“You’re going out with Cooper?”
“Okay, why do I feel like you’re saying that in a bad way?” he says to River.
“Because I am. You’re a manwhore. It was my idea to not tell you about the dating app.”
“I am not.”
Darlene appears again, two plates in her hands. “You kind of are, honey. I’ve seen you in here many times with that I got laid last night but I’ll be damned if I know her name glaze in your eyes.” She sets a plate in front of him, then me. “And this poor girl is always sitting there looking like you dragged her out of bed in the wee hours of the morning to fix your problems.”
She pats his shoulder, then promises to check on us in a few and walks away.
“See? Even Darlene knows you’re awful with dating.” I cut into my waffle, scooting it around the plate to make sure I pick up the fallen chocolate chips.
I try to keep my sweet tooth in control, but these waffles get me every dang time.
I take a bite, loving the way the vanilla flavor explodes on my tongue.
“Because I don’t date.”
“Because you’re a manwhore,” River supplies.
“No, because there’s no point in dating if you’re not ready to make something happen with the person. I’m not saying I need to date to marry, because I’m not a fool and life happens, but what’s the point if I have no intentions of something lasting more than a couple months?” He shrugs, filling his fork up with another bite. “If I don’t see years’ worth of potential in a person, I don’t pursue dating.”
River twists her lips. “Hmm. I guess I actually kind of get that. You don’t want to get either of your hopes up.”
Cooper nods, shoveling a bite of his breakfast into his mouth, chewing, swallowing. “Exactly. I mean, come on, how often when you meet someone do you know straight away it’s just not going to work?”
“Often,” Dean says, seeing his point.
“Yep. But just because I don’t want to date someone doesn’t mean I can’t spend an hour or two between the sheets with them.” Cooper grins wolfishly. “You know, just to be sure.”
“So you two are going out on the prowl tonight? You’re going to, what, teach our shy girl here how to be like you?” River asks.
“Yes,” I answer. “And you two are more than welcome to come. Actually, I strongly encourage it. I really don’t want to hang out with Cooper’s douchey co-workers all night long.”
River frowns. “Wish I could say yes, but we have plans tonight. Dean’s sister, Holland, is coming into town and we’re meeting her for dinner. Then I have some store stuff to catch up on and Dean has papers to grade.”
“Ugh.” Dean groans, tossing his head back. “Please don’t remind me. If I have to read one more book report on Harry Potter, I’m going to scream.”
Dean’s an English teacher, and I have to give him major props for it. It takes a lot of love and patience to be able to do it. I should know—I failed at it spectacularly.
“Dude, I’m not a big reader and even I love Harry Potter.”
Dean shakes his head at Cooper. “It’s not that. Harry Potter is great, a fucking classic. But how is it seriously every single student’s favorite book? There’s no way. Plus, it would help if they didn’t write their report on the movie version instead of the book. It’s painfully obvious they didn’t read it and just watched the film.”
“The book is always better,” I interject, wiping at my mouth with my napkin.
“That’s why you’re my favorite, Caroline.” Dean holds out his fist, and I bump it.
“Okay, now that you two are done bonding over your mutual book-nerd tendencies, I have to get to work.” River pushes her chair back from the table and stands. “I wanted to go over the books before we open.”
“Which means I need to get to work too.”
I take one last bite of my waffle and shove my plate toward the center of the table. I chug the rest of my water, then rise from my chair.
“Don’t you dare let her work late and bail on our thing tonight,” Cooper says, pointing to River.
“Please. If anyone is going to be dragged out of that place kicking and screaming, it’ll be me. I’m married to my work.”
“Which means I never have to propose.” Dean pumps the air with his fist.
“You’re so annoying.” River shakes her head, rounding the table toward him. “But I love you anyway.”
She places a kiss on his lips.
I force myself to hold back my sigh.
These are the small moments I want, the ones that are second nature to couples.
The breakfast dates in the morning. Dinner dates at night. The goodbye kisses. The way they look at each other with love when it’s clear they’re annoyed with one another.
“Hey, where’s my goodbye kiss?” Cooper teases her.
“Right here on my ass waiting for you.”
Dean laughs, then smacks said ass.
“Come on, Caroline. Let’s go before I strangle your best friend this morning.”
She wraps her arm around my shoulder, leading me away from the table, and I wave to the guys. Cooper holds his fingers up.
Eight.
That’s when he wants to head to the bar.
I nod and he grins, and I could just be imagining things, but I swear I see it waver.
As soon as we’re on the sidewalk in front of the diner, she spins toward me.
“Okay, spill.”
“Spill what?”
“Last night. What really happened after the whole ‘you seeing your best friend naked’ thing?”
I will not think about last night. I will not think about last night.
I groan. “Nothing. It was nothing. I promise. Just something that happened.”
She studies me hard, arms crossed over her chest, lips twisted up as she considers my words.
Please, please, please do not see that I totally had inappropriate thoughts about my best friend last night. Please.
“Okay,” she finally says. “I’ll believe that if you want me to. But just know, I’m here to talk if there’s anything that’s suddenly on your mind.”
There is absolutely nothing suddenly on my mind.
Not Cooper. Not his incredible body. Definitely not his co—
“Nope. Nothing,” I tell her, cutting off my own thoughts before I travel down a road I’m trying hard to avoid.
She nods. “All right. Well, why don’t we talk about you going out tonight, then? Are you nervous? I know it’s been a while since you’ve done the whole dating thing.”
“Yes and no. I’m sure Cooper will take care of me just fine.”
“Hmm,” she says, lips tucked together.
“What?”
“Huh?”
“You said Hmm all cryptically—what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Did I?” She waves her hand. “It was nothing. Come on. Let’s cross here.”
She starts rambling on about Dean and his betrayal last night, and my mind drifts to other things.
Again.
I will not think about last night. I will not think about last night.
How many times is it going to take until it’s true?