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But the bigger part of me knows that for the longevity of my career, this is the move I need to make.
This will get us closer to our family, and even if Carys isn’t ready to tell them about us yet, she’ll want too soon.
I hope.
* * *
I call Carys on my way to her house, but it goes to voice mail, so I shoot her a text.
Cooper:Hey baby. I’m home and I’m dying to see you. You home?
She doesn’t answer my call or text. But worst-case scenario, if she’s not there, I’ll just walk down the street to my place. When Ford stops in front of the house, my Jeep is sitting in the driveway, so I’m hoping that means she’s home.
“Thanks for the ride, man.” I climb out of Ford’s truck and lean in the door.
“Be at the beach at zero-eight-hundred. Let’s see if you can still keep up.” The asshole pulls away, laughing. Joke’s on him. I cut time off my personal record, and I’m closing the gap between us. Ford may have been the fastest fucker on the team when I left, but we’ll see if he still is.
I walk up to the front door and knock once, then wait. When the door swings open, drummer boy’s on the other side of it. He eyes me carefully, and I can’t quite figure out what he’s thinking.
“Hey, man. Is Carys home?”
“Yeah.” He steps aside to let me in. “She’s not feeling well, so she’s lying down. Jack and I are downstairs, if you need anything. You know where her room is.” He shuts the door and heads toward the basement.
“Hey, Theo.” He turns around. “Thanks for taking care of her. I appreciate it.”
Where a minute ago he was open and easy, now he bristles at my words. “I didn’t do it for you. I did it for her.” He takes a step closer. “She’s too good for you, you know that, right?”
My blood boils at every word. “Yeah? And you’re good enough for her?”
He pulls a drumstick out of his back pocket and flips it through his fingers. “No. We’re friends. That’s it. But at least I’m here. Remember that.”
The motherfucker walks away.
Smug. Because he knows he’s right.
It’s mid-March. I’ll be here until July, then I’m gone again until the end of the year.
I take the stairs two at a time, then knock lightly on Carys’s door. When there’s no answer after a moment, I crack it open and whisper her name into the dark room. She’s asleep on the center of the bed. Her hands are tucked under her face, her dark hair spread out behind her on her pillow, and her legs are tucked up against her.
I close the door and kick off my boots, then lie down behind her, gently pulling her against me and holding her.
Carys whimpers in her sleep, then settles in my arms.
She sleeps soundly for another hour, and I lie here and watch her.
Thinking about all the things we’ve got going against us and all the ways I’d fight to keep her.
Eventually, she rolls over in my arms, and her lips press against my jaw. Her eyes remain closed, and her breathing is even, but she knows I’m here. “Love you, Cooper.”
“Until the end of time, Carys.”
Dr. Gaither toldme not to push it when I felt a headache coming on. I’m supposed to take two ibuprofen and relax. Sleep. This was his advice a few days ago. Sleep has been hard to come by since he confirmed I have lupus. My mind has had a hard time settling. But today, before I even open my eyes, my body tells me I’ve been in my bed for hours. I dream of Cooper every night, but now, his clean, masculine scent still lingers in my nose as if he’s here with me. Clinging to the remnants of my dream, I bask in the feel of the weight of his arms around me and the warmth of his body against mine.
I refuse to open my eyes, wanting so badly to go back to my dream, where this is real.
Where he’s here.
“Wake up, sleeping beauty.”
