"You tried." She giggled. This was what she missed most about him. The easy conversation, the playful banter, the laughter that seemed to be infectious.
“Hey Coop. It’s been awhile,” Elizabeth smiled and have him a hug as she did to basically everyone.
“Oh. Hello,” he chuckled.
"Do you know if your brother's on his way?" She leaned against the counter.
Cooper turned around and smiled. “My brother? I don’t think so,”
She shrugged with an easy smile. "Oh! Where are my manners? Would you guys like anything to drink before dinner?"
(Lillian: WE SHOULD CRASH THE PARTY.)
(Sorry, guys! Dare, should Fleur be there?)
(…I'm bored.)
(That’s unfortunate)
(Extremely.)
(Much)
She shrugged with an easy smile. "Oh! Where are my manners? Would you guys like anything to drink before dinner?"
Ryan chuckled. “I have wine,”
"Of course you will. Elizabeth? What about you?"
(Superbly)
"Of course you will. Elizabeth? What about you?"
“Uhh… I think I’ll take a water please,” she was just a little under age.
Cooper smiled, “I’ll take a wine too if that’s okay dear.”
"Fine by me. I'm with you, Liza, underage drinking is not something I recommend." She leaned back slightly. "Dalton? Opinion?"
“Surprise me,” Dalton shrugged and leaned against the wall.
"Okay then. Everyone take a seat, I'll get the drinks." She smiled, ignoring the pounding in her head. She'd choose to ignore the growing stress pains until it was too much to handle. Like usual.
Everyone went into the living room, everyone accept for Coop who wandered in behind Belle. “Need help carrying them?” He wasn’t dumb nor did he have the same ignorance as Ryan did, he knew Belle would be stressed and whether it was a headache or a panic attack, he’d be here to help.
"Alright, what's the lecture this time?" She chuckled, knowing she couldn't hide her pain from him. He could always see right through her.
“Depends on what’s going on in that pretty little head of yours,” he sighed. “You’re putting too much in yourself again, you know? Stress isn’t good for you or your babies,”
"You've seen me at my worst, this is nothing. It's just who I am, the girl who stresses about and overthinks everything because she's scared that one wrong move will make everyone hate her." She sighed, getting the drinks together.
“You have a husband. You’ve gotta try to split the load or… ya know…communicate?” Cooper knew all too well. “I know it’s hard for you but there’s probably no one you trust more than him, right?”
"Well, there is one person." She paused. "Sorry. Was. Yes, I trust him but I trusted Jasmine more. She was my sister, I could tell her anything without feeling like I was risking her leaving me." She shook her head to clear her thoughts. "But I'll try to talk about it more, alright?"
“Ryan’s definitely not going to leave you, that man loves you so much… too much…” he grabbed a few of the drinks and smiled down at her. “Thank you through, for that and giving me a chance,”
She shrugged. "Grudges are exhausting and stressful. I'm newly married, pregnant, and way too tired to deal with it." A small smile tugged at her lips.
He grinned like he couldn’t be happier. “We should get together sometime, just to talk or something?” Cooper didn’t really know who to talk to.
She thought it over for a minute. "That'd be nice." Her smile brightened a little.
Cooper nodded and started for the living room with some of the drinks.
She brought the rest out after him. "Alright, alcohol is served."
“Or not served,” Cooper smiled and handed Elizabeth her water.