“That’s right. I forgot he left.” Cooper flips his notepad open and grabs a pen. “Sorry you're stuck, man, but what can I get you?”
“The usual, lobster roll, chips, and a large sweet tea.”
Cooper scribbles my order then looks up. “And for the lady?”
Layla shakes her head and smiles politely. Her cheeks flush red as she says, “Nothing for me, thanks.”
“Dude.” Cooper drops his pen, sets his palms on the counter, then leans forward. He’s a big guy, standing at almost six foot-three and built like a brick house. Under the wrong circumstances, Cooper could be scary, but most of the time he’s a giant softie. “Is your girl too good for my food?”
Layla’s blue eyes widen. She sucks in an audible breath, the red hue that colors her cheeks creeping down her neck when she shakes her head. “No! Never. I’m just not hungry.”
Cooper narrows his eyes and stares Layla down for a solid three seconds before letting out a boisterous laugh. “Lighten up, sweetheart. I’m kidding.”
Layla exhales, her shoulders rolling forward, and chuckles. It dawns on me that she was nervous, possibly scared I’d let someone hurt her. The thought lights me up and makes me sick to the stomach at the same time. What kind of assholes does she hang out with?
I pay Cooper then lead Layla to a corner table by the window. She takes the chair opposite me and smiles nervously. “So.”
“So.” I tilt my straw in her direction, offering some tea, but she shakes her head.
Layla fidgets with her hands under the table, her nervousness given away by her reflection in the window. I like that she’s nervous, it means I’m having an effect on her and that there might be a chance I could make up for being an ass last night.
“Here.” Cooper sets a bag of chips in front of Layla, while handing me my basket. “Only a dick makes his date watch him eat.”
“You’re a jerk,” I say at the same time Layla adds, “We’re just friends.”
I should be licking my wounds at the blow of being just friends, but I’m happy. Last night, I was nothing more than the horny cowboy. Today, we’re friends. In my book, this is making progress in leaps and bounds.
I pick my sandwich up and take a bite. It’s fucking heaven in my mouth. I don’t know what Mamma T is going to do when Cooper leaves for the military next month.
“I’m sorry,” Layla says nervously. “Was this supposed to be a date?”
I shake my head and take another bite. “Can’t be on a date since you have that boyfriend.”
I wink and Layla’s cheeks flush. She stares at her bag of chips for a few seconds then pulls it apart at the seam. I watch her inspect a chip, taking in every detail as if this is the first time she’s seen one. She puts the crispy potato slice in her mouth, closes her eyes, and smiles as she swallows.
“Good?”
Layla’s eyes snap open. Her cheeks flush again and I love how easy it is to read this girl. She’s like an open book. It’s refreshing. The girls around here try to hide what they want, play the mysterious game that’s nothing but bullshit. They want one thing and one thing only. Sex.
“I...uh...have to go to the bathroom.” Layla looks around, a frown falling upon her face. “Is there a bathroom here?”
“Cooper!” I holler. Layla jumps and I try to hide my smirk. I didn’t mean to scare her, but discovering how easily she turns red is amusing. I might make a game out of it, see how many times I can make her blush.
He comes around the corner, a cocky grin on his face. “You rang, my dear?”
I flip him the bird while Layla asks, “Is there a bathroom I can use?”
Cooper nods and points to the kitchen entrance behind the counter. “Around the corner. You can’t miss it.”
Layla follows his directions and disappears deeper into the shop. Cooper plops into her chair, across from me, and shakes his head. “I know that look, don’t do it.”
“Do what?”
Cooper’s smile falls, his face becoming grimly serious. “Fall for a girl who won’t love you back.”
I laugh because I have no intention of falling in love with Layla no-la
st-name. I just want to get to know her and maybe have a little fun before she goes back to Georgia. No harm, no foul. Love isn’t even in the same ballgame. “Don’t worry, I won’t.”