She couldn’t stop smiling. As brownie points were earned, Cooper stacked his deck with that one.
“Why?”
Their eyes locked. “I would think that would be obvious at this point.”
His words did what his previous confession had failed to do. It made Claire look deeper in Cooper’s eyes and see an emotion she hadn’t noticed before.
“Uhm . . . I can leave the room,” Jax teased.
Claire offered Cooper a sincere smile and shook her head. “I’m in the mood for Chinese food.”
“Sounds perfect.” Cooper smiled and sipped his drink.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
He’d been ready to quit. Call Neil and tell him the minute the assignment was over he’d be looking for another job. Someplace where he didn’t have to see Claire constantly and mourn the loss of their friendship. Worse, moon over her like a lovesick puppy.
Instead, Claire offered an olive branch by way of Chinese takeout and martinis.
The three of them ate and drank, and talked about the case. He told them what he’d learned about Eastman. As of yet, the man wasn’t putting stuff on his class computer to indicate that he was anything other than a high school teacher with good intentions. According to the employee record, he’d transferred into Auburn that year, which lined up with the divorce he’d spoken to Cooper about.
“Expect harder questions if you plan on putting Eastman in his place again,” Cooper warned Claire.
He could tell by the look in her eyes she was buzzed from the alcohol.
“I might have to actually study. I don’t remember everything.”
“More than me,” Cooper said.
Jax changed the subject. “After tonight, we’re going to have to map out the teachers’ homes. Get a general idea of their stomping ground.”
Claire leaned her head back on the sofa. “It feels like this assignment is taking forever.”
“I’m not sure that’s going to change anytime soon,” Cooper said.
“We have back-to-back parties the next two weekends. Hopefully we can find a solid lead.”
“Any weight to Mr. Cummings?” Cooper asked Jax.
“He has the reputation of staring at chests.” Jax hoisted her breasts with both hands. “These are a little hard to miss, I’ll see if he notices.”
“You have to wear a uniform.”
Jax frowned at Claire. “Never stopped us at Richter.”
“True.”
“Cummings is short, balding, typical dad body. Reminds you of the guy who lost his virginity at thirty. Easy to label him as the dirty old man. School gossip may just be assumptions.”
“You just described Dunnan,” Claire told her. “Only he has the reputation of hating his job.”
“That’s exactly what Bennett said,” Cooper added.
“The invitational is coming up. Maybe something will evolve.”
“Still thinking of throwing a race?” Jax asked.
Claire shrugged. “Not sure that’s the best thing right now. Bennett is working hard to keep me on the team.”
“That’s because you’re good.” Cooper nudged her foot with his. He was rewarded with a smile.
“I’m also several years older than my teammates. It’s not exactly fair.”
“As soon as this case is over, your wins will be removed. Second place becomes first.”
“Fine, for the individual races, but the relay will screw with three other girls. And if the team loses after a win . . . that just sucks for them.”
Claire had obviously been thinking about this a lot. “A moral dilemma, no doubt, but what we’re doing there is bigger than a track meet.”
“I know. It just sucks, that’s all I’m saying. Do we even know why being placed on the track team was a thing? So far all I see is relatively well-adjusted kids competing and coaches that like their jobs.”
Cooper had thought the same thing. “A question for our next briefing.”
Jax sat up from her lounging position. “I suggest we bring Manuel in on our next impromptu huddle.”
“How is that working out?”
“Fine. I’ve only seen him on campus twice. Both times he completely ignored me.”
“If you’re not causing trouble, that would be the case,” Cooper suggested.
Jax stretched as she stood. “I have a book report due in the morning.”
“And you’re doing it?”
Jax looked at Claire like she was crazy. “No.” She shook her head, then started to nod. “I don’t know how to slack.”
Claire laughed harder.
“Are you telling me you’re not doing any homework?”
“I have a report due tomorrow on Macbeth.”
“And?”
Claire cleared her throat. “Macbeth, by Claire Porter . . . They all die. The End.”
The laughter in the room didn’t ebb until Jax climbed the stairs and left Cooper alone with Claire.
“I probably don’t need to remind you that failing a class isn’t an option until we cut track out of our agenda.”
“That won’t happen. I have it covered.”
“No doubt you do.” For the space of ten seconds they sat there staring at each other.
When Claire started to fidget, it was time to leave.
He placed both hands on his knees and pushed off the sofa. “Thank you for the drink.”
She stood with him. “Thanks for paying for dinner.”
“Least I could do.” He patted the front pockets of his jeans, searching for his car keys.
Claire pointed behind them. “Kitchen, I think.”
She followed him, an awkward silence took the place of easy conversation. Waving the car keys in his hand, he said, “Got ’em.”
He was two steps toward the door when she stopped him.
“Cooper?”
He looked up, found those fidgeting fingers clasped in front of her. “I handled last night poorly.”
“I—”
“No,” she interrupted. “No one has ever said anything like that to me. I wasn’t expecting it. I mean, I’ve noticed a few things since you’ve been back, but I told myself I was wrong. I need time to process it.”
Air filled his lungs, and he beat back a smile that threatened. “I can live with that.”
“I hope so. Because I don’t want to lose this . . . tonight, kicking back with a quick meal and comfortable conversation.” She rolled her shoulders. “I don’t want this tension or to feel the need to fill the awkward gaps in conversation.”
“I don’t want that either, Claire.”
“Good.”
“Good,” he repeated.
“So we’ll talk about awkward stuff, laugh at it, okay?”
“I can do that.”
“I don’t know if we can be . . . you know. If we can ever be more. I didn’t think about it . . . then last night.” She closed her eyes, took a deep breath. “Now I can’t think about anything else. And I know that’s going to screw up my work. And we don’t want that.”
He was smiling. He couldn’t help himself. “We don’t want that.”