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Chapter 13
Ellery
After college graduation
I was unpacking a box in Cooper’s new apartment our senior year. He had decided to rent a place by Bryce and me. We’d had no romantic relationship because we were both so focused on our goals, and after his dad’s speech at dinner that night, it’d been clear to me that romance wasn’t in the cards for us. But we’d become the closest of friends.
His phone rang, and he answered, putting it on speaker as he took piles of clothes out of the boxes to put in his dressers. “Hey, Mom, before you ask, we got here ourselves. Ellery drove the truck.”
“I did not,” I said loudly enough for her to hear.
“Oh, Coop,” she said, a sob racking through her. “I have something to tell you.”
Cooper grabbed the phone and sat on the edge of the bed. “Mom?”
I sat next to him, my stomach pitching from the pain in his mom’s voice.
“Hey, Coop, it’s Uncle Henry. Your mom needs a moment.”
“Why? What’s going on? Where’s Dad?” He looked at me in a panic, and I felt it in my gut. This was going to be one of those moments we would always remember.
“I’m sorry, kid, he had a heart attack this morning.”
Cooper’s eyes flared open then squeezed shut. “Is he okay? At the hospital?”
I’d heard it in his uncle’s voice, but Cooper was probably in denial.
“No, he passed away. I’m sorry.”
Cooper stared at the floor while tears streamed down my face. I couldn’t wipe them away fast enough.
His uncle cleared his throat. “I’m going to call the airlines and get you a ticket home.”
“Two tickets,” Cooper said and looked at me.
God, it was the start of our senior year, and I was going to miss my first classes of the semester if I went with him. He had the excuse, it was his father, but who was I except for emotional support? Regardless, I had to be with him, so I nodded.
“For Ellery?” his uncle asked, having met me when he came up last year to visit.
“Yes,” Cooper said.
“Okay, I’ll let you know the arrangements as soon as I have them.” He paused for a while, and we heard a door shut. “Listen, kid, your mom… she’s a mess. She wanted to tell you herself, but she’s still absorbing it all. I’m sure once she sees you, the two of you can grieve, but if you need anything, call me.”
“Thanks, Uncle Henry,” Cooper said, but I’m not sure if he even heard his uncle. He seemed to be somewhere else in his head.
“I’ll be in touch.”
They hung up, and I slid closer to Cooper, taking his hand and squeezing to let him know I was there.
He had no tears in his eyes as he stared at me for a long moment. “He’ll never see me get drafted. Never see me make the pros.”
I squeezed his hand. “He will. He just won’t be sitting next to you.”
“Let’s get packed. I have to call Coach.”
For the rest of the day, he unpacked his apartment and packed his suitcase. We returned the rental truck, and he called his coach. Uncle Henry called two hours later with our flight arrangements. We had to be in Missouri in two days for his father’s funeral.
Two days later, the plane landed at the Missouri airport. Cooper was more of a zombie than anything, and I didn’t have the right words to say. What kind of doctor was I going to be if I had no bedside manner?
