“Anal,” Coop says.
“Oh, seriously!” I snap, trying to look annoyed, when I want to laugh.
Cooper shrugs and leans back in his chair.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Milo freeze. He’s staring at the door with his eyes wide, his mouth open, and his hands gripping the table.
I follow where he’s looking. A cute girl with dusty-blonde hair and eyes brighter than turquoise is planted to the spot, watching him like she’s just seen a ghost.
Okay, who is she?
“Milo, you all right?” I ask.
But he’s not hearing me.
The girl takes a few steps closer after a deep breath. “Hi, Milo,” she says so timidly that I’m scared she’s going to cry.
“Lexi,” he whispers back as he stands up.
Cooper’s eyes shoot up.
Seriously, I’m the only one who has no idea what’s happening here.
“You’re here,” he says.
“I never left, Milo.”
Oh, there was some hostility there. Something big went down between them because the atmosphere is palpable.
“Lexi! I’ve missed you, babe,” Cooper says, smirking at Milo.
He’s cut down by a look that screams murder, but that’s exactly what he was going for.
“Are you free, Lex?” Milo asks nervously. He looks unsure of his own words.
Lexi looks like she wants to say no and run away. She looks sad and scared, and it kind of makes me want to punch Milo because whatever happened between them, he broke her heart pretty thoroughly.
“I am. I just came in here for coffee before heading home.”
Milo looks back at me. I’m not sure if he’s seeking permission or maybe some help.
“Of course. We’ve got this. You go with…”
He shakes his head. “Sorry. Texas, this is Lexi, my childhood friend.”
Why do I think he’s using the term friend very loosely?
“Lexi, this is Texas Knight. She’s—”
“I know who she is. It’s nice to meet you, Texas.”
Perfect. She’s seen my almost topless picture.
I shake her hand, and that’s when Cooper stands up. Tugging his arm, I bring him closer to me because I have a feeling if he tries to hit on Lexi, no matter if he’s only doing it to piss Milo off, Milo’s head might explode.
“Lex,” Coop says, dipping his head.
Lexi gives him a smile, and I’m happy to notice that he has no effect on her. Milo notices it, too, and his posture relaxes a fraction.
“See you later,” Milo mutters to us, but his eyes stay fixed on Lexi. He walks around the table and stops beside her.
“Um, we can go to my place. It’s not far,” she says.
Coop and I watch them leave, and then he turns to me. “Bet he shags her again.”
I roll my eyes. “I need to know everything.”
“Childhood sweethearts,” he says. He takes a swig of his coffee. “When we started the band, it demanded his time, and they grew apart. Then we got to tour in clubs and pubs and shit. He broke it off because they were barely ever spending time with each other.”
“Wow. So, they were around, what? Twenty when they broke up?”
“Yeah. It wasn’t long before we met you.”
“Is that why he’s a slut?”
Coop’s mouth kicks up at the corner. “Yep. Cliché, right?”
“What about you?” I ask.
“Rock. Star.”
“Come on,” I deadpan. There must be more to it than that.
“Come on, what? I’m young and gorgeous and killer in bed. There’s not a woman in this world who could get me to settle down in my twenties.”
“All right. Fine. Now, Kitt’s present?”
“Threesome? Me. You. Him. I ain’t touching his, but you will love it.”
“Know what? I’m going to call Peyton and get her advice.”
“Now, there’s a woman I would settle down with. In about ten years.”
“She’ll be thrilled,” I mutter dryly. “Let’s get out of here. People are starting to look.”
“Where to?” he asks, getting up.
“Home. I’ll have to think about his present. Again.” At this rate, I really will have to wrap myself up.
“You’ll find something.”
I’d ask what Cooper is getting for Kitt, but I’m sure it’s a sex toy of some sort.
When I get home from shopping, Dad is by the front door with a small suitcase. He gives me a grin, and there’s a secret behind it.
“All right, what’s going on?” I ask.
Dad smiles. “Me, Will, and Jimmy are heading to Dublin for the weekend before Australia.”
“Huh? Since when?”
“Since now. You’ll know why soon.”
“Oh God. You’ve not knocked up someone else, have you?”
“Why is that your default?”
“Because it’s fun to remind you of your fuckups.”
He steps closer and pushes my hair out of my face. “You’re my daughter. You’ve never been a fuckup, and if I hear that language coming out of your mouth again, you’ll be grounded.”