Best I Ever Had

“Have you sent your résumé anywhere?”

“No.” Although I find relief when his brow is released from worry, we still have a lot to discuss. “What about you?”

“I haven’t had my scores sent anywhere.”

“Doctor? Lawyer? Bumming around for the summer and taking a break?” I lean forward and kiss his bicep simply because his muscles deserve more attention. “What’s the great Cooper Haywood going to do with his life?”

He scrubs his free hand over his face. “Survive this party next weekend.” Turning back to me, he says, “After that, be with you, and then we can decide what to do with the rest of our lives. We don’t have to rush anything. We have time to make the right decision for us.”

“I like this plan. Slow and steady, unlike everything else we’ve done together.” I sit up. “Want to take a bath with me?”

“Absolutely, I do.”

The last time we were driving to a party with his family, I was worried about screwing up his family tree or accidentally insulting the Haywood legacy.

Not this time.

As the valet pulls away in Cooper’s Jag, I’m more worried about if we’ll make it to dinner before we leave. “They’ve turned me into a Debbie Downer.” I used another small chunk of change on my sundress and shoes in a desperate attempt to fit in, but I’m not sure why since I already know they’ll never accept me into this tight-knit society.

“Understandable. I’ve learned to expect the worst so you won’t be disappointed.”

I squeeze his hand. “That’s such a sad way to live.”

“Yeah. I was a sad kid for a reason. I’ve never been more than an heir to carry on our legacy.”

“It’s their loss. They’ve missed out on getting to know an incredible man.”

“The right environment, water, food, and attention.” Chuckling, he adds, “I’m basically a plant who’s now thriving because I found my very own sunshine.”

Pulling myself closer to him, I tap my head against his arm. “That’s so sweet.”

“You’re sweet, and you look beautiful, so don’t let anyone steal your sunshine or bring you down.”

Stopping in front of the house, I finally have a moment to take it in—the long drive in from the entry gate to the slow roll up to the white-sided two-story with green shutters and a matching roof. It’s cute how Cooper pretends this is some little farmhouse in the country when the house alone could fit five suburban houses inside it. It’s a massive mansion in the style of a New England bed and breakfast. I just have to laugh at this point. “I can’t with you Haywoods and all this money.”

“It’s not me. I chose love over money, and I’d do it again.”

He says this after living off a bank account that appears to have a regular flow of money injected into it every week. I’m not knocking the guy, but it does make me wonder when they’ll cut him off. More importantly, how he’ll handle it.

Cooper says, “If you want to know the truth, I always loved being on this property. There was a lot of peace to be found here when my parents were in Manhattan.”

The words “let’s do this” aren’t spoken but felt by both of us. The difference entering this party versus the last one is that he’s the guest of honor tonight. That brings a whole new level of stress to the equation.

Seeing Patrice greeting guests and directing them to the backyard is comforting despite the chaos of what’s to come swirling like a tornado in my stomach. She opens her arms to me first this time. “Story, I’m so glad to see you again.” We embrace, and then she says, “Congratulations on graduating.”

“Thank you.”

Turning to Cooper, she gives him a quick hug and then eyes both of us. “You two have caused quite the stir around the house.”

Cooper laughs. “I bet we have. Any words of wisdom?”

She glances toward the party that can be seen through the large windows. When she turns back, she says, “Be yourselves.”

“Tha t’s all I know how to be,” he replies, grinning. When the front door opens, we start for the living room. I know the décor and the beautiful style of the house. It reflects the peaceful feeling Cooper mentioned earlier.

“Do you wanna get a drink first before we head out back?” We’re by the bar, and I think yeah, I do. “Definitely.”

With a repeat of the drink I had at the last party, we walk out of the opening of large doors. I see Camille immediately and look at Cooper, who I’m pretty sure spotted her as well. Before we get knocked on our asses by her greeting us again, he leads me by the hand along the lap pool and around to the grounds near the tennis courts. And I try to pretend that this is normal when nothing is normal about this property. “You sure you’re an only kid?”