torture, filled with quotes from epic love stories and a whole load of philosophical crap. That man had droned on and on, and I swore it was the first time I’d fallen asleep standing up. It must’ve been his good looks that made him as popular in the classroom as Rebecca claimed he was.
When his eyes landed on mine, I internally screamed, “Do you ever shut the fuck up?” The man needed to be shut up… and a few ways of how I could accomplish that invaded my ire.
Fifty minutes later… fifty… minutes… was when Cooper finally noticed the glazed expressions staring back at him, mine included, and wrapped it up.
Could anyone blame me for wanting to run now?
“Today was a great day,” he went on to say with a firm nod and a toothless grin. “Having us all here together, preparing to witness Sam and Lydia as they are about to write the next chapter of their lives, is awe-inspiring. And we all know there have been many chapters already written. Some good, many bad.” The room chuckled. “All kidding aside, the difficult times Lydia and Sam shared most definitely put them through the ringer, but it was all necessary to get them right to this point they’re at now.”
Cooper scanned the guests one by one, taking it all in. A slow smile spread over his lips as his eyes found mine. “To find the kind of love that throws you through the wringer and has you coming out so much better for it? To find the kind of love that leaves no doubt that you can’t live without that person? Well, sign me up.” He raised his almost empty glass of bourbon. “To Sam and Lydia.”
A chorus of echoed sentiments rang out as everyone raised their glasses. The entire room watched as Sam held Lydia’s face and sweetly kissed her, except for one person who watched me.
I had no doubt he was drunk, and it had nothing to do with the glassiness in his eyes or how he swayed just a tad before taking his seat. It had to do with the way he continued to stare at me. Again, I believed it to be desire that was responsible for the look on his face… okay, and now that I thought about it, there was probably also anger and resentment mixed in. It seemed as if I represented something he simultaneously despised and wanted. Well, he could channel all that scorching energy at me as much as he needed to. I could take it.
Sam stood next, one hand on Lydia’s shoulder and the other holding a beer. “We love you all very much and are blessed to have you here to celebrate our love for each other.” He then stared at Cooper and smiled. “And to my best man, my brother, and my best friend. Thank you for supporting me when I thought I lost her forever.”
Cooper tilted his glass and drained the rest of the rich amber liquid before staring into space. I wasn’t off the mark when I’d told Marco that man was lost. Part of me hurt for him; the other part wanted to prove him wrong.
Either way, I needed to tread carefully with that guy, because fucking forbid if it turned out he was indeed gay.
Chapter Six
Cooper
Through the flurry of hugs and good-night kisses, laced with an animated anticipation of what would come the next day, I watched somewhat detached from it all.
But the weight of my eyelids, the way my body felt as though it had been dipped in concrete, or even the sluggish drone of my words did little to convince me to call it a night. Passing out and sleeping like the dead was the goal I hoped to achieve and based on the shred of lucidity tingeing the corners of my thoughts, I wasn’t quite there yet.
I hadn’t been this drunk in years… or maybe ever. That wasn’t my game. I was always the designated driver among my friends. The voice of reason when one of them reached for that one last shot.
I had to be honest, though. It felt great to release my inhibitions for once. I was tired of logic and getting drunk at my brother’s rehearsal dinner may have been a dumb move, but it provided a great gateway to much-needed recklessness.
No one dared to fault me for losing myself, especially not after the breakup I’d recently had. So I shamelessly took advantage of the opportunity.
During the