Page 84 of Risk It All
“Yeah,” I said after a moment. “There’s something going on.”
If Cooper was surprised or not pleased, he didn’t show it. “I figured,” he said as he took another shot, sinking a second ball.
Maybe my reaction when he’d asked had given away that something was happening between Eliza and me, but I didn’t think we’d been that obvious. Then again, he was her brother and knew her damn well. “How’d you find out?”
“At dinner a few nights ago,” Cooper said, referring to the dinner at Laura and Mark’s.
This time, Cooper missed his shot, so I took a look at the table to plan out what I’d do next while he continued talking.
“My sister doesn’t let many people help her or take care of her. She let you do both.”
“We’re friends,” I said.
Cooper’s words got my mind spinning, though, wondering if what he was saying was true. If maybe Eliza felt more than she was letting on.
“I care about her,” I admitted. “But I don’t think we want the same things, and…” I lined up my shot, sinking a ball. “I don’t think she’s going to change her mind.” Of course, I wanted Eliza to care about me, too, in that way, but I didn’t want to have to convince her or to try to force her to want something she didn’t.
Cooper stayed silent for a beat, leaning his hip against the table while I took my next shot. “I don’t know what she’s thinking, and it’s also not my place to get involved, but I will say this. She doesn’t let many people in, and she definitely doesn’t drop her guard around many people. She cares. I’d even go so far to say that shecares a lot.”
I looked over at Eliza, who was as magnetic and hypnotizing as ever, moving behind the bar. Even with Lake Ridge closing early, it was packed with tourists coming into town early for the long weekend.
I turned back to Cooper. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I’ve never seen her care about someone like that.” Cooper’s jaw clenched, and his expression turned more serious than I’d seen in the short time I’d known him. “And I don’t want you to break my sister’s heart.”
That was the last thing I wanted to do, and in order to break someone’s heart, you had to have it. Eliza kept her heart locked, and I’d be lucky if I even got a piece of it.
“I’m not going to break her heart,” I assured him.
She was likely going to break mine instead, and the masochist in me knew it’d be worth it if it meant more days with her now.
It seemed at one point that I might win against Cooper, but I didn’t.
While Cooper was friendly and easy to be around, he was also a shark, which Wes confirmed when he joined us and also proceeded to lose to Cooper.
Before I knew it, it was eight, and the bar was gearing up to close.
Eliza walked over with her bag slung over her shoulder. “Hey,” she said, and all I wanted to do was pull her into my chest.
I kept the distance between us instead, especially with Cooper and Wes both watching. “All wrapped up?”
She nodded. “Pretty easy shift today, but I’m already exhausted thinking about how busy the weekend is going to be.”
“Me, too,” Wes agreed. “Wouldn’t be surprised if I had gray hair after the weekend is over.”
Eliza laughed. “Should I start calling you old man? Maybe that’ll be my new nickname for you.”
Wes glared at her. “Very funny,” he deadpanned. “I’m not that old.” Wes grabbed the three pool cues and put them away. “Besides, Leo’s older than me.”
“Barely!” I interjected. “And no need to pull me into this.”
Wes shrugged.
Eliza turned to me, and I saw a brief flicker of desire in her eyes before she tamed it down. “I’m heading back. Are you sticking around here?”
The guys and I had finished our last game and were getting ready to split up, too.
I shook my head. “No, we just finished up here. Let’s head out.” I lifted my hand in a quick wave to Wes and Cooper. “See you, guys.”
