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We’re three-wide, two-rows deep as we walk to the hotel where the draft is taking place. Cooper and his parents lead the pack while I walk with mine. Dad is in the middle, and Mom and I both have our arms linked through his. I’m glad because my knees feel weak. I’m so nervous for Cooper. I was reading last night that sometimes even if it’s an assumption that you will go in the first round, that’s not always the case. I know it’s a privilege he was invited. Only those slated to go in the first round get picked. Cooper, Trey, and Nixon all got the invite. They’re hell on wheels on the field together. I know the chances of them all going to the same team are slim, but those coaches, they’d be crazy to not attempt to be able to recreate the magic of the three of them on the field together.
We filter into the hotel and are directed where to go. Apparently, all players and their families and agents wait in an area they refer to as the green room. There are tables set up with players’ names on them. We’re led to Cooper’s table, and everyone begins to take their seats.
“Reese.” Cooper says my name to get my attention. He pats the chair next to his on the opposite side of the table.
I nod and join him. “How you feeling?” I ask him.
“Like I’m dreaming. Can you believe we’re here?”
“You’re here, Cooper. This is from all of your hard work, dedication, and love of the game. That’s why we’re sitting at this table. You did it.” I reach over and give his hand a gentle squeeze.
“It’s fucking crazy, Reese. It’s all happening so fast. Soon I’m going to be packing and moving. I’ll be heading to training camp.”
“Yeah, you are,” I say with a smile. I hide the pain of losing him. This is his day, his moment. I won’t ruin that. My phone vibrates from its spot on the table, glancing at the screen I see Hunter’s name.
“Checking up on you?” Cooper asks. His voice is tight.
“I doubt it. I haven’t talked to him all day.” Grabbing my phone, I swipe the screen and pull up the message. I know Cooper is reading over my shoulder, but I don’t care. There’s nothing in this message that he can’t read.Hunter: Hey, you. Just wanted to tell you I’m thinking about you.
Hunter: Tell Cooper good luck tonight.Me: Thanks.I send him a picture of the wall that has the professional football league’s logo.Hunter: Surreal!“He makes it hard for me to hate him,” Cooper says from his seat next to me.
I turn to face him, and he’s close. Closer than I thought. All either of us would have to do is lean in just a fraction, and we’d be kissing. Something I’ll never experience again, but also something I’ll never forget as long as I live, is the feel of his lips pressed against mine.
“What are you talking about?” I ask. Neither one of us makes an effort to move out of the other’s space.
“Hunter. That message. It makes it hard for me to hate him.”
“Why do you want to hate him, Coop?”
His brown eyes hold mine. He leans in a little closer, and his voice is low and gruff. “Because he has you.”
Before I can ask him what he means by that, his agent appears, placing his hand on Cooper’s shoulder and effectively pulling his attention from me. My hands grip my phone as his words replay in my head. Because he has you. What does that mean? I thought he didn’t want me? Did he change his mind?
A million questions bounce around in my head, but I don’t have time to process them. Cheers erupt as the night begins. I try to clear my mind and focus on the here and now. This night, Cooper’s future. However, I can’t help but wonder what role I’ll be playing in that future.
“Honey, I’m so proud of you. No matter what happens.” His mom smiles at him. His dad and my parents both say similar things and offer him wide smiles.
Then he turns to look at me.
“You’ve got this, Coop.”
He reaches under the table and slides his hand in mine, resting them on my lap. “I’m glad you’re here for this, Reese. I couldn’t imagine being here without you.”
“Ladies and gentlemen.” The announcer’s voice echoes throughout the room. There are large screens placed around so we can watch what’s going on behind the curtains. “The Houston Tigers announce their first-round draft pick, quarterback Trey Anderson.”
I turn to look over my shoulder, where Trey sits with his family, and he has a shocked expression on his face. He’s also speechless. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen Trey speechless. Cooper stands, pulling me with him as we make our way to Trey’s table. The three of us hug, and I’m squished between the two of them.
