My One and Only(75)
Of course, the fact that he was in a relationship at all with Haleigh still blew Cooper’s mind.
“It’s good to see that you aren’t dead,” Spencer said as he stepped up to the car that Cooper was working on. “I don’t suppose you’ve checked your messages lately?”
Between keeping up with repair jobs and spending all his free time with Haleigh, Cooper hadn’t been paying much attention to his phone.
“By your tone, I’m guessing I missed something?”
“Lorelei had a question about a vendor for the fundraiser. She needed you to provide the answer.”
“What’s the question?” he said, tugging a stained rag from his back pocket to wipe his hands.
Spencer shook his head. “Too late. When she couldn’t give them an answer yesterday, they backed out. That means we’re down one food truck, thanks to you.”
Where the hell was the dickish attitude coming from?
“I don’t appreciate your tone,” Cooper said, stepping away from the car. “I didn’t ignore the message on purpose, so don’t give me shit because your girlfriend is annoyed.”
“This isn’t about my girlfriend,” Spencer hissed. “This is about you shirking your responsibility because Haleigh Rae Mitchner is finally giving you the time of day.”
“Look,” Cooper said, widening his stance. “Missing one phone call isn’t a criminal offense. So we’re down one truck. We still have two others.”
“Based on the projected turnout, we were already stretching it thin with three.”
“And that projected turnout is only happening because I’ve busted my ass for months to make it happen.” Cooper would be damned if he’d let anyone dismiss the work he’d put into this fundraiser. Not even Spencer. “I didn’t harass you during football season when you went trailing after Lorelei, shopping down in Nashville, instead of watching the games like we always have. And I’ve never said a word about her tagging along on pool nights, or insisting we include her and Snow on poker night. But now that I have someone, you’re going to give me shit?” Shoving the rag into his pocket, he said, “I don’t think so.”
“We have less than two weeks to go,” Spencer said, undeterred by Cooper’s speech. “You want to blow us off after that, go ahead. But until then, answer your goddamn messages.” Before he turned to leave, Spencer landed a parting shot. “And if you don’t want my fiancée around, find yourself a new friend.”
“Dammit,” Cooper yelled. “Spencer, wait.”
His oldest friend didn’t so much as slow down. Knowing they’d both crossed a line, Cooper charged out of the garage.
“I said wait up.” Cooper reached the silver Dodge before the shorter man could open his door. “Since when is it such a hassle for me to have a life?” he asked, blocking the vehicle.
“You can have whatever life you want, Cooper. Now get the hell out of my way.”
“We both know that I can kick your ass,” he answered. “And we both know that I won’t do it, so back up and listen. When you got back together with Lorelei, I was happy for you. I could have told you that you were being an idiot and might get your ass handed to you, but I didn’t. Because that’s not what friends do.”
“Your support is overwhelming. What’s your point?”
“It’s my turn, man. Haleigh is my Lorelei. She’s the one, and I’m not going to apologize for spending as much time with her as I can.” Pointing at his friend, Cooper added, “You, of all people, should understand that.”
Spencer continued to fume before shaking his head. “This just isn’t you, Coop. You don’t drop stuff like this.”
“This is me,” Cooper defended. “It’s just me with a new priority. But I’m as committed to this rally as ever. I’ll find another vendor, okay?”
Relaxing his stance, Spencer said, “I don’t know how you plan to do that with such short notice, but if you do pull off a miracle, let Lor know so she can keep everything on the food side straight.”
“Will do,” Cooper said, stepping to the side.
After opening the door, Spencer hesitated before climbing in. “Do you really think Haleigh Rae is the one for you?” he asked.
Considering that Spencer knew better than anyone how long Cooper had wanted this, the question took him by surprise.
“I do,” he answered. “I always have.”
“Does she feel the same about you?”
They’d only been together for four nights, and no one had thrown around the L-word yet, but the way Haleigh responded, the way she gave as much as he did, made Cooper confident that she’d get there. Eventually. Considering the alternative made him want to punch a hole in Spencer’s truck.