“Right.” I nod, putting space between us so I don’t get carried away. “You’re right.”
She laughs. “You’re hopeless, Cooper.”
“Hopelessly devoted.” I wink. “You have everything?”
“Yep.”
“Aren’t you missing something?” Like your designs? I leave that out, but I know she’s aware of what I’m asking.
I haven’t pushed her about it again, but I’ve seen her working on new stuff the past few weeks. I know it’s been for the festival.
Now she’s standing before me empty-handed, and that doesn’t sit right with me.
She shakes her head, her blonde curls bouncing. “No. I can’t think of anything.”
I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose, growing increasingly exasperated.
She’s not going to do it.
Again.
I know deep down she wants to design for a living. I know she wants to make something out of her passion. I can see it in her eyes that she wants to do this, and I know her well enough to be sure having her designs for sale would mean the world to her.
But she’s going to turn River down because she’s scared, just like she bowed to her father’s wishes when she was too afraid to stand up to him.
“Seriously, Care?” I cross my arms over my chest. “What about all those pieces you’ve been sneakily working on the last few weeks? You’re just going to pretend you didn’t spend hours working on them? Pretend you don’t want to do this?”
“I’ve always spent hours working on my designs,” she contends. “That’s nothing new.”
I level her with a stare because I know she’s lying.
Her hands come in front of her, and she wrings them together, nibbling at her bottom lip. “I can’t do it, Cooper.”
“Why not?”
She lifts a shoulder. “I’m…I’m just not ready.”
I fight hard to hold back my groan. “You are. You’re just fucking scared.”
“Which means not ready.”
“No. Not being ready would mean not having any pieces done, and you do. You have plenty. They’re hanging on the rack in your room. Being scared is just that—being too chicken to take a chance.”
“Fine!” She tosses her hands in the air. “I’m scared, okay? Absolutely terrified to fail and realize my father was right all along and this is nothing but a hobby for myself, not something I can make a living from. But so what? It’s my choice.”
“Well, it’s a dumb choice.”
She sighs. “I have things to focus on today—like making this a successful event for Making Waves—that are a lot more important than putting some silly, homemade designs that likely won’t even bring in any cash up for display.”
I grit my teeth, frustrated with her for being so flippant about what she works so hard on. Like it doesn’t matter, even though it makes her happy.
“Can we drop this?” she asks, tossing her hair over her shoulder, looking fed up with this conversation. “I’m going to be late, and I don’t have time to argue about this.”
I’m fed up too.
Fed up with her running away and hiding behind her fears.
I’m over her believing she’s not allowed to have a dream and go after what she wants.
“Coop?” she urges. “Promise me you’ll respect my decision on this?”
I make a noncommittal sound, but it’s not enough for her.
She sighs again, crossing her arms over her chest, and I know she won’t leave until she hears me say it.
“I promise.” But I know it’s a lie as soon as the words drop from my lips. I have no intention of letting her run from such a huge opportunity. “I’ll drop it.”
“Thank you.” She presses a kiss to my cheek. “I’ll see you in a few hours?” I nod. “Good. I really do have to go now, or I’ll be dead, and you’re not the only one River scares.”
She gives me another kiss, then disappears out the door.
I stare after her, frustrated as hell.
She’s talented. She deserves what River is offering her.
I just wish I could shake some confidence into her and make her see that.
“Screw it,” I say, making my way to her bedroom.
If she won’t take initiative in making her dreams come true, I will. She might be upset at first, but when she sees I’m right and sells out like I know she will, she’ll forgive me.
She needs someone to push her. I’ll be that person for her.
I’ll be damned if I sit on the sideline and watch her let this pass her by.
Every year the city shuts down the entire one-hundred-acre park for the jubilee, the biggest event of the year. Somehow, already, this one feels