Page 56 of The Off-Limits Rule: Extended Edition

Brent lets out a small, incredulous laugh. “She’s…well, Lucy is…that is, Levi is my son. I’m assuming you know who Levi is?”

Cooper should be in a movie. The shocked expression on his face is so believable I want to laugh. I love being on this side of the curtain. “No way. You’rethatBrent? What are the odds?”

“Slim, I’d say,” Brent says, a hardness to his voice I don’t recognize. Is he…jealous? No. Never. Not Brent. “Lucy, I didn’t realize you were dating anyone.”

I shrug and smile, afraid to say much because my acting skills don’t come anywhere close to Cooper’s, and we all know it. “Just sort of happened. We met through Drew.” It’s best to stick as closely to the facts as possible when lying.

This moment is so thick with awkward tension I’m afraid we’re going to need someone with a rope to pull us out. Poor Ashley; she feels it too and is unsure what to do. I raise my hand and tap a knuckle against Cooper’s chest while hitching my head a little toward the door. Somehow, he speaks my silent language and understands me. “Oh, Ashley, you can go. Thank you.”

She’s relieved to exit thisJerry Springerepisode and scurries out the door. Brent does not look happy that Cooper and I do not have to use words to communicate. Would it be too gloaty if I did a littlenana-nana-boo-boodance and stuck my tongue out at him? I’m not even into Brent anymore, wouldn’t date the man if he begged me to. It’s just that it feels the tiniest bit amazing to see a jealous expression on his face—the man who found me undesirable except for when he was using me. And yes, I realize it’s super unhealthy.I’ll work on it tomorrow.

“Come in and have a seat,” Cooper says, gesturing toward his office chairs. “I’ll walk Lucy out to her car and then we can get down to business.” We’re moving toward the door now, and Cooper looks like my bodyguard, escorting me away so the fans don’t get too handsy. I need some sunglasses and a big floppy hat.

Brent steps into our path. “I can walk her out. It’ll give me a chance to get caught up on this relationship between you guys.” Oh no.No, no, no.I’ll spill my guts with the truth that Cooper and I aren’t really a couple yet, and this jealousy-inducing charade will backfire, making me look even more pathetic.

I look up in time to see Cooper’s easy smile and tipped eyebrows, silently asking me what I want todo.

“I’ll call you later and catch you up to speed, Brent. I’d like Cooper to walk me out.” The strength and finality in my voice tickles my own spine.

Brent takes in a breath through his nose and lets it out while nodding slowly, thoughtfully. “Sure. I guess.” He’s not quite ready to let me go yet, though, and he turns his attention square on me. “So, where’s Levi if you’re here?”

Okay,hello,I do not care for the accusing tone he’s using. He does realize I’ve spent nearly every single day with our son since I birthed him four years ago, right? That I’ve sacrificed absolutely everything to love my child well? He doesn’t get to talk to me like that.

I speak through lightly clenched teeth. “He’s with my mom, and after this she and I are taking him to fly his favorite kite at the park. Have you ever flown a kite with him before, Brent?” Yeah, no one was expecting that jab to come out there at the end, least of all me. I’ve never said anything like it to him before, and honestly, it’s not totally warranted. Brent is a good dad when he has Levi. He’s attentive, caring, fun, and never fails to be there if Levi asks him to. It’s strictly me Brent strings along, ignores, uses, leaves, rinse-and-repeats. I’m just taking my years of frustrated rejection out on him in the form of questions about kites.

“Yes,” he says, sounding both confused and amused by my intended sting. “Several times, actually. Don’t you remember I took him to that kite festival a few months back too?”

“Oh…right.” I’m a popped water balloon, confidence spilling out all over the place. “Good. Yeah, he loved that festival. Okayyyyy, well, I better be going. I’ll call you later, Brent.” I tuck my tail between my legs and speed toward the door so fast I’m sure my feet look like roadrunner-sized dust circles.

“Wait, Lucy, what are you guys doing tomorrow night? Maybe we could all go out to dinner—you two and me and Tanya—so I can get to know Cooper better? Since it seems he’s going to be in yourlife and Levi’s.” Brent gives me a meaningful look this time, saying,You have no choice.

I don’t have a choice, because I have insisted on going out to dinner with him and every single one of his girlfriends before I would allow Levi to stay with him for the weekend. I was never comfortable with the idea of my son spending time with some random woman, so it helped to at least get a sense of them over dinner first. Now he’s throwing my rule back in my face. But…I guess it makes sense. I can’t really fault him forit.

Except for the tiny detail that Cooper and I are not actually together and, just five minutes ago, were making a pact to remain strictly friends until Drew is on board.

“Umm, well, I think Cooper has—”

“I’m free,” Cooper cuts in unhelpfully, then turns to look down at me. “Maybe we could ask your mom if she’s free to come over and stay with Levi?”

Careful, Cooper. Your paternal instincts are showing, and it’s super attractive.

“Sure. Okay.” I look to Brent and smile. “I’ll text you with details.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll make reservations somewhere and send you the info,” says Brent, and I want to stomp on his toes because I know he’s only doing this because he assumes I would make reservations at Chuck E. Cheese.

We finally give awkward goodbyes, and Cooper tells Brent he’ll be right back, his hand landing on the small of my back, guiding me all the way to the elevator. He has to guide me because I’m not conscious anymore. My brain is lost in a fog of what just happened, everything zooming past me as we walk like we’re moving at warp speed.

We get in the elevator, and the moment the door closes Cooper lets go of me. That snaps me out of my trance, and I turn my eyes to him.

He’s frowning as he leans back against the elevator rail. “Will you be mad if I say I hate that guy?”

A laugh shoots from me. “No. Buthatefeels like a strong word.”

“It’s not strong enough.” His jaws clench. “He’s so condescending to you. And what was that shit with the reservation about? You deserve so much better than that. You’re the mother of his child for God sakes.”

“Brent always thinks he’s the most important, wonderful person in the room.” It’s why I was originally drawn to him. And ultimately why I’m repulsed by him now.

Cooper has a face for fighting. “I’m sorry I kissed you back there too. I shouldn’t have.”

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