Savored: A Small-Town Contemporary Romance by Sophie Stern

Author:Sophie Stern [Stern, Sophie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, second chance romance, second chance small town, Sweet Romance, small town romance, coming of age, death and dying, women's issues
Publisher: Sophie Stern
Published: 2020-09-12T18:30:00+00:00

7.

Cordelia

MY DAY SEEMED TO DRAG on, but soon it was time to meet Cooper for dinner. When I arrived at the restaurant he’d chosen, I was delightfully surprised to see that he was already there and waiting outside by the doors. I’d driven instead of walking – a rare choice for me – because I didn’t want to be sweaty when I arrived, and I was already wildly nervous.

As soon as he saw me, his eyes lit up, and that was the best damn feeling in the world. He’d noticed me. Cooper Clark had finally noticed me, and he’d invited me out, and more than that, he seemed happy to see me.

No, no, he seemed delighted to see me.

That was its own reward, I thought. Having someone wonderful and wild and sexy notice you and feel excited to see you felt like floating.

“You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

He hugged me by way of greeting, and I hugged him right on back. He smelled good, and the scent made me feel even more like I was dreaming.

“Shall we go inside?” He asked.

“Yeah,” I said, swallowing nervously.

We went into the restaurant and were taken to our seats. It was a small, locally owned Italian restaurant that served the best lasagna you’d ever had in your life.

“I know everyone says not to eat pasta on a first date,” Cooper said.

“But they haven’t eaten here,” I said, agreeing with him. “This place is the best.”

We gorged ourselves on breadsticks and pasta and we each had a glass of wine. Somehow, talking to Cooper felt natural and easy. It seemed normal, and I realized about halfway through dinner that this was something I’d never felt with Jake. Cooper seemed to notice my change in attitude right away.

“Is everything okay?” He asked.

“Yeah,” I said.

“Cordelia?”

“Yeah?”

“I know you better than that.”

“Okay,” I said, spinning my fork in my pasta. I twirled it, and then I looked up at him. “I’m thinking about my ex.”

It was honest, but I wasn’t sure whether that was a good thing or a bad thing. Hadn’t Cooper and I gotten into this predicament because we hadn’t been truthful enough with each other? We hadn’t been honest. We hadn’t done anything like that. The two of us had made the mistake of believing what other people said was happening instead of just going to the source and talking to each other.

Communication could save a lot of trouble. At least, I thought it could. That was my theory.

I waited, looking at Cooper. Was he going to freak out? Jake always had. If I ever tried to bring up high school or people I’d thought about, people I’d wanted to date, or Cooper in particular, Jake would shake his head and hold up a hand and snap at me about it.

Cooper didn’t, though.

Instead, he set his fork down, laced his fingers together, and propped his chin on his hands.

“What about your ex?” He asked.

“You aren’t mad?”

“That you’ve dated other people?”

I nodded.

He only laughed.

“Cordelia, we’re in our thirties. I hardly think you’re a virgin.

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