Say You Won't Let Go Google(2)

“I miss y’all so much. Bein’ on the road is tough.”

“But you’re happy?” Cooper questions.

“I love it. I love singing for people, and Luke Berry is awesome to work with. It’s a great honor, and I’m so blessed. I just never thought it would go this far, you know? I thought I’d do like I promised my mama before she died and give it two full years of tryin’ to make it before returning back home.”

His hand rests on my shoulder. “You were always meant for more.” Then Coop leans back with his arm draped across the back. “I’m happy for you, Emmy. I really am. Everyone back home is, too.”

I love that he calls me Emmy. No one outside of Bell Buckle ever uses my nickname. It’s always Emily or Ms. Young. I just want to be Emmy or Em every now and then.

I lean back against Cooper and rest my head on his chest. “You’re such a good guy. I wish I could be back in Tennessee so I could meet Hannah and Felicity.”

Cooper’s fingers trace up and down my arm. “I wish you were back in Tennessee, too.”

“Yeah?” I ask, sitting back up with a smirk.

“Yeah, it’s hard not havin’ anyone to pick on now that they’re all married and havin’ babies.”

“That’s why you wish I was back?” I challenge.

“Well, that and I kind of like you…” Cooper’s green eyes turn liquid as he stares at me.

“Just kind of?”

He shrugs, and we both start laughing. “You know how Bell Buckle is. It’s the same even when everything changes.”

I nod. It really is that way. Some things are meant to be the same, but it’s been far too long since I’ve been home. I haven’t had time to visit Mama or anyone else. Grace and Angie both have babies and are always asleep when I finally get around to calling—it’s been hard adjusting.

“I can’t believe Grace is someone’s mama.” I laugh as I crisscross my legs.

“It’s scary, but she’s happy, which is all that matters.”

Cooper says the words with so much honesty that I hesitate before asking my next question. However, I’m not known for holding back. I know that he says he’s fine with her and Trent, but is he really? It seems crazy to me that after pining for her for years that he’d just be so easygoing about it all.

“And you’re okay with her and…him?”

He laughs. “Grace and I were never anything more than friends who shared an awkward kiss. I think I just really liked the idea of her.”

“What pretty girl do you have your eyes set on now?”

Cooper’s deep green eyes meet mine and they burn. Intensely. I see the heat pooling as his jaw tics just a little before he clears his throat. “The one that I’ve never quite been able to find.”

I’m not sure what that means, and I’m not about to make assumptions, but a bud of hope grows. I’ve always wondered if we could’ve been. He has a big heart and a rocking body. I think Grace is freaking insane for not holding on to him. Cooper Townsend is grade A prime meat. One I’d like to sink my teeth into.

“Well.” I sigh. “I’m glad you found me tonight.”

Cooper looks at the floor and then meets my eyes. “What if I told you I knew you’d be here?”

My teeth grip my bottom lip, and I tilt my head. “Is that what you’re tellin’ me?”

Our lives aren’t the same. He runs a ranch, raising cattle and mending fences, while I’m on the road, singing and following my dream. I have no plans to settle down in Bell Buckle. I’m definitely not a rancher’s wife. I’m the girl who was making out with the football players while her best friends were in the 4H club. Hell no. Cooper has never been the guy to end up with a wild child like me.

But we aren’t kids anymore.

He leans in closer, and my heart starts to race. “Maybe.”

A shiver races from my neck to the base of my spine. No. We definitely are not kids, and there’s nothing saying we can’t see where this goes.

“Maybe you should make up your mind.” I move toward him. Our breaths mingle and heat courses through my veins.

“Maybe I have.” His deep voice smolders, causing butterflies to take flight.

“Yeah?” I taunt. “Are you gonna share what you decided?”

His hand lifts with hesitation, but then he cups my cheek. “I’m more of an ‘actions speak louder than words’ kind of man.”

And then, Cooper leans forward, driving me crazy with how slow he moves. Inch by inch, his lips close in.

My breathing grows rapid as the anticipation builds. Years I’ve wondered. Years I’ve thought about what kissing him could be like. Crushes are called that for a reason—they’ll either crush your heart or crush your self-control. I’m thinking it’s going to be the second one with my luck.

I lift my hand and touch his cheek, and then, as our lips are just about to touch, a loud bang happens. I shift away as if I just got caught naked by my parents.

“Fuck! You’d think—” My drummer enters and sees the two of us. “Sorry, darlin’, didn’t know this space was occupied.” Vince starts to back out with his hands raised.

My chest rises and falls as I try to catch my breath. “It’s fine, Vince. We were just talking,” I say quickly even though it’s nowhere close to fine.