Cooper did not want to be here.

It wasn’t necessarily that he thought himself too good for these parties -- even if he most certainly was -- it was just that he was too exhausted. Freshly divorced with a career on the decline. Not the sort of person who was necessarily the highlight of such an event.

But he had to come. Had to keep up the ‘America’s good ol’ boy’ image. Had to pretend his life wasn’t falling apart, even if everyone already saw it. He was an actor. A good pretender. This was what he was paid to do, wasn't it? Tonight was just another gig.

Well, the free alcohol was a plus, at least.