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“You know, Carys is planning on staying for a few weeks too. The band is going on tour.”
“That’s really great, man. Congratulations.” At least something good is happening for someone.
“Yeah well, we leave in two days. We’re opening for Black Stone, and according to Stone, the show must go on. Anyway, Carys was already planning on staying through the end of October. So, I figured maybe you’d... I don’t know. I guess I figured you’d want to know.”
As if she knew we were talking about her, the love of my fucking life appears in front of me, close enough to touch but a million miles away. She’s changed out of the pretty dress from earlier, but she’s as beautiful as ever. Her red-rimmed eyes scan me from the top of my head to the tips of my shiny black shoes before she turns them to Theo. “Hey, if you see Jack, can you let him know Em’s sleeping?”
“Yeah. No problem.” He kisses the top of her head, then juts his chin toward me. “See ya later, Coop.”
Carys slips into Theo’s vacated spot next to me, leaning back against the island.
She shouldn’t look amazing in sweatpants and a sweater, but she does. It’s got one of those necklines that hits her collarbone and kisses her shoulders. There isn’t a hint of cleavage to be seen, and the way it skims her subtle curves makes it seem prim and proper... but on Carys, it’s the perfect package. “Cooper...” She reaches for me but drops her hand mid-air and smooths it down her legs. “How are you feeling?”
“I’ll be fine,” I grunt out, torn between wanting to get her as far away from here as possible and wanting to take her home with me.
She nods, not surprised by my short answer. “Have you talked to Nattie yet?”
“Yeah. We talked for a minute before I left Germany.” My eye twitches from exhaustion and from the guilt of how quickly I got off the phone. “She was...”
“Yeah. That’s probably my fault. I didn’t exactly tell the family about us with any... finesse.” She shrugs, and her sweater slips off one bare shoulder. “You’re probably going to hear it at some point from Aiden too, if you haven’t already.”
I chuckle, staring at her exposed skin. “Yeah, Murphy’s called a few times. I haven’t answered. I wasn’t really supposed to have electronics in the hospital.”
“Cooper.” She reaches up and runs her fingers over the epaulet on my shoulder and down my arm.
I want to tell her I’m sorry she had to tell them all without me.
That we’ll deal with it together.
That everything will be fine.
But instead, I push her further away. “Guess telling them didn’t make a difference after all,” I say and then turn and walk away, feeling like a bigger ass now than I did at the hospital.
I don’t say goodbye to anyone.
I just walk through the front door and down the street to my house.
I hate myself a little more with each step.
I try to force myself to believe I’m only pushing her away for her safety, but that’s not entirely true, and I know it. Loving Carys was never the problem. It’s still not. But I’m so fucking mad at her, I can’t stand it.
I pull my key out of my pocket to open the front door of the house, but it pushes open without my unlocking it. The door wasn’t completely shut, although I’m sure I shut and locked it when I left.
Pushing it open slowly, I enter the house and clear it, room by room, grabbing my gun from my bedroom when I get there. No one’s here, and there’s very little out of place. However, I can tell someone has gone through my room. My duffle bag is open, and I know I zipped it closed this morning because I caught a shirt on the damn thing when I did.
Cooper:Looks like someone’s been in my place. They searched my shit. But they’re gone now.
Ford:Be there soon. Jessie has a shift at the hospital tonight, I gotta get her home first.
Rook:On my way.
* * *
“You’re sure you zipped your bag this morning? You were pretty pissed and not paying attention when I woke you up.” Rook runs the zipper back and forth as the three of us stand around the kitchen table, trying to figure out what the hell is happening.
“You threw a glass of water on me.” I stare at him in frustration.
Ford fucking laughs, like that’s the funniest thing he’s ever heard. “No shit? You woke him up with water to the face? That’s fantastic.”
