Part 25 (1/2)
”Why she's been a total sad case this past week and wouldn't tell me why. It's you. But the past couple months make sense now, too. It was like she'd swallowed a happy pill and I think you're the reason. She's been broken for a really long time and you fixed her.” He brushed at the corner of his eye, and Bryce kind of fell in love with the kid.
”I'm not sure I deserve-”
”I think you do. So even though I'm still worried about my sister and my agent being together, I don't want to be the reason she doesn't get a chance with you.”
Bryce wanted nothing less than to give Honor everything. ”I appreciate that.”
”And I don't want to give you up either.”
”I'm happy to hear you say that, too. I've got big plans for you.”
Cooper smiled. ”Awesome.”
”It sounds like I've got a good chance of making things right with your sister, but you in if I need some help?”
”For sure. But don't worry. Everything's gonna work out.” He stood and put out his hand. Bryce did the same and they shook. ”As far as any details about you and my sister, though. You can keep those to yourself.”
Bryce chuckled. ”I'll let Honor keep you posted.”
”Cool. See you guys.” He lifted his chin in good-bye to Danny and Bryce sat back down.
Danny put his hands behind his head. ”Well, well, well. So that's been the reason for that sad bonehead face of yours.”
”How do you know it's not because of you?”
”You're not getting rid of me altogether, dude.” His best friend had finally shared what had been on his mind-he wanted out of the agent world so he could focus on what he really loved: woodworking. Over the past couple of weeks they'd worked to make that happen. Hired someone new. They'd always be friends, just not partners.
”You know I'm not surprised,” Danny said with a smug look on his face.
”I know.”
”Are you sure Honor will still want you?”
”Have I told you what a pain in the a.s.s you are?”
”Numerous times.”
”You really need to get your own love life so you stay out of mine.”
”You've no idea.” Danny's shoulders slumped.
Bryce narrowed his eyes at his friend. ”Is there something you're not telling me?”
Danny quickly masked whatever it was Bryce had seen. ”You heading to White Strand?”
”The thought crossed my mind.” Honor might have technically walked out on him, but he'd been the one to let her go without telling her what she meant to him first.
”Go big or go home.”
Bryce scratched under his chin. How many times had he said that? How many times had he heard it? ”Thanks for the reminder.”
”Don't mention it.” Danny stood. ”Any other problems I can solve for you this afternoon?”
”I'm good.”
Danny gave a salute and left. Bryce laced his fingers behind his head and stared at the signed hockey stick leaning against the corner of the wall. His gaze s.h.i.+fted to other signed memorabilia on the bookshelf.
On his desk sat a framed note from his sister. She'd given it to him after his bike accident. Used colored pencils to spell out his name vertically, then attached a nice word to each letter.
Words alone didn't always go the distance. But words combined with action could do some serious damage. And he needed to do something serious to convince Honor to give them a chance. He jumped to his feet.
”I need your help,” he said, barging into Danny's office. Bryce staggered for a second, seeing boxes packed up.
”You okay?” Danny stood from behind his nearly bare desk.
”Yeah.” He let out the breath he'd been holding since the day Danny told him about his new plans. ”I'm just going to miss you around here.”
Danny grinned. ”Aww.”
”Shut up.”
”So, what kind of help?” Danny eased back into his chair.
Bryce launched into what he envisioned, watching Danny nod in agreement. They made a plan and on his way out of the office Bryce called Zane and Sophie. To make this work, he needed them, too.
And a small town named White Strand Cove.
”Could you slow it down to a human pace, please?” Honor said, trying to keep up with her brother. When she'd agreed to go grab coffee and a fritter with him she hadn't realized she'd signed up for a speed walk, too.
”You really need to get back to exercising,” Coop said, not slowing down in the least.
”I'll have you know I went running last weekend.”
”Really?”
”And I walk all the time. But jeez, what's the rush this morning?” The sun shone, birds sang, flowers bloomed. Spring had sprung and she wanted to enjoy it.
Those seemed to be the magic words because he lagged enough for her to join his side. ”Sorry. I'm just hungry,” he said.
She b.u.mped his elbow with hers. ”You're always hungry.”
They turned the corner onto Main and Honor sighed as the smell of baked goodness and coffee hit her nose. ”Where is everyone this morning?” she asked, not really expecting Coop to give her an answer. It was just awfully quiet for a Friday morning. Usually the line for fritters busted out the door.
Weirder still, when they pushed open the door to the Beach Cafe not a single person stood inside. That had never happened in Honor's entire existence. If Rachel hadn't smiled from behind the counter, Honor would've thought she'd entered some alternate universe.
”Morning!” Rachel said, a little too perky.
Then Coop ran back outside like someone had yelled ”fire.” What the heck was going on? The way the hair on the back of her neck stood up, she was about to get punked or enter the Twilight Zone.