“Considering Justin’s background, Cooper’s agency would be foolish to deny the man anything he wants if it means having him as a client.
“Plus, I’m sur
e Cooper will wangle it so that he gets what he wants out of the situation.”
I bit my lip. I knew she was right. Coop could sell the idea any way he wanted, and if he truly wanted to be here, with me, then he’d be able to pitch it. No problem.
But… I just…
I sighed. “I need to get ready for work.”
She nodded, apparently sensing I was done with talking for a while. “You go get changed. I can clear up in here.”
I got to my feet then bent over her to kiss her cheek. “Thanks for being here, mom.”
She smiled at me. “Don’t be silly.” She reached up and patted my cheek gently. “I’ll always be here for you, sweetheart.”
I swallowed down a thick welter of emotion, hating how teary I was that morning, and whispered, “I know. I’m a lucky girl.”
I failed to sound bright and breezy, but she understood. Her eyes softened, then she urged. “Go get changed, darling. All will be well, I promise.”
I bit my lip, but nodded as I started for my bedroom. I heard the clank and clatter of plates and cutlery being cleared away, and was utterly grateful mom had known I’d need her. I hadn’t lied when I’d said I was lucky.
Chapter 21
LAUREN
Six Years Ago
“You need to get over him, Lauren,” Clarice was advising me as I sipped my tenth and final margarita for the night.
I’d had so much tequila my brain was going to melt in the morning. Hangovers weren’t exactly new to me but I knew that this upcoming one was going to be a doozy.
I didn’t care. Truly didn’t give a crap because the pain would help.
I knew that sounded worrisome. And I knew that if I told my parents or Clarice that, they’d fear for me and, undoubtedly, would start hiding knives from me. But it was true.
This internal pain was so all-encompassing that to have the relief of feeling the physical agony was something I wasn’t going to dread.
Still, ten margaritas was way too many. My teeth were starting to ache and my words were blurring which made talking really boring.
Shooting Clarice a look, I slurred, “I’m over him.”
“Yeah. You really look it, babe.”
I’d have rolled my eyes but they weren’t working how I wanted them to. The command was being sent by my brain but they weren’t willing to listen. “I am.” I tried to ignore her peering at her engagement ring like she’d been given the Hope Diamond. This time, my eyes did manage to roll—her jerk of a boyfriend Steve apparently was less of a jerk than the man I’d believed was my soulmate.
Great.
Just great.
That meant I seriously couldn’t trust my judgment where men was concerned, didn’t it?
With a sigh, I took another gulp of frosty goodness, then winced at the brain freeze.
“You need to get on with things, Lauren. The only way to get over a guy is to get underneath another one.” She waggled her eyebrows at me but I just stared at her.
“You and I both know that’s not going to happen,” I told her, managing to sound as sober as her comment made me feel. I was pretty impressed that my vocal chords had obeyed that time.