“Do you like it here?”
He shrugs, keeping his eyes on the road. “Honestly, I’m not really sure. Last year was hard for me. I didn’t really let myself take it all in.”
“What do you mean?”
“I missed you, Reese. It was hard, and I spent a lot of my time brooding because of it. I got close to a couple of guys on the team, but for the most part, I stayed to myself. I didn’t go out with them, unless it was at one of their houses. I just… wasn’t feeling any of it without you being there with me.”
“I guess we need to talk about that, huh? You’ll be coming back soon.” How can my heart be soaring with his confession and falling to the pit of my stomach in a matter of seconds? I know he has to leave. It’s his job, I’ve always known our situation isn’t permanent, but that doesn’t make the pain of knowing I’m not going to see him every day lessen. Then there’s him telling me how hard it was for him. I wasn’t alone in my struggle. If I would have spent less time avoiding him, and more time speaking my mind, a lot of pain, ours and Hunter’s, could have been avoided.
“Yeah,” he agrees. “I don’t want to talk about that right now. I want to enjoy you being here with me.”
“Okay, but we need to talk about it.” I’m not ready for him to go back, but I know it’s his job and would never in a million years ask him to give that up. He’s worked so hard to get where he is. I just don’t know how we are going to manage with long distance.
I’ve been looking online for social worker positions in the area, and so far, I’ve not had much luck. I enjoy what I do, and I would miss the kids I’m working with, but if it meant being with Cooper all the time, I would move. He’s mentioned it, but we’ve not talked about it. We also haven’t talked about us, and I know that’s all on me. I’ve been keeping us in the safe zone, but the reality is there is no safe zone. Not when it comes to Cooper. I’m madly in love with him. That is the one thing I’m certain of. I know that no matter the time or the distance, he still owns my heart. I was never willing to admit that until now.
“Ready?” he asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Yes.” I give him a wide smile. “I’m excited to see your new stomping grounds.”
“Business first.” He pulls the keys from the ignition and reaches for the handle.
I do the same and meet him at the front of his truck. “Oh my God! Are you Cooper Reeves, I love you so much! I’m your biggest fan,” I say, sugary sweet and jumping up and down.
He throws his head back and laughs, snaking his arm around my waist. “My biggest fan, huh?”
“Oh, the biggest,” I say, giggling.
“And you love me?” he asks with a glint of humor in his eyes.
“I want to have your babies.”
He pulls me into his chest and wraps his arms around me. “You love me, and you want to have my babies. Sold.” He pulls back, and we begin to walk toward the building. “How did you know that’s all I’ve ever wanted?”
“What’s that?” I ask, confused.
“You to love me and have my babies.” He smirks and pulls open the doors.
My steps falter but quickly recover as his agent, Jarvis Jones, comes walking toward us. “Right on time,” he says, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “Reese, good to see you.”
“You too.” I’m surprised he remembered my name. I only met him a couple of times, and that was over a year ago.
“Cooper, you ready? This won’t take long. I’ve had legal comb through both contracts, and it’s good to go.”
“Both?” I ask.
“Oh, in addition to underwear, there’s a sports drink that picked me up too,” Cooper explains.
“Your boy’s going to be a household name,” Jarvis tells me.
Cooper smiles at me, and if I’m not mistaken, there is a slight blush to his cheeks. I’d call him out on it, but I don’t want to make it worse in front of his agent. He’s supposed to be this bigtime badass football player. He is that, but he’s also just Cooper.
“Come on into the conference room. I have it all squared away,” Jarvis says, motioning for us to follow him.
“Mary.” Cooper stops as a lady about our parents’ age passes us in the hall. “Thank you so much for sending me all of the gear. This is my girlfriend, Reese. She works as a social worker for the children’s home, where I took the items,” he explains.
“Nice to meet you, Reese.” She offers me her hand, which I shake. “I hate to run, but I have a meeting across town.” She waves and rushes down the hall.
Cooper starts to walk again, and I have to rush to catch up with him, not that he’s giving me a choice. He hasn’t let go of my hand. We follow Jarvis into the conference room, and I sit and watch as Cooper signs two contracts for endorsement deals. It’s surreal to watch. I love that I get to be here for this moment. He’s made it. He did it, and I’m so damn proud of him. This is more than just a stadium. This is his work, his blood, sweat, and tears, and I get to be here with him.
We talked about this day so many times, him going pro. It’s here, he’s living it, and although he’s headed into his second season, it’s really sinking in for me being here. I tried so much to not think about him all last year, I missed out on all of this. The excitement, and the thrill of him living his dream.
“That’s it,” Jarvis says, placing the signed contracts into a folder. “I’ll send these over, and I’ll be in touch about the next steps.”
“Thanks, Jarvis.”
“That’s my job. What are you two getting into the rest of the day?” he asks, making conversation.
“I thought about giving Reese a tour.”
“They’re painting, so that won’t be today. Next weekend?”
“Yeah, maybe,” Cooper says, not committing. He looks over at me. “I guess we’re heading home. It’s been a while. I’m sure the place needs airing out.”
“Call me if you need anything,” Jarvis says, leaving the room with some pep in his step. Not that I blame him. Cooper signing those two deals, in addition to his new five-year contract, Jarvis just got another big payday.
“Home sweet home,” Cooper says, unlocking his condo, and pushing the door open, motioning for me to walk in first. “It smells better than the last time I was here.”
“Bad?” I ask, smiling.
“You have no idea. I cleaned out the fridge and washed up the laundry when I came down that day and signed my new contract.”
“Coop, it’s a great space, but it barely looks lived in,” I say, looking around the room. There are no pictures on the walls or any other types of decorations that make this place his.
“I slept here. Hung out on the couch watching TV, that’s about it.” He points to the end table.
I walk toward the end table and look down at the one and only decoration. A framed picture of the two of us. Picking it up, it’s a picture of us that was taken at one of his CU games. He’s in his jersey and a sweaty mess, but we’re both smiling and happy.