“It’s not?”
“No.” He shook his head. “It’s because tonight there was nothing I wouldn’t have done to protect you. I didn’t care about my career or if I got into trouble. All I cared about was you. We’ve spent a lot of time apart. Some of it was needed so we could grow and heal, but we don’t need space to do that anymore. I want to spend every moment with you. I want to sleep with you in my arms, knowing you’ll be the first person I see when I wake up. I love you so much.”
My eyes stung with unshed tears. “I love you too, and I’d love to live with you.”
He crashed his lips against mine, but pulled back with a hiss.
“Let’s get your lip cleaned up, and then I’ll grab some ice for your knuckles.” I dabbed at the cut on his lip with a washcloth. “Are you hurt anywhere else?”
He shook his head. “He got a couple of body shots in, but I’ve had worse on the ice.”
“Are you sure?” I noticed his knuckles were a little bruised but not split open like I’d originally feared.
“You can take a shower and check for yourself.”
“I think you just want me to get naked.”
He shrugged. “Can you blame me?”
I lifted my shirt over my head. “Nope, because I want you naked too.”
In the shower,Coop showed me one of the many benefits of living with him, and I returned the favor when we climbed into bed.
Something from earlier kept replaying in my head as I lay in his arms though. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
I looked up at him. “Why’d Tim say he didn’t know we knew each other? It seemed like he knew you too.”
He closed his eyes. “You remember when I told you I went on a date with the guy who gave off some bad vibes?”
I shot up and gasped. “The wannabe kidnapper was Tim?”
Coop grimaced. “I couldn’t believe it when I saw him tonight. It made me sick knowing I’d gone out with him.”
“There was no way for you to know it was him.” The idea of Tim going on dates with unsuspecting people made an icy shiver run down my spine. What’s to say he wouldn’t hurt someone else? Maybe he already had. “I think I’m going to file a report against him for sexual assault.”
“I think that’s a good idea. He needs to pay for what he did to you, and beating the shit out of him wasn’t enough. But are you sure you want to do that?”
“I’m sure. Going to therapy has helped me heal, but if I can keep him from hurting someone else, then I want to do it. Plus, I have actual evidence now.”
“That was brilliant, baby. How’d you even think to record him?”
“The minute he said he was going to call the police, I sort of freaked out. At first, I just wanted him to admit he swung first, but then he said you deserved to go to jail, and I knew it was my chance to confront him with the truth finally.”
“I’m proud of you,” Coop said, grabbing my hand. “I doubt it was easy for you to say all that in front of the guys and Kaylee, but seeing you stand up for yourself was awesome.”
“Can you do it again?”
“Do what?”
“Watch me stand up for myself.”
His brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“Will you go with me to file the report? I know you have practice?—”
“I’ll do whatever you need me to do. Everything else can wait.”
