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“Hunter, I—” I start, but he holds up his hand to stop me.
“I don’t want to hear it, Reese. I don’t know if I will ever be able to forgive you for what you did. You broke my heart.”
I nod. I know I did, and I know how it feels, but I don’t bother to tell him that. Besides, I don’t think he would care. “I’m sorry.”
“Goodbye, Reese. I hope you and Cooper are happy together.” With that, he walks to the door and opens it. I’ve worn out my welcome.
Standing, I walk to the door and stop when I reach him. “I’m so sorry, Hunter.” His jaw is clenched, and his stare is hard as he stares off into his apartment. I got to say what I came to say, and I knew it wouldn’t be easy. I’ve never seen Hunter act like this before, but it’s understandable. After what I did to him. “Take care of yourself,” I whisper and walk out the door.
Thankfully, I don’t have to wait long for the elevator, and the ride down is quiet as well. When I make it out onto the street, I pull in a deep breath, slowly exhaling. I hate that I hurt him, but it’s what’s right for both of us. We both deserve better. Him especially. He needs someone who will love him the way I love Cooper.
Cooper might have confessed his love to me, but I knew I didn’t love Hunter, not the way he deserved to be loved. This is on me, and I take responsibility. Cooper said that every future has a past. I can only hope our pasts are entwined with our future. That we’re able to navigate these rocky seas and find our way back to shore. I want that more than anything.I’m barely in the apartment with the door shut behind me when Cooper engulfs me in a hug. I don’t fight the connection; instead, I wrap my arms around him and hold on tight. This is exactly what I needed. We stand here for several long minutes before he finally releases his hold on me and steps back.
“Come sit.” He takes my hand and leads us to the couch. He sits and pulls me into his lap. I’m about to object, but his words stop me. “I know slow, but I also know you need this. Let me hold you.”
I relax into him, never able to resist being close to him. “It’s been a long day.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“Not really much to say. He’s hurt and angry, as he should be. I hate that I hurt him.”
“I know you do.”
We’re quiet for a few minutes. I think about the conversation with Hunter. Even though it was hard, it needed to happen. I also feel as though a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. He didn’t have to let me in. He didn’t have to give me the chance to say I’m sorry, but he did. My wish for him is that he finds love. I hope he finds someone who loves him as much as I love the man holding me in his arms right now.
“I made dinner,” Cooper says softly. “Are you hungry?”
I lift my head from his shoulder to look at him. “You cooked? Or ordered takeout?” I raise my eyebrows in question.
“I cooked.”
“Really? So what are we having?” I inquire.
“Spaghetti. Before you ask, yes, it’s jar sauce, but I spruced it up with some hamburger, and I got those twisty bread roll things you love.”
On impulse, I lean in and kiss his cheek. “Thanks, Coop.”
“If that’s the response I get, I need to take some cooking classes in the off-season.” He grins.
“I’m starving, but I want to change out of these clothes.” I stand from his lap and head to my room to change. Five minutes later, I find him in the kitchen setting two heaping plates of spaghetti on the table. “This smells delicious.”
“Oh, it is,” he assures me.
“How modest of you,” I tease.
“All in a day’s work,” he says, pretending to brush off his shoulders.
“Sit, crazy man.” I laugh.
“How did it go?” he asks, taking a huge bite of his dinner.
I finish chewing and wipe my mouth. “Like I expected it would. But it’s the closure I think we both needed.”
“Good,” he says, taking another bite. “Damn, either this is good, or I’m starving.”
“It’s good. When did you learn to cook?”
“Living on your own, missing your best friend, tired as fuck from grueling games and practices. A man can only eat so much takeout.”
“So, what else can you cook?” I ask.
“I make this rice dinner. It’s more of a concoction, but it’s really good. I just kind of toss things in. Spaghetti, grilled chicken, and steak, of course, on the grill. That’s about it. I’m a work in progress.”
