Page 66 of Enticed
“It’s perfect. Everyone will be there. We can get it over with and kiss under the fireworks without having to hide.”
She’s quiet for a few minutes before finally speaking. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Yes, let’s do it,” she smiles and I kiss her with everything I have.
I only wish that how I envisioned that day going is what actually happened.
Chapter 23
Cooper
“Where do you want this ice, Dad?” I yell across the yard as the bags of frozen reprieve burn the flesh of my forearms.
“In the buckets, son!” He’s standing next to Kane as they set up the massive easy-up to provide shade out on the lawn. The tall trees that line my parent’s property help with shade as well, but the open space is massive and it’s the hottest part of summer—shade is necessary.
The sound of the ice cracking against the deck echoes off of the patio as I drop the bags right next to the blue drink buckets and red ice chests, ripping open the plastic, and pouring the shards over the sodas and bottled waters.
“Did you really just ask your dad where the ice went?” Cash strides up next to me, veering down while I’m hunched over the containers. His blonde hair is styled perfectly and his American flag t-shirt clings to his body.
“Fuck off, man.”
“I mean, I thought you were smarter than that with that master’s degree and all. But I guess they can’t teach you everything in school, can they?” The smirk on his face is just one other thing I want to punch away to get rid of my nervousness.
“Don’t make me fucking beat you in front of my family,” I reply as I rise to stand eye to eye with him.
“We can put on a show for the guests, Coop, I have no problem with that. But you won’t be winning,” he winks before shoving his hands in his pockets. “What’s really got your pannies in a wad, Walsh?”
“Clara isn’t here yet and we’re supposed to tell everyone about us today,” I mutter through a tight-lipped smile while turning around and surveying my parent’s backyard.
Every year for as long as I could remember, my parent’s held this party on the weekend of the Fourth of July. And each year they try to out-do themselves. My mom slaves away in the kitchen for three days before the event, my dad cleans every inch of the yard and makes the pool shine with crystal clear water, and the décor gets more patriotic with each passing year. Red, white, and blue balloons, streamers, napkins, and plates look like they all congregated together at their house to take over the place—not an inch of the space is untouched.
“Are you afraid or something? I thought that’s what you wanted,” Cash asks while he helps me dump the last bag of ice.
“It is. But I’m not gonna lie and say I’m not nervous. I just have this gut feeling like something is going to go wrong.”
And I can’t shake it. It’s that same uneasiness I’ve been feeling around Clara for weeks, even though our weekend at Hyatt Lake last week went better than I could have imagined. I left there feeling high on life and then she got distant again over the past few days. She told me that work was keeping her busy since they won two new accounts and she insisted she would make it up to me. In fact, she didn’t act differently when we spoke on the phone or during the two nights we managed to sneak between our places.
But that inkling is there—and as much as I want to ignore it, I’ve always been one to trust my gut. It’s one reason I’m damn good at my job.
“Just breathe, dude. I hope you’re wrong, but worrying about it isn’t going to make it any better. Have a beer.” He reaches down into the ice chest and grabs me a Coors Light.
“Thanks, man. In the past few years, I haven’t been able to drink at this party since I was on call. But so many people actually wanted to work today for the holiday pay, so it’s kinda nice.”
“Well, being a newbie I’m still on call until I go in at seven, but I have no problem shoving beers in your hands if it means you’ll relax and have some fun.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I clink my beer with his water bottle and then we join my dad and Kane on the lawn to help with the rest of the setup. Chairs and tables get unfolded and placed spaciously, the speaker system gets wired to the stereo in the garage, and all the pool toys and floats get blown up.
I leave my dad, Kane, and Cash to finish up the last few things so I can go inside to check on my mom, even though I know she won’t let me help her at all.
“There’s my boy,” she beams as she finishes scooping some dip into a bowl.
“Hey, Mom. How’s it going in here? Did you make enough food to feed all the people in Emerson Falls?”
“Just about,” she says while proudly surveying her kitchen counter full of food.
“Need any more help?” I rest my hips against the counter and fold my arms across my chest.