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Frankie let out a frustrated groan. “It really has been so long since you left. When you finally do get back here, I’ll do whatever I can to help you find something. Heck, I’ll keep my eyes and ears open for anything that pops up between now and then.”

“I appreciate that. Now, distract me from the fact that I’m officially unemployed. Tell me what’s been going on in your life these last couple of weeks.”

It was better for me to do that and pretend like I had nothing to share. While she didn’t know everything about him, I had shared bits and pieces with Frankie aboutLiam over the years. I didn’t want to have to share any of that now, so I was glad she believed my life was completely consumed with caring for my mom, running the consignment shop, and fretting about what I’d do for income.

Frankie, once again, proved just how lucky I was to have her for a friend, because she didn’t hesitate to fill me in on what had been happening in her life since I’d returned to Landing and last spoke with her.

Though it left me longing for some quality time with her, it had been the perfect distraction from all that was weighing on my heart.

We ended our call, and I noted the time.

It was approaching closing time at the store. The new closing time, anyway.

Though the shop was usually open for another hour or so, I wasn’t going to stay that late today. My mom and I had been easing into this new routine ever since she’d had her first post-op doctor’s visit and started physical therapy.

She still had her moments that were challenging, but her pain had subsided tremendously since she’d first left the hospital. And even though she didn’t like the idea of me having to come here to work at the store, we both knew it was a necessity.

So, with each day and week that passed, we increased the time I spent here. For now, I showed up late morning and stayed until lunch. Then I went home, got her sorted with food and anything else she needed, and returned for a few additional hours in the afternoon.

Before heading out, I’d decided to catch up on some administrative paperwork that had been pushed to the side over the last couple of weeks.

I was just about finished with that, when the front door opened, and a customer walked in. Only, I’d been mistaken, because it wasn’t a customer. From where I was standing, I hadn’t had a direct line of sight to the store’s entrance, but within seconds, the visitor appeared. That’s when I knew nothing was going to be purchased.

“Cooper?” I gasped. “Is that you?”

I didn’t know why I asked if it was him. It might have been eight years since I last saw him, but I’d recognize him just as I had Liam and Jules when I saw them. What threw me off was the baby he was holding against his chest.

Cooper Westwood was carrying a baby. Was he a dad?

If seeing Liam and Jules and the hotel that Ivy was now responsible for hadn’t been enough to prove to me how long I’d been gone and how much things had changed, seeing a baby being held in Cooper’s arms like that would have done it.

Exchanging pleasantries didn’t seem to be at the top of Cooper’s list. In fact, the expression on his face, along with his commanding physical presence, rivaled that of Liam’s when Liam had shown up here in the store weeks ago.

And I got the distinct feeling Cooper was holding back now. If there wasn’t a baby with him, the fury he feltwould have been fully on display. As of now, it appeared that I was nothing more than a minor annoyance to him.

Ignoring my greeting, Cooper finally asked, “Do you understand what you’re giving up?”

The question caught me off guard. “Pardon?”

“With Liam. Do you understand what you’re giving up? Years ago, when you were young, it made sense you might not have understood. But now, more than halfway through your twenties, I figure you have to grasp just how foolish you’re being.”

Was Liam’s brother truly here in my mom’s store, insulting me to my face? “I don’t think you know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t I?” he retorted.

I couldn’t get a read on him. Beyond knowing that he was pissed at me and here to defend his brother in some way, I wasn’t sure if he was hoping for some sort of positive outcome. I mean, he’d all but called me stupid.

“I’ve known since the day Liam was down on one knee in front of me that I’d regret walking away from him,” I finally confessed.

Following a beat of silence, he asked, “Do you love him?”

“What?”

“Do youlovehim?”

“Of course, I do. But I’m not sure how any of that concerns you.”

His brows shot up, but they did so in a way that it was obvious he hadn’t expected me to respond to him the way I had. For what it was worth, I’d always found Cooper tobe a bit intimidating. He hadn’t ever done anything to me to make me feel that way; it was merely the way he carried himself.