Chapter 6

chapter

six

Harmony

I have to give Cooper credit. He keeps his distance.

Well, emotionally. Romantically.

But physically? He's literally everywhere.

And as much as I don't want a relationship with him—as much as I know I have much more healing to do—I like it.

I admit it. I like having him around.

Cooper and Carter don't seem to have any real job other than to help us start Little Spoon.

They bring us coffee and donuts from Ruby's Diner every morning. They go to the town hall with us and provide backup in case there's any red tape. They attend meetings with us. They ensure we get the location we want—right in the bustling part of Main Street—by having cash on hand when the landlord demands six months' rent up-front plus a whopping deposit.

They promised they'd only be here to bankroll everything, and not interfere with any creative decisions. And they've kept that promise.

Annoyingly so.

It's annoying because I keep looking for ways that Cooper turns me off. So far, I haven't found any.

By the date of our soft launch of Little Spoon, I'm truly crushing on Cooper in every way possible. But I still don't know if dating him is wise.

Yet my brother, Owen, seems bent on ruining any type of feelings that Cooper might have for me.

He gives Cooper such a hard time that I feel queasy.

"Did y'all run out of room to build more parking lots up there in Gold Hill, or what?" Owen asks.

He has a lot of room to talk. It's not like his date, Daisy, the town's doctor, is from around here.

And he's laying on that Southern accent pretty damn thick, if you ask me.

Cooper holds his own, but I can sense him tensing up. "We've been interested in investing in Fate for a while now. We see a lot of growth potential here," he says.

That's a bit of a stretch, but I let it go.

My brother is giving him enough of a hard time. When Cooper glances at me while talking to my brother, I can see the wheels turning. He's rethinking everything he's thought about me.

I did ask him to be friends. And now he knows that it's best we remain that way.

I have to do damage control before this ruins our friendship completely.

In an uncharacteristic move, I grab Owen by the arm and drag him into the kitchen, pretending that I need him to help me move some boxes or something.

"What the heck is wrong with you?"

Owen loves to play dumb. "So, you don't need my help?"

"You are blowing it!"

"I'm doing the best I can! I haven't been on a date in a while. Not since I met…you know…Graham's mom."

Of course Owen thinks I'm talking about him. No one would ever think I have prospects romantically—not when I've spent the last two years pushing everyone away. "Not that! You're being rude to Cooper."

"He's from Gold Hill. It's kind of the rules around here."

"And don't you think it's better to use Gold Hill money than our own money to fund the yogurt shop? Think about it."

So, you're not using your savings?"

Boy, he is really out of the loop. Between being a single dad and running the feed store, it's no wonder he has no clue what's happening. How in the world did he have time and energy to woo Dr. Daisy, I wonder.

Carefully, I explain the financing arrangement.

He pushes back, being the stubborn older brother that I would expect.

"Why are you so worried that I'll ruin it? Did their checks not clear yet?"

A sisterly reaction takes over, and I flick him on the chest.

"Ow!"

"Are you dumb?"

"Maybe," he says, rubbing his chest.

I point in the direction of the dining room. "You know your girl out there is originally from Gold Hill, right?" From the look on his face, I see that he didn't know that. "Yeah. I thought so. So I don't even want to hear it from you."

"That's different! There's real feelings involved when it comes to me and Daisy."

Oh, that's it. I'm not taking any more shit. Owen will be nice to Cooper or there will be hell to pay. Even if nothing ever happens, romantically, he won't ruin the friendship we've built. And also, Carter and Summer are a hot and heavy item, and Owen's misgivings will tarnish everything.

"I'm not going to say it aloud, but try to rub your two brain cells together and figure it out."

He blinks at me. "Oh…oh wait…you have the hots for that guy?"

It's such a juvenile way to put things.

I decide to be a grownup and own it.

"It's more than that. He could end up being your future brother-in-law."

"Whoa. So y'all are really a thing?"

I nod, knowing that this isn't true, but I'd rather have him think Cooper's all in. I need him to back off. If he thinks Cooper and I are just friends, he will pull the big brother card and scare him away. If he thinks we're an item, then it's too late for him to say anything.

"But…but… he's a creep!" Owen tries.

Wow. "And you're being a jerk."

I really hate it that I feel like crying whenever someone pisses me off.

He babbles on about being protective of me and of our town, and blah, blah, blah. "And you'll ruin everything if you don't be nice. For Summer's sake, too."

He blinks, taking this in.

The truth about Summer, and the little fib about Cooper and me, is working.

Finally, Owen lets all these facts (and one white lie) settle in. He knows he can't control any of us and will regret it if he acts like a blustering big brother.

"Sorry, sis. I'll do better."

That night, after a successful soft launch of Little Spoon, Cooper walks me home.

"I think that went really well," he says.

"Don't sound so surprised," I laugh.

We pass by Doyle and Maya's house, and I think about what would have become of Doyle if Maya had never come to Fate. He'd probably be cooped up in that spooky old cavern of a house, eaten up with guilt over his past, and never speaking a word out loud to anyone.

The isolation was eating the poor guy alive. Things changed when Maya got involved and convinced him to go to therapy. He wasn't the "Boo Radley" of Fate anymore.

Is that what would happen to Cooper if I continue to keep him at a distance? Would he hide himself away in his flashy mansion like a ghost, collecting toenail clippings and scaring the locals?

"I have to tell you something," I say.

"Just one thing? It better be monumental."

I roll my eyes. "I might have told my brother you and I are an item."

Cooper is silent for a long moment as we walk. Summer humidity has passed, and it would be a lovely walk if I weren't so guilty and nervous right now.

"Cool," is all he says.

I'm surprised at this. "Cool? I thought you'd be mad that I lied."

"Did you lie, though?" The mischief in his voice undercuts everything nice I was just thinking of him.

"Cooper!" I chastise.

"What are you getting upset about?" Cooper laughs.

"Because I thought you'd be offended."

"Hardly."

I'm so blown away at his reaction that I'm quiet all the way to my house.

I stand on the bottom step leading up to my front door, then turn toward him. My eyes are even with his at this height.

"So…why aren't you mad?" I ask.

The shit-eating grin is too much. I'm done for.

Cooper shrugs. And then he leans in and kisses my cheek.

"You spoke us into existence, dream girl."