Home Town Hero (Pink Springs 2)

“I still have a few more boxes I need to grab.” Plus I want to check on her. She’s more than capable of taking care of herself, but she’s all I’ve got left.

“It’s going to be strange without you living here anymore, but I’m happy you’re not going far.”

“You know I wouldn’t.” When we walk inside I snag a cookie off the plate on the table then go up to my room.

There are only a few boxes left, so it doesn’t take many trips out to my Jeep to get it all done. I don’t have anything big I’m taking with me, and I ordered whatever furniture I needed. Most of it is still in boxes, but I’ll get around to building it sooner or later. I bet I could trade pie for labor with Luca.

“I think that’s it.”

“Don’t look sad, sweetie. This is a new chapter of your life,” Grams tells me as she holds me close.

“You don’t think it’s silly?” I might flop on my face, but when it comes to the arts, Pink Springs has got nothing, and I’m hoping to change that very soon. Not only to display my stuff but maybe do classes and even some small events.

“It’s never silly to follow a dream.” She squeezes my hand one last time, and I give her a kiss.

On my way back to the center of town, I think about how my Grams always pushes me to follow my heart. If she believes in me, I should believe in myself.

When I pull up to the parking behind the main strip of buildings downtown, I look at my building. It sounds crazy to call it that, but it’s all mine now. The place used to be some real estate office, but they moved out, and it’s been vacant for a while. What’s great about it, though, is the apartment on the top floor, so I can have a studio downstairs while my living space is above.

Taking out the keys, I go inside and put my code in the alarm. After that, I grab a couple of boxes and start carrying them upstairs. Once I’m in my apartment, I stare at all the boxes and wish Lux was here. I haven't told her about any of this even though I told her a long time ago it was a dream of mine. With her falling in love and getting married soon, and of course a baby on the way, it never felt like the right time.

I walk over to the window that looks down at Main Street and see the police station right in front of me. There’s no missing it, but I can pretty much see all of downtown from this vantage point.

Cooper comes walking out of the station right then, and my eyes widen when I see him standing next to a woman I don’t recognize. She must be the woman Lux was talking about. She’s got long, wavy blond hair that somehow goes perfectly with the blue dress she has on. That’s all I can really tell about her from this distance, but there's no mistaking her curves.

She’s got lots of those in all the right places, and the way she stands next to him annoys me. I hate to admit it, but they are a cookie-cutter couple and what most around here would assume Cooper would end up with. Cooper must say something funny because she throws her head back and laughs. When her hand comes down on his shoulder, I turn away.

I’m the opposite of her in every way, and I don’t like how I feel seeing it. How am I supposed to live around here seeing them together all the time? Maybe staying in Pink Springs wasn't the best idea.

3

Cooper

Paula’s laugh is like nails on a chalkboard, but I try to hold my smile. When she touches my shoulder, I can’t fake it any longer, and I step back so her hand falls away.

“Well anyway—” She begins talking again, and I’m not sure I’ve said more than three words to her since she came in the office today. “It’s been so long, but it’s good to be back in town. Why don’t you and Luca come over for dinner tonight? Mama is cooking up something special for my return.”

“That’s really nice, but I’m afraid I’ve got work to take care of.”

“Oh, come on, Coop, we both know nothing is going on in this town tonight.” She leans in like she’s going to tell me a secret. “I won’t say a word.”

“Thanks for stopping by.” I nod to Paula and I can see the edges of her eyes tightening just a bit. That’s how I know just how pissed she is at not getting her way.

Paula and I weren’t what I’d call a couple in high school, but she was quick to tell people we were together. She used to be obnoxious at games—painting my jersey number on her face and asking to wear my letterman jacket. I was a nice guy that didn’t want to hurt her feelings, so when she asked me to prom I agreed. Our graduating class had around a hundred kids, so it’s not like I had a lot of options. I wasn’t really into anything other than focusing on getting into the Navy after graduation.