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“Sam—” Ethan tried to speak, but I cut him off.
“No, I don’t want to hear it. I asked you two weeks ago if you could take this week off to be with Levi so I had time to find a sitter, since we both know you won’t do it. This is my first week at my new position, and now I’m going to have to call and say I can’t make it into work today because of your selfish ass.” Rage coursed through my veins and my cheeks filled with heat. I felt the burn of the tears, begging to be released, but I refused to let him hear me cry.
“Samantha, I’m sorry. I can get him later tonight after work.”
“You mean after you’re done fucking her and can squeeze in a little time for your son? Hell, you probably won’t even get him in time to feed him at a decent hour.”
“That’s not fair, Samantha.”
“No, what’s not fair is you bailing on me right before I need to be at work. Knowing I wouldn’t be able to find a sitter on such short notice. Knowing I got this promotion and can’t fuck it up. Won’t fuck it up. I have nothing more to say to you, and I need to call my boss. Hopefully you’ll actually follow through and pick Levi up after you’re off work.”
“Okay, b—”
I ended the call before he had a chance to finish saying goodbye.
Fucking asshole. I can’t believe this.
Sighing, I leaned my head against the wall and slid down, sitting on the hallway floor as I wiped away the tears as quickly as they fell. The sound of a door creaking open startled me, and I hastily stood up.
“Hey, Samantha. You okay?” Cooper’s head peeked out from around the corner of his doorway, his hair slightly tousled. His eyes were just as intense as they’d been the day before, though, and now they watched me, tainted with concern.
I waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, hey. Yeah. Sorry. Absolutely fine.” I couldn’t rein in the edge in my voice.
He pushed away from the doorframe and came out into the hallway. The sight of him in a simple white t-shirt and perfectly fitting stonewash jeans made me swallow down the lump that formed in my throat.
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I did hear that you’ve got a dilemma. If you want, I can watch Levi for you?” Cooper sounded unsure of the words himself, but I didn’t know if it w
as because of what he was suggesting, or just because he was suggesting it to me.
Either way, I hadn’t expected the offer, and my eyes narrowed. “Oh. Well, thanks, but...you don’t have to do that. I do appreciate—”
“I don’t have anywhere else to be right now, so I’m available, pretty much every day, for a while.” Cooper’s voice was deep and soothing. But, he must have realized what his offer sounded like, thought about it, and added, “I just mean, I’m not really working right now. I play hockey for...I mean, I’m a hockey player, a professional one. I just have a shoulder injury that’s preventing me from playing this season. I do work, just not right now.” The resultant upward curl of his lips was adorable, and I idly wondered if he was trying to impress me.
“I don’t watch hockey,” I admit. “So, I’ve never really heard of you.”
Cooper laughed. “I never said I was a celebrity, just a hockey player in the NHL. I’m not bragging, I swear.”
“I get it. Thanks, Cooper,” I said with a laugh. “But I could never ask you to babysit.”
“You’re not asking. I’m offering. It’s different.” The thin smile turned into a smug grin.
“I don’t even know you.” The words were out of my mouth before I realized how defensive they sounded. “And you don’t know me,” I added, hoping to level the playing field a little.
“Nope, I guess you’re right.” He ran his hand through his hair. “But the offer still stands, Samantha. If it makes you feel any better, you can call me every fifteen minutes to make sure everything’s good, and you can ask the superintendent for the background check they ran on me when I moved in to prove I’m not a criminal. Just a hockey player, with a son of his own.”
I didn’t mean to, but I chuckled. Normally, I wouldn’t trust a stranger with my child, but there was something about Cooper that was different, and I knew deep in my bones that I could trust him with Levi. That alone made me even more hesitant because I didn’t understand what it was about him, or why or how I could feel so sure about someone I didn’t even know.
That said, I only had two options—go to work, or stay home with Levi myself and risk ticking off my boss.
“You have a son?”
He nodded. “Yeah. He’s six months old. But he’s only with me half the time, unfortunately. My ex and I try to keep it as even as possible.”
I could hear the sadness in his tone. “I see.” I couldn’t believe I was actually contemplating this. But what other choices did I have? “Well, uh... are you sure you want to spend the day with Levi?” I muttered out nervously.
“Yes, I am.” Cooper stepped forward, reaching his hand out to press it to my shoulder in a comforting manner.
Relief washed over me. Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around him in a hug, probably more for my benefit than his.
