I was weak.

I was stupid.

I’m done being both.

Angie shifts and immediately I can see the discomfort painted on her face.

“Do you have any saltines?”

Angie shrugs. “I have no idea. I’m not really on my feet much.”

My eyes squint a little as I try to figure out why she would say that.

“I find that being vertical means I’m puking,” she explains. “I’m basically bedridden until my pregnancy isn’t high risk anymore. Which means when this tiny nugget finally decides to come into the world.”

“Well, you have a lot of support,” I remind her, making a note to stop by here more often. “I’m going to look for some crackers. Do you want to try it?”

“I’ve tried almost everything, but sure, we can try. Lord knows I need some food.”

I head into the kitchen and start searching. There’s very little of anything in the cupboards, but I luck out on the third try and find a sleeve of saltines hidden behind a box of instant oatmeal. While in here, I fill a glass of ice water.

“Found some!” I holler to her as I walk back to the living room, but I stop short. “Cooper? What are you doin’ here?”

He releases a half laugh. “Hey, Grace. Wyatt asked me to stop by and check on Angie. He was worried you might’ve gotten lost in the stock room?” He says it as if it’s a question.

“Right. Wyatt is real helpful like that.” He knew I was going to be here, and he sent Cooper over. Why do I still live here? Why don’t I make friends with people a few towns over? “Always tryin’ to make sure everyone is taken care of.”

Angie bursts out laughing. She clutches her stomach and giggles relentlessly. “He’s such an asshole. God, I love that man.”

“You got the asshole part right,” I grumble.

“So? We’re still on for our date tomorrow?” Cooper asks as he steps forward.

“Yeah, of course,” I say awkwardly.

Angie grins and squeaks a little. “What? You guys are the best entertainment I’ve had in weeks.”

My face falls. “Happy to be of service. I really should get goin’.”

“Grace has a hot date tomorrow,” Cooper says from behind me. I turn to face him with my eyes wide, but he grins and steps around me. He strides to Angie and parks his butt on the couch next to her.

“Oh, I know, I hear some handsome cowboy finally got her to agree.”

“Yeah, I hear he’s quite a catch.” He’s all cocky and funny and full of charm as he says it.

They start talking as if I’m not even here. I watch as he adjusts the blanket over her and makes sure she’s okay. Then he grabs the packet of crackers and hands them to her. Cooper took time out of his day, covered in sweat and dirt to check on his friend’s wife. He didn’t have to be here, but he is.

The part of me that is hesitant about our date fades away. This is a good man. This is the kind of man that I want to be with. Someone who does selfless things because he wants to and isn’t afraid to be vulnerable. He’s where I should be focusing my thoughts, and that’s what I’m going to start doing.

Moving on.

Chapter 6

O f all the days for my hair not to cooperate, it has to be today? Everything has gone wrong. I dropped my cell phone in the toilet this morning, the zipper on my dress came apart, and my washing machine decided it no longer wanted to work. I’m starting to think it’s a sign that I should crawl back in bed and forego tonight. In three hours, Cooper Townsend will be picking me up for our date, and if the way today is going is any indication, it’s going to be a mess.

I grab my now dried out phone, and text Angie so she can, once again, reassure me this is going to be okay.

Me: What if my outfit isn’t cute enough?

Angie: Stop it right now. I know what you’re doing. You look amazing, and Cooper is going to think you’re perfect.

Me: Says you!

Angie: Do you need me to drag my sick ass off the couch and come over?

I’m being ridiculous. But this is the first real date I’ve had with someone other than Trent.

Me: No. I’m good. Minor freak out.

She’s right.

The outfit is great, but now that the issue of what to wear is resolved, I’m left to face my second issue. Trent. I have no idea if he knows, and if he does, whether he’s homicidal.

Not that I’d blame him. Cooper was a longtime friend of his.

My phone buzzes in my hand, and I swipe the screen expecting a smart remark from Angie.

Trent: So, big date tonight?

I drop the phone and scream. Dammit. I haven’t heard from the man in a week, and now I get a text? Ugh.

Do I answer?

No.

He doesn’t need a reply. Besides, what the hell would I say? Yes, I’m getting really hot to see your old friend who I kind of like, but I still love your unworthy ass.

I stare at the phone as it lights up again. Slowly, I bend to grab it, as if it’s a bomb ready to go off. The next text flashes across the screen.

Trent: Grace, I know you saw that. You have those stupid read receipts on your phone. Were you planning to tell me about your date?

I grip the phone and groan.

Me: Yes and no.

There. I responded.

I wait for the next text, and my anxiety starts to grow. When it gets to be too much, I begin to pace. I know him, and that will not have appeased him. Trent demands answers, and he can be extremely pushy. One-word responses aren’t going to fly, but nothing comes.

When I realize I’m being ridiculous, I toss the phone on the couch and head into my room. I need to get ready.

The outfit sits on the bed, and I run through a mental list of everything I need to do. On the bedside table, sits my tiara. I wore it today to remind myself not to eat. Then my mind flashes to Trent and his ridiculous pop quiz.

I walk over, grab it, and put it back in the closet. I want nothing to make me think of him. He isn’t part of my life anymore. Sure, he may be the one thing that keeps me awake at night, but I can’t control my subconscious.

I can, however, control my mind right now. And there’s no way I’m going to spend another minute thinking about him.