Page 61 of The Off-Limits Rule: Extended Edition

Tanya interjects by waving the drinks menu in the middle of the table like a flag. “Who wants another drink? I’m thinking maybe a white wine this time? What about you, Lucy? Cocktail?” She gives me a happy smile, and—sweet darling—she really thinks that’s going to distract the guys from whatever is boiling between them.

“I’m just wondering why you seem to be shooting down everything Lucy has said tonight. Seems odd to me for a man who’s never been in a relationship with her to pretend he knows her so well.”

I tug on Cooper’s sleeve a little, trying to figure out how to stop this train that has clearly left the station. I’m afraid I’m going to have to throw my body in front of it—and not in a sexy way.

Brent rolls his shoulders a little and nods toward me. “I just think this whole thing isodd.One minute Lucy’s single and living with Drew, and the next you two are all over each other anywhere I turn. I’m making sure whatever this is you guys have going on is healthy and that Levi is not going to get hurt in the mix.” On the surface, that sounds true and noble. But it’s in his eyes that you see his words are a front. I am all for Brent wanting to get to know any man I’m seriously dating so he can feel comfortable with Levi being around him too. Even if it is a little unconventional, it’salways worked for us. But what I can’t stand for is his insinuation that I would put my child in an unhealthy situation and that Brent should be the judge of it—especially in such a public way.

“No, that’s not it. Lucy would never put anyone in Levi’s life that isn’t good for him and you know it.” Cooper’s smile is cunning and sort of tingles my spine. “We both know why you’re acting like a dick tonight, and it has nothing to do with your concern for Lucy or Levi.”

Brent’s eyebrows fly up, and he looks to me like I should be his backup. When he sees I’m not coming to his defense, he sinks back in his chair and steeples his fingers in front of him. “Well, by all means, tell me, since you seem to know already.”

Cooper’s smile falls, and now his face looks like beautiful stone. His eyes flare as he locks them on Brent. “If I had to guess, I’d say you’ve always kept Lucy as your backup option.” I wince at Cooper’s words, feeling the uncomfortable truth in them. “She was having your child, but you weren’t ready to commit, so you tossed her to the back burner. But it seems like you try to keep a spark of hope alive in Lucy so when you’re ready to settle down, she’ll be there.”

Is Cooper right? His words are alcohol on a wound I didn’t know I had. Did Brent think I was only back-burner material? Somehow, that feels worse than him justnothaving feelings forme.

Cooper leans forward slightly and smiles, looking more like a feral animal baring its fangs than a person giving a friendly greeting. “But here’s problem number one.” Cooper holds up a finger, sarcastic smile still in place. “You’re a selfish ass, too arrogant to believe Lucy stopped wanting you a long time ago.” Another finger pops up. “Number two, you weren’t counting on me coming along and seeing that a woman like Lucy is not plan B. She’s theone you work your ass off to try to come evencloseto deserving and still know at the end of the day she’s only with you because you’relucky.Like it or not, I’m here for Lucy as long as she’ll let me be in her life, so you need to knock it off with the rude comments. As for Levi, you sure as hell better believe I’m going to take care of him.” Cooper’s head tilts slightly to the side after his breathtaking monologue, and he turns remorseful eyes to me. “Uh…sorry about the language, Luce. I’m working on it so it doesn’t slip around Levi so much. I’ll get better.”

A laugh bubbles out of me, closely followed by a few tears I really wish weren’t leaking out of my eyes, because no one has ever stuck up for me in that way. I also find it absurdly endearing that, after all that, Cooper is worried I care about his mild language.

I lean forward and lay a soft kiss on his lips, pulling away only far enough to hover my mouth over his and whisper, “You’re the one who taught himfreaking,aren’t you?”

“Maybe. Maybe not,” he whispers back, and I wonder if maybe there’s a supply closet or something he and I can slip away to. It’s fair game, right? We’re still technically just “faking it.”

Brent plops his napkin down on his plate. “Well, this is definitely the weirdest and most awkward dinner I’ve ever had, and it’s safe to say we won’t be working together on rebranding anymore.” I think we all silently acknowledge that he is not defending himself against Cooper’s accusations right now. “Maybe you could have waited to make that speech until after the check came? Could have stormed out on a powerful note and made more of an impact.”

“Nah,” Cooper says, settling back and resting his hand on my knee. “We don’t have anywhere to be.” He looks at me from the corner of his eye, and we speak our secret language again. When we leave this date, the no-touching rule falls back into place.Would it be weird if I sat in his lap in the middle of this restaurant? Yeah…I might still do it anyway.

—

After ourfakedate, Cooper drops me back off at my house. Neither of us touched the other the entire ride home, each the epitome of decorum. It was complete torture, but I’m willing to go along with it because it’s important to Cooper to wait until we talk to Drew.

I step into the dark house and immediately find a little leopard blob sunk into the couch, feet propped up on a pillow on the coffee table, a halo of junk food scattered around her body.

“Hi there,” I say, leaning over the back of the couch to make eye contact with Jessie.

Her dark eyes pop up at me from beneath her Snuggie fort. “I ate it all.” Her voice is flat. “Every bit. Like a hundred thousand calories, and I couldn’t stop myself.” Her voice shakes on the last two words, and now I realize she’s not being funny.

I rush around the side of the couch and push through all the wrappers and sharp chip crumbs to cuddle in beside her. She lifts a corner of her Snuggie and lets me inside. It’s warm and cozy, and exactly what I need.

“Well, good. Because I got it all just for you to eat and enjoy. You’re pregnant—it’s one of the few perks.”

She sniffles. “That’s the problem. I don’t want to be pregnant anymore. I don’t even know if I want to be a mom. Have I made a terrible mistake?”

I’ve been in Jessie’s exact shoes, and I know how she’s feeling. Which is why I don’t pounce on her statement with fear or judgment. I don’t try to convince her to take those words back withmy own placating ones. Whatever she needs to feel right now is valid, and I want her to knowit.

I put my hand on her belly because I remember how much I wished someone would sit beside me and love my belly bump—just share in the joy of it. “Itisscary. What else are you feeling?”

Jessie’s eyes shut tight like she’s trying so hard to keep her tears locked inside. “My butt’s getting lumpy, and I don’t love that.”

“Ugh, it’s the worst. The dimples get real. Mine were like craters.”

“And I’m getting stretch marks on my boobs.”

“We call thosetiger stripes,babe. Get the terminology right.”

Jessie spills out a laugh, and together we shake on the couch. I feel the baby kick against my hand, and Jessie does too. Her smile dips into a frown. “This wasn’t the plan. When I read the pregnancy test, I was excited. Not the least bit hesitant. The problem is it never crossed my mind I’d have to do it alone at that point. I thought…we were going to be a family.”

“And he doesn’t want to be?”

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