Death and Relaxation (Ordinary Magic #1)(58)

Maybe it was just that it was so very clear that I had moved on. Gotten over him. Cooper had broken my heart, but I had healed. I was stronger without him.

There was something satisfying in knowing he knew that.

Billy set the coffees and the white bag of pastries down for me.

“Thanks,” I said.

She flashed me a quick smile and a wink, already turning for the heavy cream to use on her next order.

I made my way over to Cooper.

He lounged in the booth, both arms out across the back of the bench seat, watching me, his eyes on my mouth.

The song in my head kicked up a notch and my headache tightened. I hooked my boot around the leg of the chair and pulled it out, scraping it noisily across the tile floor. I tossed the bag on the table.

“You owe me seven bucks,” I said.

“Sorry about making you get the food.” His eyes were on my eyes. “I had to jump on the table while we had a chance.”

I placed the mocha in front of him and gulped three throat-scorching swallows of my coffee, ignoring him, my headache, the power song, and everything else in the building.

Sweet, sweet caffeine.

“Delaney?”

“Shhhh.” I held up a finger and swallowed fortitude.

Bliss.

He claimed the bear claw. I spun the bag and lifted out my cruller. There was a maple bar in the bag. Had Hogan screwed up our order?

I shot a questioning look over my shoulder at Hogan and held up the bag so he could see. He grinned and gave me a thumbs-up, then smoothly went back to the next order.

I couldn’t help but smile. Maple bar was Jean’s favorite. He knew I’d see her at her shift change and give it to her.

I wondered just how serious it was between Hogan and my youngest sister. Serious enough that he was making me a de facto pastry cupid. He worked early mornings and she worked night shift. I guessed love, and the people in it, always found a way.

“Problem?” Cooper asked around a mouthful of bear claw.

“Not at all.”

“What about us, Delaney?” His voice was softer than I expected, as if he’d already given up hope, but didn’t know it yet. “We were good together. Think we can give it a go?”

“We already gave it a go, Cooper. This is our stop. We’re done.”

He nodded, his eyes flicking away as he drank coffee.

I rubbed at my temple again, wishing the headache would let up. But it only got worse the longer I sat here with him.“So what did you do when you left town?”

He winced. “I, uh, joined a band.”

“Of course you did. Why didn’t you stay with the band?”

His gaze slid to the window, where he stared out at the cloudy day. “I don’t know. I thought… It sounds weird, but I thought maybe I left something here. Maybe I took off when I should have just stayed. So I came home to see if I’d lost…if I’d left something behind.”

“Did you?”

He took a drink of coffee, thinking that over. “Maybe not.” He put his coffee down. “I don’t know. When I’m around you…it feels…right.”

“Cooper…”

“You kissed me,” he said.

“You kissed me,” I corrected. “That was a mistake.”

“It didn’t feel like a mistake.” His eyes were on my lips again, soft and needful.

“Look—”

“Mind if I join you two lovebirds?”

I jerked.

Ryder stood next to the table, a buttermilk twist in one hand, coffee in the other. He wasn’t looking at Cooper, his gaze riveted to mine. And he was smiling.

The look in his eyes was inscrutable. Humor? Curiosity? Mockery? I couldn’t tell. Ryder Bailey knew how to keep his true feelings tucked behind his glowing eyes when he wanted to.

I waved at the booth next to Cooper. “Have a seat.”

“No room,” Cooper said. He didn’t budge, using up bench space that would seat at least two people.

Ryder glanced around the room looking for a spare chair, but the place was full. “It’ll work.” He dropped down so close to the other man that Cooper grunted and moved to one side to keep from getting pinned.

Ryder bit into his twist, still not looking at the man next to him. Which might be because they were sitting so close, they’d have to lean away from each other to actually make eye contact. That could not be a comfortable arrangement.

Cooper pulled one shoulder forward, leaning his elbow on the table.

Ryder sat there, unconcerned, drinking coffee.

“When did you say you were leaving?” Ryder asked.

“I just got here,” Cooper said. “Might never leave.”

“He got a reason to stay, Delaney?” Ryder chewed with nonchalance.

“In the bakery or in Ordinary?”

“I find myself curious to both answers.”

Cooper snorted. “Jackass.”

“Freeloader,” Ryder shot back.

I watched them. Wondered what history between them that I’d missed. Wondered if I’d have to break them up like Odin and Zeus. Seriously, could I not go a day without two men having it out?

“When are you skipping town again?” Ryder asked, still not looking over at him. “I’d like to throw a parade.”