He dropped to his knees and took both my hands into his. “Please, Bails.” He stared at the floor by my feet, then slowly lifted his eyes to mine where I stood in stunned silence. His eyes filled with dread as he watched me and when I smiled and muttered, “Yes,” in acceptance, he bolted up and picked me up.
He spun me around in a circle, kissing me and laughing. “I thought you were gonna tell me to get lost.”
His relief was palpable, and we spent the rest of the day wrapped up in each other’s arms, kissing and talking, and for the very first time feeling hopeful about being together. That night he spent the night in my bed, but we decided to take it slowly. As he kissed me softly his eyes closed, and he sighed pulling me tighter into his arms.
“Bails, I haven’t been this relaxed for over a year and a half.” He snuggled down beside me and pulled me, so I was lying on his chest. I lay there, content, for a moment listening to his heart and his even breathing.
“We should have done this in the beginning,” I murmured before I began to drift off, his hands running softly over the skin on my back. A few hours later I woke up and my bed was empty. At first, I didn’t think anything, but then his scent rose around me as I moved, and I remembered he’d been in my bed when I’d finally fallen asleep.
I glanced at my cell and saw it was three a.m. My throat was scratchy as I went to call out for Coop, so I decided to head downstairs to the kitchen. I sleepily walked along the hallway, peeking into Coop’s room as I passed, but it was empty. My feet tripped over one another as I made my way down the stairs, but the house was silent.
I didn’t hear a sound as I padded softly into the kitchen, but I paused as I walked in. Coop was sitting at the counter with his head in his hands. He was speaking, his voice full of pain. I moved towards him silently and I placed my hand on his shoulder. He shrugged me off and I moved away from him towards the pantry.
My whole body froze just inside the door as Coop spoke, “Jan, we can’t keep doing this. You have to leave me alone.” He paused for a few minutes and I put my hand on the shelf to steady myself because I’d suddenly come over lightheaded. My breathing was shallow, and my pulse raced as I tried to focus on the room in front of me when Coop spoke again, “It’s not my fault. You can’t keep blaming me for having to abort our baby. That wasn’t my choice. I had no say in any of it, so please stop calling me.”
He slammed his hand down and I jumped. Something clattered to the floor and I backed up. There was nowhere to go, and I heard his heavy footsteps approach the pantry. My heart raced as the door opened and lights flashed in my eyes. I blinked but could barely see through the moisture in my eyes. “Bails, please let me explain?”
I couldn’t move and didn’t say a word to him. “She’s not supposed to call me anymore, I swear. I’ve asked her not to and told her I don’t want anything to do with her, but she won’t stop calling me. She’s lost it.” He paced just inside of the pantry, every time he moved, he came closer to me.
“She’s still calling you?” I spoke so quietly, and his shoulders slumped.
“It’s okay, you can go. You don’t need to tell me how much I’ve fucked up again. I already know.” His voice was broken and devastated.
My body moved without my mind saying a word, but a moment later, he was wrapped in my arms. He sagged against me in relief.
“You don’t hate me?” he asked in wonderment, and when I shook my head he leaned up and kissed me, whispering into my mouth, “God, I fucking love you so much, Bailey.” His hands tightened around my waist, and he moaned as I caressed his tongue before sucking gently on it.
“Let’s go to bed,” I murmured against his lips, “but, Coop, don’t answer any more calls, okay, and don’t hide it from me.”
He ran his fingers up and down my back as he muttered, “You got it, Bails.” His tone was off, and I pulled back and stared at him. He stared at my mouth, my neck, and his eyes dropped to my chest, but he wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“Cooper?” I spoke softly into the room and his face fell.
“She threatened to tell our parents about us if I ignore her.”
He was trying to protect me, letting her tear him apart, so I didn’t get hurt. We went upstairs and as we climbed into bed his cell chimed with a text. He glanced at it and I saw it over his shoulder before he put it down on the nightstand.
You are a selfish prick, Cooper Christie. I’m gonna tell everyone your disgusting little secret.
He shook his head and lay beside me, taking my hand and holding it tight as he stared at the ceiling. I wanted to turn and look at him, but I could tell he just wanted a minute, so I lay on my back, tracing patterns on his palm with my thumb and after a few minutes he drifted off.
I couldn’t sleep and I wanted to call that bitch and give her hell, but I knew doing that would only fuel the fire. I couldn’t do anything; we were completely at her mercy and I hated it. The next morning when I finally woke up, Coop was gone again. I was sure I’d dreamed the day before, but as I rolled over onto the opposite side of the bed a chiming sounded.
I didn’t think, I reached out and grabbed the cell from my nightstand. “Lo,” I muttered and then I cleared my throat and tried again, “Hello.” A sharp intake of breath greeted me on the other end of the line. “Is someone there?”
“What the hell are you doing answering my boyfriend’s cell?” My head woke up a little and I realized I’d answered Coop’s cell, oh hell.
“Whose cell is this?” I fumbled to make up an excuse as to why I would be answering his cell. Her voice was sharp as she spoke again.
“This is Cooper Christie’s cell and I’m his girlfriend, Jan. Now, why don’t you tell me who you are and why you’re answering his cell.”
I scanned my mind for a name and a plausible excuse. “I’m Lindsay Thompson, and I found this cell when I was out running. I didn’t know whose it was, but I think the Christies live next to my uncle, so I’ll go return it now. Nice talking to you and I’ll let Cooper know that you called.” I ended the call and ran my fingers over my eyes as I realized how close we’d come.
As I sat in bed, his cell chirped with a text and I saw a message light up the screen. I groaned and dropped his cell on the bed as Coop came into the room. His eyes lit as he saw me awake, but dropped as he saw me rubbing my head.
“What happened?” he asked as he walked towards me.
“Your cell rang, and I answered it, thinking it was mine.” Coop dropped onto the bed and his eyes widened. “Jan didn’t recognize my voice, so I told her I’d found your cell when jogging this morning.”
He leaned over and kissed me hard running his fingers up and curling them in my hair. He was sweaty, but the smell of him was driving me insane. I grabbed hold of his arm as he pulled me gently backward, dropping us to the bed. I sat on his lap kissing him ferociously. He sucked on my bottom lip and I could feel him hardening between my legs.
He lifted my tank up and leaned back to take me in. His warm eyes blazed up and down and he licked his lips before he dropped his head and sucked my nipple hard into his mouth, his other finger rolled my other nipple between his thumb and forefinger. I rubbed myself against him and slid up and down his workout shorts. I leaned back and pulled his shirt over his head, throwing it over my shoulder and onto my bed. I pushed up on his shoulder as he dropped his hands to my shorts and pushed the waistband down.