Page 28 of Relief Pitcher

The guys started riffing off what they could turn Ethan’s room into. Even Ethan threw out some ideas, like a sauna. They weren’t interested in my suggestion of a sex room.

I relaxed into the bed as our conversation shifted away from me. I needed to sleep off the funk and get back to normal tomorrow. Put Cooper in my rearview mirror and try not to think of him every time I watched a Hallmark movie or saw a tree. In Western Oregon, that would mean he’d be on my mind constantly. Coop would be a great memory and possibly a new friend after some time had passed so he didn’t get the wrong idea. I had a process, and it’d never let me down.

Even as I had the thoughts, the text thread with him burned a hole in my pocket, calling me a liar.

CHAPTER15

COOPER

Cooper: Did you watch that new movie set at the toy festival?

Ty: Oh my god. That toy soldier parade was a bit much. Don’t you think?

Cooper: Again, two words: Pumpkin. Regatta.

Ty: LOL! Okay, okay, fair. Are you still planning to watch the bookstore one? That looks good. I like it when there are dual storylines.

Cooper: Definitely. Got it all set to record on my DVR.

Ty: As if your ass won’t be at home watching it with a bowl of popcorn ready.

Cooper: Ha-ha, busted. Speaking of food, did you realize you left some cheese behind?

Ty: Yup. A thank you for saving my ass and being great company.

Cooper: I’ll enjoy it immensely.

* * *

The Pitted Olive’s parking lot was full. It wasn’t even my store, and I got an immense sense of pride seeing Danita’s business thriving. Since my dentist wasn’t too far from the market, I figured I would stop in after my cleaning. Danita always encouraged me to do my shopping in her bougie store and tried to get me to accept her employee discount, which I never took her up on. I wanted to support her.

As soon as I grabbed a cart, Danita was on me like a fruit fly.

“Been a while since you stopped in.” Danita got on her tiptoes to give me a big hug.

She came to visit me more often than I visited her, which I felt terrible about. But I was trying to do better. With spring in full effect, I’d shaken off the winter funk. I’d been leaving my house more over the last few weeks, ever since… Well, I’d only driven through Dahlia Springs twice, which I thought showed incredible restraint.

“I’ll come in more often. I promise. How’s it going this week?”

She filled me in on things as she followed me around and tossed more in the cart than I did. A new chutney I justhadto try and a local bread that was “out of this world.”

“So, how are you doing?”

I shook my head. “How do you manage to make the most innocuous question sound ominous as hell? You should add that as a skill on LinkedIn.” I pulled a box of colorful rotini pasta off the shelf, and she grabbed a jarred vodka sauce and placed it in the cart.

“It’s a gift.” She dramatically flipped her curly, onyx hair over her shoulder. She was the spitting image of Aleck but with more feminine features. They both had the same bright-blue eyes, straight Greek nose, and olive skin.

“I’m good.”

“Verbose as always. I’ve been striking out on the dating apps, per usual.” She rolled her eyes. “The men around here are man-babies.”

“This is my surprised face.” I kept my expression neutral.

“How are the dating apps going for you?” She dropped a package of coconut macaroons in the cart.

“Smooth.”

She grinned. Score one for Danita.

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