Page 97 of Quiet Beautiful Things

“It’s…” I think of the dinners we’ve had. The dancing. The no-speaking night that was more than incredible. I think of her kisses. What her lips do to me in bed. How she makes me feel. “…fucking amazing, Coop. I can’t even put it into words.”

He holds his arms out wide. “What’s the problem then?”

“I’m not sure she feels the same way. She was dealt a pretty shitty hand as a kid. Not because she’s deaf, but because her birth father wanted nothing to do with her. What if she’s incapable of”—I wave a hand around—“this.What if I bring up the L word and she runs for the hills before I can break her heart too?”

“Or.” He points the neck of his bottle at me. “You could get everything you want plus the perfect stepmom for Maisy. What have you got to lose?”

I take a drink, digesting what he said. “I suppose it’s time to man up.”

He reaches across the table and claps me on the shoulder. “That’s the spirit.”

“Maybe I’ll do it next week, after all this wedding business with Lucas is over. Which reminds me, are we all set for the bachelor party here on Friday?”

“You bet.”

“How’s Lissa? She quit her job yet?”

“Nah. She’s happy but guarded. She just doesn’t want to be made a fool out of, you know?”

“I guess I can’t blame her. But they’ve been together for years,” I say. “Much longer than any of the others. I think this one’s going to stick.”

A worker behind the bar calls for Cooper.

“You good?” he asks. “Can I have Kelly whip you up something to go? Maisy too?”

“That would be great.” I nod my appreciation. “Thanks for the talk.”

While I’m waiting for the food, I watch one of the many televisions hanging from the ceiling. It’s tuned to some home renovation show. I read the closed captioning scrolling across the bottom—a habit I’m starting to become accustomed to—as a couple tries to make more space for their growing family.

Huh, I think, wondering what kind of makeover I could give my house. I’d love to have a playroom for Maisy. A big pool for her class parties. A craft room to display all her drawings. By the time I’m done dreaming up renovations, I come to a realization: I’m going to have to move.

Then I come to a second one: I want the quiet, blonde-haired doctor to movewithme.

Chapter Thirty-five

35

Ellie

I open my door and hold it for Beth as she walks through carrying a half-dozen dresses.

She takes them to my room and lays them on the bed. “What’s the huge clothes emergency?” she asks.

“I’m going to a wedding.”

Her eyebrows rise. “Making friends here. Nice.”

“It’s not one of my friends. Blake’s brother Lucas is getting married.”

Her mouth opens wide enough to catch flies. “Big step, Ellie. You’re going as Blake’s date?”

“Sort of. Not really. I don’t know.” I slump down next to the pile of clothes and momentarily cover my face. “What am I doing? I shouldn’t go.”

“Which is it? Not really, or sort of?”

“Lissa—that’s his brother’s fiancée—invited me a few weeks ago when I was at a restaurant with all of them. She thought we were a thing.”

“You’re not?”

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