Page 99 of A Scoring Chance
“Thanks for the heads-up, Big D. I’ll call Momma from the truck and let her know we’re all running a few minutes late.”
“No need. We dropped Auntie Mel off at your place before we came to practice. She said something about needing to refill your fridge.” Alise giggles as I narrow my eyes at him, reminded of how furious I was when Ms. Melanie said that.
“That reminds me, for someone who’s determined to keep their body in tiptop form, how can you not cook for yourself?”
“Why would he do that? If Auntie Mel would fill my fridge for me whenever I needed food, I’d take it. That’s a good deal, and her cooking is amazing,” Darius quips.
“And what am I? Chopped liver?” I squeal, wiggling in Cooper’s arms, trying to get free.
“Your cooking is amazing. Way better than Auntie Mel’s,” Darius retorts quickly, realizing his misstep.
“Good save, kid.” Alise giggles, pulling open the door to Cooper’s truck.
Cooper places me gently on the seat, and I unwrap myself from around him. “Don’t you lock your door?”
“There is a small black button on the door that will unlock it when the key is within a certain distance.” He places a kiss on the tip of my nose before buckling me in.
“But I also have a spare key to his truck.” Alise rolls her eyes before opening the small jump door and sliding in. Darius climbs in right behind her, and Cooper closes the door tightly.
My eyes track Cooper as he makes his way around the front of his truck. “Something is going on with Beau and Alise. I just know it.”
“I agree, but there’s nothing we can do about it now. We’re just along for the ride,” Cooper responds, pulling out his phone.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Cooper
“You brought it, right?” I ask my mother for the millionth time since I walked into my place before dinner.
Dinner was a fucking disaster. Beau spent the entire meal pretending like I didn’t exist, making conversation with everyone at the table but me. Obviously, he was still mad. I can’t say that I blamed him, but it made for an awkward dinner for the rest of us. Momma eventually got sick of it and declared dinner over. We all grabbed dessert to go and went our separate ways.
“Yes, son. It’s nicely wrapped on the kitchen counter right next to the roses you ordered for her.” She pats my cheek softly as I grasp her hand and help her out of my truck.
Beau took everyone else back to the arena to grab Alise’s car. Apparently, everyone is having a birthday sleepover at Beau’s house. Better him than me. I can’t wait to have some alone time with my girl.
“Sorry, Momma. I’m just nervous.” I wrap her arm around mine before pushing the door shut and heading toward the lobby entrance.
“It’s okay, my sweet boy. I understand your nerves, but you have nothing to worry about. Ramona is going to love it.”The minute she presses the button, the elevator doors open immediately. The minute the doors closes, my mind spins out of control.
After what happened with Annamarie earlier at the arena, I’m second-guessing all of my plans for Beauty and me. I never thought anyone would go as far as trying to hurt Darius to get closer to me. Annamarie is crazy, but not the average unpredictable crazy you hear about in the tabloids. She’s the scary kind of crazy. The kind of crazy that people don’t know about until that person does something horrible to someone. It isn’t until after that fact everyone learns about what that sick and twisted person is really capable of.
I have every intention of calling Henry first thing in the morning to let him know what his daughter’s been up to for lord knows how long, but will that be enough to stop her? Did my words about being in love with Ramona get through to her, or did I just set us up for even more heartache?
“I hope so.”
A soft ding fills the car, signaling that we’ve arrived at Beau’s floor. “I know so. Now give your momma a kiss and stop worrying.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I lean down and press a soft kiss to her cheek before she steps off the elevator.
I hold the door-open button down, watching her slowly make her way to Beau’s door before using her key to enter. She gives me a quick wave before heading inside.
Is this even a good idea?The ache in the center of my chest that has been dormant since I met Beauty springs to life. This is going to be my dad all over again, isn’t it? Annamarie is going to take her away from me and Darius because I’ve been too selfish to let her go.
You have to let her go.“I don’t want to,” I croak, gripping at my Henley and pulling it away from my neck. I gasp loudly, trying to will air into my lungs as the panic takes hold.
You have to let her go. You have to let her go. You have to let her go.
The words keep playing over in my head as my back slams into the walls of the elevator. I can’t. I won’t. I need her. I love her. But can I keep her safe? I want to believe that I can, but if Annamarie convinced a child to injure Darius for a fucking PlayStation 5, what lengths won’t she be willing to go to get Ramona out of her way? I’d never be with her, but Ramona would still be gone. And it would be all my fault.
