My One and Only(18)
Conversation paused as the waitress returned with two bowls of nachos. “Your food should be up any second,” she said.
“Much appreciated,” Cooper replied with a wink. The waitress blushed and nearly tripped over another server as she backed away from the table.
Caleb shook his head. “Snow’s right. You could flirt with a tree stump.”
“I think he dated one once,” Spencer said, dipping a chip into salsa. “She left him for a squirrel with bigger nuts.”
“You’re just jealous that your nuts are about to be in a sling till death do you part.”
“That’s right,” Caleb said. “I hear you’ve got six months left to live.”
Cooper remembered his promise to Lorelei and cringed. So much for acting surprised. Evidently, she’d told Snow the good news as well. Who’d passed the secret on to her husband.
“Is there anyone that woman hasn’t told yet?” Spencer asked on a sigh. “Did she take out an ad in the Advocate?”
“I directed her to Brenda Jo, who handles the public announcements.” That Caleb managed to say this with a straight face amazed Cooper.
Spencer threw his hands up, but the smile gave him away. No matter what she did, and Lorelei had done some bone-headed things, her intended groom would always forgive her. The thought made Cooper think of Haleigh. Half the town considered Lorelei Pratchett irredeemable, when she hid a heart of gold. At the same time, Haleigh Rae was looked upon as a shining example of all that was good, while condemning herself for being a terrible person.
He still couldn’t believe she’d said that. So her motives weren’t always selfless. That didn’t make her a bad person any more than going to church every week made someone a good person. Actions were what mattered.
“So what do you say?” Spencer said, jerking Cooper from his wayward thoughts. “You up for playing best man?”
“Hell yeah,” Cooper said, proud to be asked for the second time around. “Tux me up. I’m ready.”
The groom turned his attention to Caleb. “Lor says I have to drag two guys up there with me. You willing to be my number two?”
Dark brows shot up Caleb’s forehead. “You serious?”
“Sure.”
“Well, then count me in,” Caleb replied. “I’d be honored.”
“Good,” Spencer exhaled. “That means my part of the planning is done.”
As the waitress returned with their food, Cooper raised his beer bottle for a toast. “Here’s to many years of wedded bliss.”
His plate hit the table in front of him with a thud. “You’re engaged?” the young girl cried.
“Not me,” Cooper said and pointed the bottle at Spencer. “Him.”
“Oh.” Dark lashes fluttered as the other two plates landed in front of their owners. “That’s good,” she said, dropping the large tray to her side. “You let me know if you need anything else.” With a long look at Cooper, she added, “Anything at all.”
Once the girl was out of earshot, Spencer burst out laughing. “Anything at all, big boy,” he feigned in a girlish voice.
Cooper had no intention of taking the pretty little thing up on her offer, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t goad his friend. “It isn’t my fault I’m the only one left to handle all the pretty girls.”
“Right,” Spencer answered. “If by handle you mean date until they start talking commitment and then running like hell. We both know that you’re holding out for one particular woman.”
“About that.” Cooper rested his elbows on the edge of the table. “Looks like Lorelei isn’t the only one who has trouble keeping secrets around here.”
“Are we talking about that OB doctor?” Caleb asked, earning the attention of his table mates.
“Who told you?” Cooper asked.
Caleb sliced into his enchilada. “Carrie.”
Spencer’s ex-wife. Odd how all sources led back to one person.
Cooper zeroed in on the groom. “And how would she know, Spencer?”
“Dude, you can blame me all you want, but every thought you have shows up on that ugly mug of yours. You haven’t fooled anyone about your feelings for Haleigh Rae since middle school.” If Spencer was right, then how had Haleigh managed not to notice? “She’s back now,” Spencer continued. “You need to make your move, buddy.”
He’d been toying with the idea since Haleigh left his house the night before. She was definitely attracted to him, so he had an advantage there. If he’d known buffing up would do the trick, Cooper would have spent his teen years lifting weights instead of tearing apart carburetors. But he wanted something more than physical from Haleigh, and short of a drastic career change on his part, didn’t see how they could ever match up on any other level.