“I know he’s reserved.”
“No, it’s more than that. It’s like he holds back. He doesn’t let loose. Keeps folks at arm’s length. Once, a bunch of us guys were in the pub and he walked in. I called him over, and he joined us. But he never felt comfortable with us. He doesn’t, I don’t know, joke around. There’s like a barrier he holds between him and others.”
Linnea knew that about him. The fact that Gordon had opened up to her made their relationship feel all the more intimate. “Okay. But do you like him?”
“I don’t know.” He sidestepped.
“It’s a yes-or-no question.”
“Okay, no,” Cooper said plainly. “Like I said, he’s a decent guy. But I don’t like him.”
Linnea puffed out air. “Okay. Thanks.” Her head was spinning. She hadn’t expected that last answer. Her brother’s opinion mattered to her and this deeply unnerved her. To change the subject, she asked, “Hey, I made some cookies. Want some?”
“Chocolate chip?”
“Is there another kind?”
* * *
COOPER LOST NO time moving in. Anna was settled in Palmer’s room, so she apologetically gave Cooper Cara’s old room. He’d laughed and said a real man felt confident in pink. The following morning his big black pickup truck pulled into the driveway filled with suitcases, his bicycle and his surfboard.
She’d also received several terse e-mails from her mother.
Linnea. Why on earth would you agree to letting Cooper move in with you without discussing it with us? You know how much we were looking forward to his return.
Linnea. How are you all going to squeeze into that little cottage? And with another girl living there. Across the hall!
I give up. Do what you want. You always do, anyway.
As usual, Linnea thought, it was her getting that flak, not Cooper. She sent her mother one e-mail in reply.
It will be fine. We love you.
The next few days Linnea felt she was walking on eggs. Everyone was trying his or her best to be cool about the living arrangement, but it was going to take time for her to get used to seeing her brother and Anna as a couple.
Linnea made her way to the kitchen, eager for a cup of coffee. She found the Melitta coffee carafe in the sink, the cone still filled with cold coffee grounds. Linnea grumbled to herself as she pulled out the used filter and dumped it in the trash. The pair of them were slobs, there was no other word for it. Their rooms both looked like a hurricane had struck. Baskets filled with clean laundry were topped with dirty items carelessly tossed in. Clothes were discarded and left on the floor where they fell, eventually forming a mountain of shirts, pants, bras, and socks, all wrinkled and interspersed with shoes, books, and papers.
And the bathroom! It gave her anxiety just to think of that room.
Linnea washed the carafe, dried it, and put in a crisp white filter. She didn’t want to lose her temper and needed a bracing cup of hot coffee. She went through the motions in the galley kitchen to prepare the drip coffee. This was her favorite morning ritual. Very calming. She’d been teased about her love of coffee, but she couldn’t argue. It was true. And she was very particular about her coffee.
Linnea settled on Charleston Coffee Roasters Beach House Blend. She’d tried it for the name, but stayed with it for the flavor. The kettle whistled shrilly, to her, a morning song. It made the kitchen sound like home. She poured the boiling water into the filter and breathed in the breaking scent of coffee as it filled the room. She closed her eyes, relishing the heady smell. While she waited for the coffee to brew, she filled the dog dish with kibble and served it to a patiently waiting Luna.
From down the hall, she heard a door close. Followed by a second door closing. Linnea poured herself a mug of coffee and waited.
“Good morning!” Anna called out in a cheery voice.
Anna certainly was more chipper in the morning lately, Linnea thought as she turned to see her roommate pad across the room in her slippers. She was wearing a thigh-length lavender silk kimono that showed off her long legs. Linnea looked down at her own kimono, its twin, only in pink. Looking again at the lavender kimono, she realized it was her kimono.
“Nice kimono.”
Anna poured coffee into her mug, then looked down at what she was wearing. “Oh yeah, sorry. My laundry wasn’t done, and I needed something to put on. I hope you don’t mind. I’ll wash it and put it back.”
Cooper walked in, wearing his boxer shorts. His hair was smashed to one side of his head. He made his way, barefoot, to the coffeemaker and poured himself a cup. He mumbled something that sounded vaguely like “Good morning,” but she couldn’t be sure.
Linnea leaned against the counter and eyed the couple, who acted like they barely knew each other, stepping aside, careful not to touch, with polite murmurs of excuse me and do you want a cup?
Linnea cupped her mug and tried not to giggle. “Did you sleep well?”
Cooper slid a glance toward Anna and hid his smile with his mug.
“Yeah. Great,” Anna replied before taking a sip.
“Good.” Linnea kept watching them. She couldn’t stop. It was like watching a sitcom. She didn’t know what was going to happen next. “I found a wonderful book. Kept me turning the pages until the wee hours of the morning.”
Anna said, “I heard you talking last night on the phone. Gordon?”
“Yes.”
Cooper leaned against the counter. “So, is he moving in?”
“Yes.”
Cooper lifted his mug as though in a toast. “Your call.”
She took a breath. “I’m glad you’re okay with it. Because we’re going to be cozy here with all four of us,” Linnea said, looking first at Anna, then at her brother. “Very cozy.”
Cooper rolled his eyes, then said, “I’ll take the first shower.” He ducked his head and made for the exit.
“Little Fox,” Linnea murmured to herself as she watched him sneak off.
The two women sipped coffee in an awkward silence. Finally, Anna spoke.
“I have to admit, I was surprised you agreed to let Gordon move in with you.”
“Okay. Let’s break that down,” Linnea said, straightening. “First, you were surprised about me letting Gordon move in? And not about Cooper?”
“Why wouldn’t you? He’s your brother.”
“And your boyfriend.”
Anna made a face. “Is he?” she crooned. “My boyfriend?” She shook her head.
“Whatever you call what’s going on between you.”
“What’s going on between you and Gordon?”
“I have no problem saying he is my boyfriend.”
“If you say so.”
Linnea sipped her coffee, scowling, wondering how much Cooper had told Anna of his feelings about Gordon.
“So,” Anna said, pulling out a bowl from the cabinet. “John is out and Gordon is in.”
“That’s right. Gordon is moving in with me.” The words felt strange in her mouth. “It’s not a bad thing, is it?” Linnea asked, as much to herself as to Anna.
“How would I know?” Anna poured homemade granola into the bowl. “Really, like Cooper said, it’s your call.”