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I scoff. “Pretty sure thatwasme,Pops.”
He frowns, and I can’t help but chuckle. “You know what I mean. I know the man that hit that Coach wasnotthe son I raised but the son consumed by his grief and in pain. You just took that pain out on someone.”
I open my mouth to speak, but he cuts me off, holding his hand up. “Yes, I know he had no business running his mouth about those things.”
At the press conference prior to our three-game series against the Sharks, a reporter asked first-base coach, Leo Ryan, what his thoughts were about his team going against me and my current winning streak. To sum up politely, because just thinking about it makes my blood boil, he said he wasn’t worried, and to be honest, he was shocked that the Knights had even kept me on, given my questionable behavior, including prior to my joining the team. He may not have come out and said it directly, but the only major event in my life prior to becoming a Knight was the accident.
The press conference came to an abrupt end after that, and to my knowledge, he wasn’t even reprimanded for his answer.
I took out my anger at him on the field. However, it wasn’t until the sixth inning that I let the rage take over and get the best of me. Grant Haskin was at bat for the Sharks, and he hit the ball up the first-base line, which our first baseman, Cody Matney, ran after, so I headed to first base to cover for him.
I couldn’t tell you what exactly he said behind me besides Tanner’s name leaving his lips. Before I could even think, I had brought my arm back and fucking swung. Chaos ensued on the field before security escorted me out of the game. And that was it.
“You know you can always come talk to me about anything, right? I don’t want to see you fall down that same rabbit hole again.”
“I know, Dad. I don’t plan to.”
He claps his hands together. “Now, we better get you home so you can shower and don’t make her wait too long.”
I rush up Riley’s front steps and knock on her front door. My hair is still slightly damp from my shower.
Riley opens the door moments later, revealing her wearing a black-and-white sweater that hangs slightly off her shoulder and formfitting jeans. But the best part is the megawatt smile she greets me with.
“Wow, you look gorgeous.” I step just inside the house and grab the back of her neck, pulling her lips to mine.
“These are for you.” I hold out a bouquet of various purple flowers.
“Thank you, they’re beautiful.” She brings the bouquet to her face and inhales its sweet scent.
“You ready to go?” I ask when she comes back from putting them in the kitchen.
She nods, and I lead her out the door.
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
“Nope,” I say, exaggerating the popping sound on thep. I open the passenger door to my truck, and she hops in. I confirm that she’s all set and shut the door before running around to the other side.
We make small talk the entire drive down Highway 15. However, as we approach the crash site, a heavy silence surrounds us. Without even realizing it, my speed has slowed. I peer out the window at the small white wooden cross on the side of the highway, and my grip tightens on the steering wheel.
Soft fingers close around my right hand. I look over at Riley, and her warm gaze washes over me.
“So, I’m not sure we’re the only love blossoming in Meadows Ridge lately,” she says, pulling my attention away from the site back toward her and the road.
I quirk a brow, not sure where she’s going with this.
“Yep,” she says with a big smile, adjusting in the seat and pulling her left leg under her right thigh. “It seems since they left, Sutton and Ace haven’t stopped talking. They even made plans to meet up for New Year.”
Holy shit, I didnotsee that coming. But good for him. I need to remember, though, to give him shit for not sharing any of that information with me.
“Thank you,” I admit when I realize she did that to distract my mind.
“Why, I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She smirks, tucking a few pieces of hair behind her ear.
I click my tongue on the roof of my mouth and chuckle as I put my blinker on and turn down the gravel road that leads to the fairgrounds.
Riley sits up straighter, placing her palms on the dashboard. “Cooper, where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
