I study the image. It wouldn’t take me long, but it’s the baking and cooling of the cakes that would be a small problem.
“I won’t be able to make this size. Probably will only have time for two tiers, and I don’t carry these pillars in stock anymore. I’d have to run to the cake-supply store and purchase them.”
“I can do that for you, if you want. You could start baking and not worry about it.”
She’s very agreeable, very flexible right now, and it makes me wonder what happened in the last forty-eight hours to change her attitude.
I study her carefully and lean against my kitchen counter. “It seems like you have enough on your plate. I’ll have one of my assistants help me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“You really don’t mind doing this for us?”
“Not doing it for you guys. I’m doing it for your mom and dad. They’ve been great friends to my parents, so it’s the least I can do.”
“Well, either way. Thank you.” She reaches into her purse. “I also have this for you.”
“What is it?” I ask, turning the envelope over.
“It’s an invitation to the party tonight. It’s at our house. We’d love it you attended as well.”
“We?”
She nods and sets the glass of water down. “Yes, we, as in Cooper too. You’ll see—just read the card. But I should get going. Thank you so much again. I can’t tell you how grateful we are. I’ll see you at the party tonight.” She takes off, and when the door clicks shut, I open the envelope and take out a handmade card with a well-penned gold C on the front.
I open it up and read the inscription: PARTY TONIGHT AT THE CHANCE RESIDENCE. An arrow directs me to the back. I flip it over and see Cooper’s name at the bottom. Like a little schoolgirl, I can’t help but sigh as I read.
Hey, you old bag of bones,
^^Not sure why I’m starting it off like that, especially since I’m trying to win you back, but it felt . . . right. Not that you’re old or a bag of bones. God, this seemed easier when we came up with the idea. Anyway, I would love for you to come to the party tonight. I know things are shaky at best between us, but hell, Nora, I fucking like you and I want to make things right.
I need your ELYSIAN heart.
Forever thinking of you,
Cooper
“Damn it,” I whisper as I go to my phone in my bedroom and look up what “elysian” means.
Heavenly.
“Damn it,” I say again, dropping my phone and flopping down on my bed so I’m staring up at the ceiling.
Dealia was right.
We do have amazing chemistry.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
LARKIN
“Are you nervous?” Beau asks as he parks his car on the side of the street next to the Chance residence.
“A little. Are you?”
“Yeah.” He stares out at the house. “I like her, Larkin. Always have.”
“I like him too, more than I probably should.”
“So, you think you’ll take him back?” Beau asks.
“Honestly, the last two days have been positively wretched. I miss him. I miss talking to him. His smile. His concentrating face, the way his brows pinch together when he’s deep in thought. I miss the way he laughs with everything in him when he thinks something’s funny, and I miss how I always felt safe around him. But I’m nervous. He struggles with some things.”
“Don’t we all, though?” He shifts in his seat to face me. “We all have baggage, you and I included. We aren’t angels when it comes to relationships, but we’ve also done the work, going to therapy together to help each other through the loss of our parents. Ford and Cooper most likely have some scars from their experience being in the foster care system. I don’t know what it was like for them, but I know it probably wasn’t easy. I think patience and understanding as a partner can go a long way. Some of us need it more than others.”
“True. I just worry. Dinner was just a disaster. We saw a side of all of the Chance siblings that was less than flattering, and that startled me. They have a lot to work through.”
“Agreed.” Beau takes a pause and then says, “But if you think about it, these invitations were clearly made by Palmer, just looking at the handwriting alone. They were delivered by both brothers. Together they’re throwing a party for their parents, who they love dearly. After such a huge blowout, they were able to pull it together, and from what they said on the back of the invitations, they have something to prove to us. Don’t you think we should give them the benefit of the doubt, that they were able to work through some of their difficulties? That maybe they’re all starting a new chapter?”