Summer Love: The Best Mistake / Impulse

“Hi.”

“How’s it going?” Coop jingled the keys in his pocket. Did she look all lit up? he wondered. She was smiling, and despite the shadows of fatigue under them, her eyes did have the prettiest lights in them.

“I was just going to call upstairs. I thought you’d like some dinner after a hard day at the pool.” She opened the screen door and leaned out to kiss him. The smile dimmed a bit when he eased back. “It’s just chicken and pasta.”

It smelled nearly as good as she did. He glanced inside—the homey scene: cluttered counters, fresh flowers, steam rising from a pan on the stove, the child sprawled on the floor, the pretty woman offering him food and kisses.

A definite trap.

“Thanks, but I’m on my way out.”

“Oh. I thought you had a couple hours before game time.” She laughed at his arched brow. “I guess I’ve been paying more attention to the sports scene. Baltimore versus Toronto, game one of three.”

“Yeah.” When she starts to take an interest in yourinterests, she’s really shutting the cage door. “I’ve got some stuff to do.”

“Can I go with you?” Keenan dashed to the door to tug on Coop’s slacks. “Can I go to the game? I like watching them with you best.”

Coop could almost hear the locks clicking into place. “I’ve got too much to do,” he said, with an edge to his voice that had Keenan’s lips quivering. “Look, it’s not just a game, it’s my job.”

“You said I was good luck.”

“Keenan.” Zoe put her hand on her son’s shoulder to draw him back, but her eyes stayed on Coop’s. “Did you forget Beth was coming over to stay with you tonight? She’ll be here soon, and you’re going to watch a tape of your favorite movie.”

“But I wanna—”

“Now go wash your hands for dinner.”

“But—”

“Go on now.”

The way Keenan’s face crumpled would have softened an ogre’s heart. Dragging his feet, he headed out of the kitchen.

“I can’t take him with me everywhere….” Coop began defensively.

“Of course not. He’s just overtired. I couldn’t have let him go, in any case.” She hesitated, wishing she could ignore her instincts. “Is everything all right?”

“Everything’s fine.” He didn’t know why he shouted it. He didn’t know why he felt like something slimy stuck to the bottom of a shoe. “I have a life, you know. I don’t need kids climbing up my back or you fixing me dinner. And I don’t have to explain myself.”

Her eyes turned very cool, her face very composed. “You certainly don’t. I appreciate you helping me out the past couple of weeks. Let me know if I can return the favor.”

“Look, Zoe—”

“I’ve got to get dinner on the table or I’ll be late for work.” She let the screen door slam between them. “Enjoy the game.”

She knew exactly how long he continued to stand there while she worked at the stove. Knew exactly when he turned and walked away.

It wasn’t unexpected, she reminded herself. This backing away was typical, even understandable. Perhaps it had taken Coop a few weeks to completely comprehend that she didn’t come as a single. She was part of a pair, a ready-made family, with its share of responsibilities and problems and routines.

And he was opting out.

He might not even know it yet, she thought, but he was in the first stages of a full retreat.

Her eyes blurred, her chest heaved. Resolutely she choked the tears back. She would indulge herself with a nice long cry later, she promised. But for now she had a little boy to soothe.

When he came back in, she crouched down until they were eye-to-eye.

“You had a good time with Coop today, didn’t you?”