My One and Only(33)
Carrie didn’t ask who he was. “Cooper is dancing with Daisy,” she said, pointing toward the far end of the dance floor near the DJ booth.
The moment she spotted them, Haleigh’s teeth went on edge. A redhead with centerfold curves looked as if she were trying to climb inside Cooper’s clothes. And from the look on her face, she’d achieved the feat before.
“Who the hell is Daisy?” she snarled before taking another swig of beer. “And why is he letting her paw him like that?”
“Daisy and Cooper dated a few months ago,” Carrie said. “I’m not sure why they broke up, but from the looks of things, she’d like to have him back.”
The new rum and Coke appeared out of nowhere, and Haleigh said, “Bless you,” to the waitress before once again downing the cocktail like a shot. “Keep ’em coming,” she coughed, tipping the beer bottle to her lips. As the waitress spun to leave, Haleigh hollered, “And two more beers while you’re at it.”
“Are you sure you want to do that?” Carrie asked.
What Haleigh wanted didn’t seem to matter tonight. She didn’t want to have dinner with her mother, but she did. She didn’t want to come to this bar, but she did. And she sure as heck did not want to have these drinks, but if she downed a few more she might forget the fact that her mother hated her.
Haleigh waved away the question. “Do you think Cooper wants her back?”
“You’ll have to ask him that question.”
Slamming the bottle onto the table, Haleigh turned on her former patient. “I don’t need to ask Cooper anything.” Gesturing toward the couple in question, who were twirling by not far away, she added, “Look at all those curves. Of course he wants her.”
Dragging her arm out of the air, Carrie propelled Haleigh until both their backs were to the dancers. “Have you lost your mind?” she hissed. “I don’t know what happened between you and Cooper during that dance, but I’m not about to let you embarrass him or yourself. Let’s get you some coffee.”
“I don’t need coffee,” Haleigh argued. “Coffee doesn’t make you forget things. I want to forget things tonight, and that means I need another rum and Coke.”
“I’ve got this, Carrie,” Cooper said, showing up like the freaking white knight that he was. “Come on, Hal. It’s time to go.”
“I don’t want to go. The waitress is bringing me another drink, and I plan to drink it.”
“How many has she had?” he asked Carrie. “She’s only been up here for five minutes.”
“Don’t talk about me like I’m not here.” Haleigh hated when people did that. Her father had done it all the time. Talked about her as if she were a new car or kitchen appliance. Bragging to his friends about all the upgrades and fancy features while she kept her mouth shut and looked pretty.
“Two rum and Cokes so far. Plus my beer.” Carrie waved the returning waitress away. “We changed our minds, thanks.”
“Where’s she going with my drink?” Haleigh whined. “I need that.”
Cooper leaned so close that their noses nearly bumped. “Haleigh Rae, you have two choices. Get your shit together and walk out of here like a normal person, or go out kicking and screaming over my shoulder. What’s it gonna be?”
Haleigh weighed her options. Even with an alcohol-fogged brain, she knew that Cooper would make good on his threat. Sadly, the knowledge that the scene would no doubt reach her mother’s ears by lunchtime tomorrow made her surrender. Challenging her mother in private was one thing. Embarrassing her in public was another.
The possibility of damaging her own reputation registered somewhere in the distance, but Haleigh was too caught up in her pity party to focus on self-preservation.
“Fine,” she growled through clenched teeth. “I’ll walk out.”
“That’s my girl.” Cooper slipped something into Carrie’s hand. “Tell the guys I had to go. That’s enough to cover the next round.”
Keeping her balance required full concentration, but Haleigh was determined to leave the bar under her own power. She made it within ten feet of the exit before the room began to spin. “Carrie was right,” she slurred. “I need coffee.”
Somehow her feet stayed under her as Cooper swept them both out the door. “What you need is food,” he said, lifting her off the ground the moment they reached the parking lot. “When was the last time you ate?”
“I had a bite of meatloaf,” she answered, dropping her head onto his strong shoulder. “And some chips for lunch.”