I need to talk to him. That’s something I was able to work out while I was in Mexico. He deserves to hear from me. It’s going to be a hard conversation, but it needs to happen. Hell, I’m not even sure he’ll talk to me. I might have to get creative, but he deserves an apology. I’m following my heart, but in the process, I trampled all over his. That’s not okay. I don’t expect him to ever forgive me, but it’s important he knows I will forever be sorry for the way I treated him. For the way I hurt him.
As for Cooper, I still don’t know what to do.
I love him. I’ve always loved him. I just don’t know if I can trust his declaration of love. I know he loves me, and he’s never lied to me. I’m just worried about him changing his mind about what kind of love he has for me. Tessa told me all week I was being irrational. That I need to give him a chance to prove it to me. She’s convinced he loves me.
I want him to love me.
Closing my eyes, I rest my head back against the seat. I’ve tried to read this entire flight, and I keep reading the same line over and over again. There’s no use in trying. Eyes closed, the first thing I see is Cooper. The way he hovered over me. The look in his eyes when he entered me for the first time, and when he told me he loved me. I want so badly to believe him. I want to jump right into this with him, full-speed ahead, but I know that’s not the best way to handle this.
Tessa said to let him woo me, and although I’m not sold on the wooing, I do feel like we need to take things slow. We could easily get swept up in one another from our history alone. I don’t want that. I let us take things too far that night in the hotel room. We should have talked, and nothing else. Maybe then I might not be so conflicted as to how to proceed. When I told him I needed him, I meant it.
Looking back, I’ll never forget that night, but I feel as though we need to take a few steps back. Ease into this… whatever this is.
The rest of the flight is spent reliving that night we spent together just one short week ago over and over in my head. My imagination all these years has nothing on the real thing. No matter what happens between us, I have that night. It’s one I will always cherish.
I’m walking through the airport with my carry-on wheeling behind me when I hear my name called. I stop and look around but don’t see anyone I know, so I keep walking.
“Reese!” I hear it again, and this time, I know the voice.
Cooper.
Following the sound, I turn to my right, and there he is. Standing tall, with a Defenders hat pulled down over his eyes. My breath hitches at the sight of him. He appears to be bigger than life with his arms crossed over his chest, his muscles on full display and his face, well it’s lit up with a smile all for me.
Slowly, I make my way toward him. He drops his arms to his sides, and as soon as I’m within reaching distance, he snakes an arm around my waist and pulls me into his chest. His face is buried in my neck, and his grip is tight. No matter how hard I try, I can’t resist wrapping my arms around him and hugging him back.
“I missed you,” he says softly.
I pull out of his hold and realize we’re causing a scene. He might have thought pulling the hat down low was a big enough disguise, but he was wrong. People are watching with their phones pointed our way. “We’re being watched,” I say under my breath.
“I don’t care. Let them look.”
“Cooper, people are going to talk.”
“I don’t care.”
“You don’t need a scandal,” I remind him.
“How is this a scandal? I’m picking the woman I love up at the airport. They can kiss my ass if they don’t like it. There is no scandal here.”
“Until they find out what I did.”
“What did you do?”
“The wedding.”
“You didn’t break the law, Reese.”
“I know that. It was a week ago. I still need to apologize to Hunter.”
Something flashes in his eyes when I mention Hunter. “I’m not hiding, Reese. I told you that.”
“Fine, can we please get out of here?” I keep my eyes on him, not willing to make eye contact with anyone else. I can feel the stares as more and more people begin to take notice.
“That I can do.” He laces his fingers through mine, and together, hand in hand, we make our way through the airport. Pointing fingers, and even more cell phones, are aimed in our direction. They don’t know about the wedding, but it’s only going to take one nosey reporter to do some digging to figure it out. I need to call Hunter before that happens.
We reach Cooper’s Truck, and he opens the door for me. “Nice ride,” I tell him.
“Thank you.” He waits for me to be buckled in before closing the door and racing around to the other side. Once he’s in, he leans on the center console, his eyes on me. “You know why I like this truck?”
“I’m going to take a wild guess and say it’s not gas mileage.”
He leans in close. “The tinted windows,” he says before pressing his lips to mine.
I try to fight it. I hold still for as long as I can, but when his tongue swipes across my bottom lip, I know I’m in trouble. I kiss him back for the briefest amount of time before coming to my senses and pulling away.
“I missed you,” he says again, his eyes hooded.
“We should go.” I shift in my seat to face forward.
“Where are we headed? Your house or your parents’?”
Here goes. “My place. But I can drive. My car is at Mom and Dad’s. If you can just drop me off there.”
“I’ll drive you.”
“Then I won’t have my car.”
“You can use my truck.”
“How long are you planning on staying?”
“I don’t have to report to training camp until the end of July.”
My mouth falls open. “You’re staying here until then?”
“Yep.”
“You can’t do that.”
“Yes, I can. I have a couple of prior engagements with the team, but I won’t be gone longer than a day or two. Maybe you can go with me. I can finally show you my place.”
“Where are you staying?”
“With you.”
“Cooper. We can’t do this. We can’t jump into this like we’ve been dating for years.”
“We kind of have.”
“No. We were best friends. There is so much we need to talk about. You can’t stay with me, Coop.”
“I’ll rent a place or stay in a hotel. I’ll figure it out. All I know is that I’m not leaving Columbus. I want as much time with you as I can get.”
“We need to talk.”
“We will.”
“I want my car.”
“Okay.” He nods, not taking his eyes off the road. “I’ll take you to your parents’ to get your car.”
“Thank you.” That was easier than I thought it would be. Cooper is stubborn as hell, and I know how he gets once he sets his mind on something. Impossible pretty much sums it up.
He reaches over and laces his fingers through mine. “How was your trip?” he asks again, keeping his eyes on the road.
I stare down at our joined hands. I know I should let go, tell him that this is too much too soon, but maybe I can bask in his touch just this time, during the drive to my parents’. I’ve missed him. Not just since I’ve been in Mexico, but this past year and before, if I’m honest. That night he pushed me away, created a divide. I know I’m just as much to blame for not being truthful. Maybe all of this could have been avoided.