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“Cooper, we’ll be right behind you,” Austin shouts.
I glance back over my shoulder the best I can as I’m being escorted out of the bar, deputies doing the same with the Briggs brothers and Ace. I find Austin standing beside Riley, who is being comforted by Sutton. She looks up and meets my gaze. The look of fear in her tear-filled eyes devastates me. I don’t break eye contact with her until I have to when the front door of the Pint closes.
I’m sorry, babyis all I can think as I’m put in the back of the patrol car. God, I pray that once again, my anger hasn’t ruined another good thing in my life.
I let out a sigh as I hang my head in my hands.
This wasn’t exactly what I had planned for the evening—enjoy a few drinks, have a few laughs, watch my worlds come together.Maybe even sneak Riley into the bathroom and fuck her on the sink counter.But definitely not spending hours cooped up in a tiny cell with three other men—two of whom I hate with a passion.
“Alright, hotshots, time to go,” Sheriff Giblin calls out from the other side of the bars, followed by a jingling of keys.
I lift my head at the loud clanking noise of the heavy door sliding open.
The four of us look at each other, unsure who exactly he’s setting free. As if he can sense our hesitation, Sheriff Giblin clarifies, “The Pint isn’t pressing charges, so y’all are free to go. Come on, get your ugly asses out of my jailhouse.”
Don’t have to tell me twice.I push off my knees to rise and smack Ace with the back of my hat when he doesn’t move. “Let’s go.”
I readjust my hat on my head and slip out of the jail cell and down the hallway. After signing a few documents and retrieving the rest of our belongings, the front door to the station swings open, and we’re free to go.
When I step outside, I look up at the sky and close my eyes, letting out a sigh of relief.Freedom.
I stumble forward as Tripp and his brother shove past me.
“Seriously? That’s what got us landed in here in the first place, dumbass.”
Tripp grumbles something under his breath, but I roll my eyes. I don’t need to revisit that cell anytime soon, if ever. I glance down the steps to where the Briggs brothers are heading, and that’s when I spot Riley leaning against the passenger door of Austin’s SUV with her arms and ankles crossed. She’s lost in thought, focusing on something off in the distance.
I jog down the stairs two at a time, heading toward her, and the sound of my rushed footsteps on the concrete causes her to jerk her head to face me. Our eyes lock, and the breath literally rips from my chest, and I freeze in place. Ace runs directly into my back, giving me a slight nudge forward.
“‘Fuck, dude.”
Ignoring him, I close the distance between Riles and me. I swoop her into her arms and cradle her against my chest.
“Baby, it’s okay.” Her body trembles against mine. I press a kiss to the top of her head when her grip tightens around me. “Riley, everything’s fine. The officer said the bar isn’t pressing charges, and they let us go. I’m fine, I promise.”
When she doesn’t respond, my back stiffens. “Look at me.”
Her grip on my waist loosens slightly as I tip her chin up with my thumb and forefinger. Tears are streaming down her face. Something is wrong. I can feel it in my bones.This is more than just me and Ace getting arrested.
“Riley, you’re scaring me.”
She sniffs and runs the bottom of her sleeve under her nose. “Coop, it’s Coach.” She takes a staggered breath, and in those five seconds, everything changes. The ground beneath me folds, and the world spins off its axis. I’m falling into the darkness all over again as she continues. “He’s gone, Coop.”
“What?” I ask in disbelief as my brain tries to process those two words—he’s gone.
Riley pushes up on her toes and cups both my cheeks with her palms. “Cooper, I’m so sorry.” Her bottom lip quivers.
Placing my hands over hers, I bring them down and shake my head. “No, no,” I whisper over and over. “He was fine when I saw him the other day. No, it’s not true.”
Pressure builds in my chest as I try to catch my breath.This can’t be happening.
I can’t do this. I’m not ready for this.Will I ever?
My legs buckle, and I’m thankful for Riley being so close. She quickly jumps to my aid as I wrap my arms around her, keeping me from falling to the ground. When I bury my head in the crook of her neck, the emotions unleash. She holds me tighter as my vision blurs, and a strangled sob leaves my lips.
I thought we had more time. We needed more time. Why didn’t we get more time?
Chapter 33
