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Again, what was I thinking? Great, I’ve gone from Taylor Swift to Dierks Bentley.
I hear footsteps outside the bathroom door. I guess Austin is home. A soft groan slips from my lips. So much for him believing my lie when I said I was okay before I slipped out of the barn. All I want to do is curl up in bed and forget about tonight, not get the third degree that I know Austin will want to give. I know he worries about me, and I can’t blame him for his protectiveness, but I asked for one night, and he couldn’t even give me that.
Once I turn the shower off and wrap myself up in a fluffy ball of sunshine, I mentally prepare myself for Austin’s interrogation.
My bedroom door is open further than I left it when I went into the bathroom, and my shoulders slump.Looks like we’re not wasting any time.
I keep my eyes down as I enter the room and head toward my dresser. It’s a little creepy that he’s just hanging out in the dark. “You’re making it a habit of sneaking into my room when I’m in the shower,” I tease before steadying my voice. “I told you I was fine, Austin, and I just want to go to bed.”
“I was beginning to think you weren’t going to come out until there was no more water in Brayden County.”
It’s not Austin’s voice that I hear, though.
“Cooper,” I shriek as I spin around, clutching the towel tighter, feeling just as exposed to him as if I’d dropped the towel and was standing completely in the nude. One hand fumbles to keep the towel tied at my breasts while the other pulls down at the bottom, trying not to expose too much skin.
I flip on the lamp to add a soft glow of light to the room. Perched on the end of the bed is Cooper, still dressed in the same outfit he wore earlier, but his hat is beside his thigh on my bed. He’s bent over, resting on his elbows, sliding his palms back and forth against each other.
“Look, Cooper, I don’t know why you’re here orhowyou even got in here.” I have a feeling I’ll be putting an ad out for a new roommate and best friend soon. Why can’t Austin just butt the fuck out? “But you can see yourself back out that way. Don’t let the door hit you on the ass on the way out—or do. I don’t actually give a fuck.”
But he doesn’t move. He just goes back to staring at his hands as if they hold all the truths or answers.
I huff out in frustration as I stalk over to my dresser. “What do you want, Cooper?” I ask as I open the top drawer and retrieve a pair of panties.
“You. I want you.” Those four words slip off his lips so easily.
I snort and roll my eyes as I slam the drawer shut. “A little late for that, don’t ya think?” I know my voice comes off harsher than I intended. Actually, no, I’m not sorry. He’s the one inmy house,inmy room,withoutmy permission.
“No, actually. I don’t—not if that kiss is any indication that you want me as much as I want you.”
I shake my head. Ugh, I knew this was going to come back to bite me in the ass. “I was just swept up in the moment.”
“Bullshit,” he shouts, and I startle.
“I think you should just go.” This is clearly getting us nowhere.
“No, I’m not going anywhere, Riles. I made that mistake once, and I’ll be damned if I do it again.”
My breath hitches, and all I can hear in the room is the drumming of my heartbeat in my ears.
Cooper worries his hands together as if he is waging a war on the inside and trying to keep himself composed. “Who hurt you?” He says those three words like the answer is as simple as answering what the weather is outside or what’s for dinner.
I stay silent.
“Riley.” His voice is stern and holds more conviction yet also a slight frailty to it. “Who hurt you?” he repeats, accentuating each word. “I need answers.”
“Really? Do you honestly thinkyouof all people deserve answers? What about me? What about the answers I’ve been owed all these years, huh?”
“I need to know whose ass I need to kick.” His breath is harsh, his shoulders heaving. The tightness in his coiled muscles is enough to pop like a bottle of champagne. It’s killing me to see him like this, but I won’t back down. He’s allowed his secrets, like why he left, and I’m entitled to mine. “Riley, so help me, God, if you don’t start talking…”
I know that if I tell him, this is going to change everything, but if I don’t, I fear he might channel Michael Myers and go on a killing spree.
He scoffs and grabs his hat. “Fine, fucking be that way,” he spits with gritted teeth and pushes on his knees to stand.
Do something, Riley.My eyes bounce back and forth between him and the door.
I squeeze my eyes shut, not able to look at him as I open my mouth to speak my truth. “It’s me, okay?” I shout back, years of buried emotion finally erupting out of me. “No one else hurt me but me. I made those scars.”
Cooper stumbles under the weight of my words as if I just sucker punched him right in the gut, knocking the wind out of him. I guess in a way I did. Words are a powerful force—not only can they create, but they can destroy. It’s why my mother always told me growing up to choose my words wisely.
