Page 48 of A Scoring Chance
I smile, picking up the vase and sniffing the flower, just as he comes back through the bedroom door, coffee in one hand and juice in the other. “Here you go, Beauty.”
“Please tell me you’re going to eat some of this for me. I hate wasting food, but there’s no way I’m going to eat all of this.”
“I rarely eat much in the morning, especially after my workout at the gym.”
“Nothing? Not even some fruit or a protein shake?”
“A protein shake and fruit is usually all I can stomach. I eat smaller meals over the course of the day instead of three large ones.”
He plops down on the bed beside me before reaching across the tray and grabbing the bowl of fruit. My eyes zero in on his lips as he parts them slightly, popping a grape from the top into his mouth. I usually hate when people touch my food, but his actions don’t bother me. I’ll have to analyze that later. Right now, I can’t take my eyes off the way his mouth moves as he chews. Memories of that mouth between my legs during the wee hours of the morning filter through my mind, causing me to fidget in place.
“At least you ate something,” I mumble, grabbing the cup of coffee from the tray and bringing it to my lips, and I smile. “Someone must have called Alise.”
There’s no way that Cooper could’ve known how to make my perfect cup of coffee. Hell, Ma has been trying to figure out the right combination of cinnamon and coffee grounds. “Guilty as charged.” He grabs the fork from the tray and stabs what looks like a piece of pineapple with it before bringing it to my mouth. I open willingly. It is my favorite, after all. “I hope I wasn’t overstepping when I called her last night.”
Cooper ducks his head, looking away from me as his ear turns a rosy pink. “I wanted her to let Mrs. King know you weren’t coming home. You looked so peaceful sleeping in my bed. I didn’t have the heart to wake you. I had planned for us just to sleep, but… you know what happened.”
“Thank you for letting them know.” I giggle softly before planting a kiss on his cheek. It seems Cooper rambles when he’s nervous, as well, something we both have in common. “I also don’t eat much in the mornings. Just a cup of coffee and maybe a muffin.”
“Can you try to at least eat something?” Cooper looks down at me with perfect puppy-dog eyes that I have no idea how his mother ever resisted them. “For me.”
Bless it, this man is fucking dangerous. I immediately put my coffee cup down, grab the croissant off the plate, and pop a piece into my mouth. Cooper’s responding smile is blinding. “Thanks, Beauty. And don’t worry about not finishing everything. Beau is a human garbage disposal. I’ll let him know we have food. He’ll come running, no questions asked.”
“Beau is your brother, right?”
“Unfortunately, yes. You had the displeasure of meeting him yesterday.”
My cheeks heat as memories of my meeting with Beau come to mind. “Maybe I can eat more than just this.” The last thing I want to do is run into Beau Hendrix, especially not after he caught Cooper and me practically dry-humping on the entryway floor. I turn my attention to Cooper, but he doesn’t seem the least bit phased, as if this is something his brother walks in on regularly.
“You aren’t even a little embarrassed?” The words fly out of my mouth before I can stop them, but I really want to know the answer.
“Of what? My brother knowing how I can’t keep my hands off you for more than one minute or the fact that I was about to fuck you on my entryway floor?”
His eyes never leave mine as he gauges my reaction. On one hand, I love the fact that he doesn’t want to hide me away from his family, but another part of me is screaming to run in the other direction before I get hurt. But that part of me is a little quieter than the other, so I take another bite from my croissant.
“Besides, whether we see him this morning or later this evening doesn’t matter. He’s going to give both of us shit.”
“Later today?”
“For the exhibition game against the Wolverines.” I cock my head to the side, trying to remember when I made these plans, but come up empty. Cooper must notice my confusion because he continues speaking. “Alise is bringing Darius to watch the game with us and meet the team.”
I vaguely remember Alise bragging to Darius that she could get tickets to the game and set up a meeting for him with the players, but I didn’t think she could make it happen this fast. Being best friends with one of the star players has its perks. “How in the hell did you make this all happen so quickly?”
“Even though I’m not playing tonight, I still get tickets to the game. Damn good tickets, I might add. Alise drives a hard bargain, but I had to give her something so I could see you again before practice on Monday.”
Cooper palms my cheek, the corner of his lip pulling up in a mischievous smile. “If I’m being honest, I had ulterior motives. I hoped that you’d want to spend the day here with me. I can take you home if you want, but I’d really like to spend some time getting to know you.”
“Getting to know me? Whatever for? I’m probably one of the most boring human beings on the planet.” I chortle, nuzzling my cheek into his palm. My life revolves around my mother andDarius. Everything I do is for them or involves them. I highly doubt Cooper wants the list of medications Ma takes every day or how I need to find Darius a math tutor before he fails this year. “I work two jobs, take care of my mom and Darius, and occasionally find time to go out to lunch with Alise. Nothing special about me.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I’m almost certain there is more to you as a human being than what you can do for others.”
“Try me.” I might as well get this over with. He can ask his questions, but what will he do when he finds out I’m not as interesting as he thinks?
“I already know you know nothing about sports and have horrible taste in favorite chefs. You loved cooking enough that you wanted to go to school to do it professionally.” Cooper taps his finger against his chin, pretending to think. “You love the smell of apples and vanilla, and you snore in your sleep.”
“I do not snore!” I swat at his chest as he laughs loudly.
I’m surprised at how spot-on he is about everything he’s noticed about me, except that part about me having bad taste in chefs. Ollie James is the best there is, hands down. “You also love fiercely and with your entire heart. And most importantly, you are one of the most gorgeous women I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.”
