson it would finally pull your head out of your ass But I don’t want to hurt Cooper to help you Shit”
“Uh, they met today already,” I said, and then her last sentence penetrated “Hurt Cooper?”
But she was et an answer
“This is Doc Andrew”—Toot over there—“Jess’sfriend”
Cooper nodded at myfriend “Yeah, we’ve met”
“Tell me you stock Macallan,” Andrew said in lieu of hello
Cooper just nodded
“I’ll have two fingers on the rocks”
“Let’s sit over at a booth” Bailey tugged on Tom’s hand
Confused, he frowned “But we usually sit at the bar”
“I feel like the htly Too brightly “Come” She pulled harder on him “Give me a little romance”
“You are acting weirder than usual,” To her
Andrew took ?”
I was too busy staring up at Cooper, as staring at me with expressionless eyes But I knew him a little better now There was a hint of heat there And not the good kind
He was still pissed at me
That made me want to shrivel up and find a hole somewhere to hide in
“Cooper,” I said, suddenly needing him to be nice to me
All I got was a nod and—“Lil will take your order”
Deflated, I started to follow Andrew He let go of my hand only to wrap his arm around my waist and I wanted desperately to pull out of his hold But I wasn’t a teenager anymore
I’d put myself in this position and I needed to act like a mature adult about it
I brushed off theinto the booth beside Bailey so Tom and Andreould have to sit opposite us
Somature
But not hurting Cooper tru mature
Bailey leaned into“I’m sorry,” she whispered in my ear
I forgave her childish stunt immediately because I knew her motives were pure I squeezed her hand in reassurance
“This place isquaint,” Andrew said, looking around at the bar
Tom and Bailey shared a look that clearly said they were not impressed by Andrew’s pretention I wanted to kick him under the table
“I love it here,” I informed him
He gave , there are plenty of nice bars back home You’ve never tried them so you don’t know the difference”
“That is incredibly condescending,” Bailey said
I al
Andrew seemed surprised by her outburst “It wasn’t meant to be”
“Right I’ to need a drink” Her arm shot up in the air “Lil, over here Pronto!”
Lily jerked in surprise at Bailey’s yell and quickly finished scribbling down the order she was taking to hurry over to us
She gave us a huge grin “What can I get you?” o;I know it”