Sam stood next, one hand on Lydia’s shoulder and the other holding a beer. “We love you all very much and are blessed to have you here to celebrate our love for each other.” He then stared at Cooper and smiled. “And to my best man, my brother, and my best friend. Thank you for supporting me when I thought I lost her forever.”
Cooper tilted his glass and drained the rest of the rich amber liquid before staring into space. I wasn’t off the mark when I’d told Marco that man was lost. Part of me hurt for him; the other part wanted to prove him wrong.
Either way, I needed to tread carefully with that guy, because fucking forbid if it turned out he was indeed gay.
Chapter Six
Cooper
Through the flurry of hugs and good-night kisses, laced with an animated anticipation of what would come the next day, I watched somewhat detached from it all.
But the weight of my eyelids, the way my body felt as though it had been dipped in concrete, or even the sluggish drone of my words did little to convince me to call it a night. Passing out and sleeping like the dead was the goal I hoped to achieve and based on the shred of lucidity tingeing the corners of my thoughts, I wasn’t quite there yet.
I hadn’t been this drunk in years… or maybe ever. That wasn’t my game. I was always the designated driver among my friends. The voice of reason when one of them reached for that one last shot.
I had to be honest, though. It felt great to release my inhibitions for once. I was tired of logic and getting drunk at my brother’s rehearsal dinner may have been a dumb move, but it provided a great gateway to much-needed recklessness.
No one dared to fault me for losing myself, especially not after the breakup I’d recently had. So I shamelessly took advantage of the opportunity.
During the party, my siblings thought it was funny as Sam goaded me to have fun. My dad just shook his head, claiming boys would be boys. My mom was the only one not on board with my choice of deflection. I knew a lecture would come soon.
Sure enough, I was her last stop before she called it a night. Cupping my jaw during a stern reprimand that seared into my drunken haze made me feel like a kid again.
“I don’t like this, Cooper,” she admitted, not bothering to hide the veil of worry that descended over her otherwise euphoric mood. That part I hated, causing her pain when she should be joyous. Come tomorrow, one of her sons would begin the next chapter of his life by marrying his longtime love as the other was literally losing his shit. “This isn’t you,” she added sadly.
Trying to lighten the situation, I teased, “Relax, Ellen.”
“Don’t call me Ellen, Cooper.” Not amused, the subtle lines around her eyes creased when she motioned toward the drink in my hand. “This is not the answer, and you know it.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll sleep it off, Mom. I promise.” Just as soon as I finish my drink.
Appeased by my little fib, she kissed my cheek before heading to her cabin with my father in tow. The moment she was out of sight, I grabbed the bottle of bourbon I’d been working on and slipped out a side door.
Instantly, the salty humid air clung to my flesh, making it tacky to the touch. But the silence that met me felt cathartic, as did no longer needing to smile and be the fun Coop everyone expected me to be.
Placing the bottle on the floor beside me, I leaned my elbows on the smooth wooden taffrail and stared out into the darkness. So far, the expensive amber enabler I gripped between my hands had worked in having my body feeling boneless, but it had failed in numbing my thoughts.
And since it also did little to erase his effect on me… I kept drinking.
Suddenly, a severe sway of the vessel forced my hand to grip the rail. A laugh echoed around me before I realized it was mine, and for some reason that made the entire situation even more comical.
“I think I need to sit down,” I said to no one. As if the ocean needed to confirm as much, the vessel rolled once again, causing me to stumble harder. “Shit.”
My drunken gaze swung between the inky dark waters two stories below and the deck behind me. Deciding I’d rather stay on board, I headed for the nearest chair to safely finish my bourbon. But it took only a step and a few slow blinks to realize someone was already sitting in it… and it took only a few seconds longer to realize who it was.
“What the fuck do you want?” I hissed maliciously, hating the way I sounded. This man brought out the worst in me.
“Just making sure your stupidity doesn’t lead to tragedy. Although, if you go overboard, then I’m throwing you a life preserver.” He looked down at his designer gray button-down and black slacks that fit like a second skin and raised a brow. “I like this outfit too much.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Sure you do.”
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Ricky to the rescue. Save poor Cooper from himself.” When no response came, I kept going. “Is that your plan? To be my hero, like you were Rebecca’s?” He remained so still I blinked a few times to focus. “Well, fuck you… and fuck the horse you rode in on. I don’t need saving… and this party just got annoying,” I grumbled, draining the rest of my bourbon and turning to put as much distance between me and him as possible. Unfortunately, my body wasn’t on board with that plan, and I slammed into a table before falling on my ass and sending the glass sliding across the highly polished teak. “Fuck.”
As I struggled to my feet, Ricky’s sardonic chuckle reached me a few seconds before he did. “There’s nothing more pathetic than a sloppy drunk.” With a firm grasp on my arm, he helped to pull me to a standing position, bringing us face-to-face. “This pity party for one that you’re having is quite sad. You’re better than this, Cooper.”
“Stop calling me Cooper,” I responded petulantly.
“It is your name.” The more I glared, the more his grip tightened. “Drinking away your problems doesn’t work. They’ll still be there tomorrow.”
“Now you really sound like my mother. What do you know of my problems?” I slurred while yanking my arm out of his hold. He released me but contradictorily kept himself close… too close. The clean scent of his cologne engulfed my senses and, combined with the salty sea air, became an intoxicating concoction.
I hated it.
“I know you’re lost, probably thinking that denying who you are is the only option.” The corners of his lips lifted into a small smile. “But it’s not, Cooper,” he said in a much softer tone, his breath slicing through the muggy air like a caress. “I know that firsthand.” He held my gaze, arrogance now replaced with concern.
Even though his words stabbed at every insecurity I held, I should’ve said something, anything, to prove him wrong. All words failed me as his pale-blue eyes took possession of mine, and the longer they did the more my traitorous heart pounded frantically.
And like a damn Shakespearean tragedy, there was that dream again, torturing my subconscious. Poking into my hazy thoughts, sparking to life so potently it sliced into my drunken state like a hot knife through butter. The more I pictured it the more a tight bundle of nerves throbbed at the base of my dick.