Page 25 of Craving Cooper

“Not specifically. Although if someone else came along, I might.”

“But you wouldn’t actively go looking for them?” she says, her furrowed brow giving away her confusion, especially when Brady chuckles and she turns to him. “What’s funny?”

“Nothing. It’s just that Copper’s never had to go actively looking for a woman in his life. They always come to him.”

“Really?” Laurel frowns at me now.

“Yeah. Is that such a surprise?” I give her my most winning smile and she giggles.

“Of course not. But I don’t understand why you’d sit around waiting for someone else to come along, if you’re so unhappy now.”

“It’s not that bad. Obviously, it’s never been perfect with Meredith, but…”

“And doesn’t that tell you everything you need to know?” Laurel says, interrupting me and frowning again, like she doesn’t understand. “Don’t you want perfection?”

“There’s no such thing.”

“I beg to differ,” Brady says, smiling at Laurel, who smiles right back.

“I’ve never wanted what you guys have.” I turn to look at him. “You know that. You’ve probably told Laurel that, too.”

“I have,” he says, nodding his head. “But what neither of us can understand is why you’d stay with someone who makes you miserable.”

“I’m not miserable. I’m not even unhappy most of the time… not really.”

“Maybe not,” Laurel says. “But don’t you think you should try aiming a little higher?”

“Why?”

“Because…” She falls silent and turns to Brady.

“Because it’s better than waiting for Meredith to call… assuming she does, of course.” He shakes his head. “What are you gonna do if you never hear from her again?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t haven’t thought that far ahead.”

“She could have decided she’s sick of being used,” Laurel says and I flip my head around, sitting forward at the same time.

“You think I’m using her?”

She takes a moment, and then says, “Not necessarily. But it’s what she might be thinking.”

“I don’t see why. It was her idea we should only meet up at weekends, so she can’t claim she didn’t know the score. I can’t be held responsible for her changing her mind.”

“Because you haven’t changed yours?” Brady says, and I turn to face him again.

“No, I haven’t.”

I gulp down my coffee, and put my cup back on the table, getting to my feet.

“Are you leaving?” Laurel says, looking up at me, surprise etched on her face.

“Yeah.”

“Have we offended you?”

“Not at all.”

She smiles, and Brady stands too. “It’s just that he doesn’t wanna talk about Meredith anymore,” he says.