Astrid gave her a flat, bullshit smile. “Thanks. Jean-Pierre does amazing things with a camera.”
Ali laughed, the sound practiced. “Please. You’re so gorgeous. I bet you even look good with the front camera on your phone.” She waved a hand at Astrid and turned back to me. “I’ve got to head back, but it’s good to see you, Coop.”
I motioned to her with my drink. “You too, Ali.”
Her smile curled a little in the corners. “I’ll see you around.” She turned to walk away, hips swaying.
“Bye, Ali,” Ash called, too loud, laughing when she didn’t turn around.
Astrid shook her head. “Shameless.”
TRUTH OR DARE
Maggie
THE NEXT MORNING, I FOUND myself standing in the entry of the shelter between Susan and Brian, amongst a handful of volunteers and residents as our benefactor walked through the front door with her assistant by her side. And the second I saw her, my heart took a swan dive out of my chest and hit my shoes with a splat.
She was tall and beautiful, with thick, jet black hair cut just above her shoulders, eyes sparkling and blue, just as I remembered. Her shirt and pencil skirt were tailored, lips red as she smiled warmly at us. It was a smile I was very, very familiar with.
It looked exactly like her son’s.
Cooper’s mom blinked at me, her smile stretching wider with recognition. “Maggie! It’s been years, how are you?”
I smiled back, stunned as she embraced me. We’d met when Cooper and West graduated from Columbia, had dinner together. “I’m well, Mrs. Moore. It’s good to see you.”
“Please, call me Catherine. It’s been too long. Cooper told me you were in town and looking for a job.”
Everyone was staring at me as I stood in front of my new boss — my booty call’s mother — smiling like an idiot as my thoughts spun around like they were on the Tilt-A-Whirl.
“Oh, did he?”
“He did. We’re so lucky to have you. Between Cooper and Susan’s glowing recommendations, I’m just so thrilled that you’ve landed in our laps.” She turned her attention to Susan. “Lovely to see you, Susan.”
“Hello, Catherine. We’re so happy to see you, too.”
“I’m glad to be here. Hello, Brian, and everyone.”
I was still smiling, barely listening as she said her hellos, feeling like a deer in headlights. Cooper had something to do with me being hired. I was all of a sudden certain of it.
She turned to everyone after a moment. “Let’s head to the kitchen and get started.”
I followed them into the kitchen and sat down, listening to everyone discuss their updates with my mind on Cooper, my discomfort waning as my anger blazed. I didn’t need his help to find a job — I didn’t ask for it, and I didn’t want it, but he did it anyway. He told his mother about me, maybe even called Susan. The thought that I hadn’t gotten the job on my own filled me with fury.
Part of the reason I’d wanted the job was to get away from Cooper, and now I found myself working for his mother.
It came to my turn, and I stood in front of a group that included my fuck buddy’s super rich mother and a very hot chef who was eyeing me like an amuse-bouche. I did my best to ignore all that and smiled through my plans for the program in a short presentation, outlining my philosophy and means to teach the range of readers I’d be working with. I hoped it was enough, hoped I’d make a difference for the children, maybe bring some sunshine into their lives after enduring so much hardship.
Catherine was pleased, which was a relief. I realized as I sat down that I wanted her approval, badly. I tried to convince myself that it was just because she was so important to the shelter, to my new position. It had nothing to do with Cooper. Cooper who would be seeing a very pissed-off me in a few hours when I left work.
When the meeting was over, Catherine and Susan left for a walk through while I worked on my craft supply list for the majority of the day, jaw set and fingers flying on my keyboard. I didn’t even see Brian until he pulled up a chair and set a cup of coffee next to me.
I looked up and sighed, grateful and a little embarrassed.
He sat back in his chair and smiled. “You were working a little hard, so I brought you some fuel.”
I picked up the coffee. “Thanks, Brian. Is there a chance there’s liquor in this? Because that would be fantastic.”
He chuckled. “Not this time, but I’ll see what I can do for the next round.” He took a sip of his own coffee, watching me over the rim. “So you know Cooper Moore?”
My smile fell. “He’s my brother’s best friend. They went to Columbia together.”
I couldn’t quite read his expression. “Interesting.”
“Listen,” I bristled. “I didn’t know Cooper’s mother was our benefactor, and as far as I know, that fact had nothing to do with me getting this job.” I hoped, at least.
He put up a hand in surrender. “I’m not judging or accusing. I know you’ve got the muscle to handle it.”
My brow was low. “Damn straight, I do.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.”
I let out a breath and tried to relax. “I’m sorry to snap at you. I just don’t like the idea of not being taken seriously or that I got here any way but by my own merit.”
“I get it. I mean, this is a highly competitive field full of sharks, the old charity game. Wouldn’t want anyone to do you any favors.”
I smiled, feeling sheepish. “Well, when you say it like that, it does sound pretty silly.”
“Nah, not silly,” he said with a comforting smile. “You work hard and want that to be your legacy, not who you know.”
“I really had no idea about Catherine’s involvement with the shelter. I knew she did charity work, but I really only met her a few times, years ago. She’s been here since the nineties?”
He nodded. “She’s done so much for the city, for the people who live here. It wasn’t until she took over that the shelter really took off, expanded its reach. I’ve seen how much the people who come through here are touched, and that’s largely thanks to Catherine’s efforts.” He was so earnest, so heartfelt.
“You really love it, don’t you?”
“I do. It’s definitely more rewarding than being a sous chef. That was nothing but low pay, long hours, and loads of backstabbing. And let me tell you — they’ve got sharp knives.”
“Hurts less going in, at least,” I said with a chuckle.
He smiled, watching me for a second. “Let me take you to dinner.”
“Man, you don’t quit, do you?” I shook my head at him, amused.
“Not when I want something.”
I sighed, still shaking my head. “I’m sorry, Brian. You seem like a really nice guy …”
He sucked in a breath through his teeth and laid a hand on his heart. “Ouch.”
I smiled. “Just friends. Okay?”
Brian pushed his chair back and stood, smiling back playfully. “All right, all right. Duly noted.” He hitched a thumb over his shoulder. “I’d better get back to my spaghetti sauce. I’ll see you later.”
“Bye, Brian.”
He left me alone in the office, and I took a breath, sitting up a little straighter and laying my fingers back on the keyboard with my mind a mess. Not about Brian — once again, I didn’t feel a single thing, even as he threw his charm all over me with the subtlety of a busted fire hydrant. I swear, my brain was broken, hijacked by hormones or pheromones or some other invasive mone that wanted to ruin my life.
I checked the time. Two hours until I would head over to Cooper’s and give him a piece of my mind. I’d been lied to, and he’d betrayed my trust — two things I wouldn’t stand for. My heart lurched when I thought this might be the end. Because I couldn’t stand for this.