AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Well, I’m going to make dinner,” I say.
“I’m not hungry.”
I slam the fridge. “Since when are you not hungry?”
She shrugs. “Since now.”
I stomp over to her, annoyed and pissed off. “We’re gonna talk.”
“I don’t have anything to say.”
“What are you, five, and having a temper tantrum? Get over here. We’re finishing this now.”
“Five? You acted like you were five. Someone else was playing with your toy so you punched him in the face.” Her voice escalates.
Though I hate how mad she is, I’m just happy to get a reaction out of her.
“Toy? That’s what you think you are to me?”
“That’s how I felt when I found out about the fight. You’re not a normal guy, Cooper. You’re Cooper Rice, quarterback for the Chicago Grizzlies. It’s embarrassing and makes me think people assume I’m playing two guys. I can’t wait until the slut comments start hitting social media.” She runs her hand down her face. “You went after him with the excuse that it was for me, but in reality, it was for you because of your red rage.”
I open my mouth, but she continues. “I get it, okay? I hear people all the time talk shit about your performance, and as soon as I tell them you’re my friend, they shut up, but instead of attacking them, I tell them about the kind-hearted person you are. I stick up for you. But what you did at that bar…” She shakes her head as though she’s disappointed in me.
“You’re right.” I go to start the pilot light on the gas fireplace, feeling way too vulnerable to let her see inside me right now. “I saw red. I wanted to beat the shit out of him. I’m happy Damon and Miles got me off of him when they did.”
She sits quietly on the plaid couch, bringing her legs under her. “Do you see how weak it made me feel? I had two adult men fighting, and not over me. I’ve caught hell at work, but it’s died down.”
I light the gas for the fireplace and sit back to make sure it’s good before heading over to the couch with her since the chair looks too small to be comfortable for me. I’m starting to think this cabin is designed for people who need to make up after a fight. “I’m sorry.”
“Would you have done that if it was Bryce or Adeline?”
“You can’t even compare, and you know it.”
She picks at the blanket, her gaze seeming unwilling to meet mine. “Why? Why am I different?”
I lean forward and rest my forearms on my thighs. My head hangs, and I stare at the hardwood floor. “You don’t want me to tell you.”
My chest constricts because if I do this, if I say the words out loud, there’s no going back. I could be taking our friendship and sending it careening off a cliff.
“Tell me.”
My chest squeezes even more, and there’s this painful ache where my heart is. I glance at her from the corner of my eye. “You have to be sure.”
“I think Bradley stirred some things up between us. Things maybe we’ve both been feeling but haven’t been saying.”
“Elle.” I sigh. “We promised one another.” My voice is a pained whisper.
She nods. “I know we did, but words and promises don’t change what our hearts feel.”
“It will change everything between us.” I shake my head.
“We’re at a crossroads here, Coop. We can’t keep pretending we’re those naive college kids anymore.” She pulls the blanket tighter around her.
I toe out of my shoes and turn on the couch to face her. My outstretched arm almost reaches her. I want it to. I want to touch her and kiss her and love her until she won’t let me anymore. God, just talking to her again feels so good already.
“I was pissed at Bradley because he had you. He had you, and he disrespected you by dancing with that woman. And he was going to sleep with her, mark my words.”
She nods. “Probably. But it wasn’t your job to put him in line. I’m afraid you see me as a stand-in for your mom.”
