“Vick’s going to throw all our stuff into his truck and drive it over once we find a place,” Coop said. Could it be this easy? They were having a good conversation. No posturing from either of them. Could Drew and Coop end up good friends? Rick had hopethat they would get it. He really didn’t want to have to talk to either of them about how important the other one was in his life.
Rick heard Drew turn off his car. “Okay, I’m all parked. They must have been watching for me since Aunt Trish just opened the door. There’s four cars here, which means Nova and Keith must be here with Nicole. Time to family! Talk this weekend, Rick. Coop, have Rick give you my number.” Drew didn’t wait for a response as he ended the call.
“So…” Rick wasn’t sure what to say.
“So…” Coop echoed back.
Your destination is on the right in one hundred feet.Rick looked around and signaled his turn. After putting the car in park, he twisted in his seat.
“Looks like we’re here. You ready for this?” Rick asked. It took a minute, but Coop nodded his head.
“Yeah, I think I am.”
Chapter Sixteen – Coop
How was this Coop’s life? Rick got up, got ready, and left before he even woke up, and that left Coop standing in the kitchen in his boxers and an old t-shirt, wondering what the hell he was going to eat.
Cereal.
Cereal seemed easiest, and Rick had picked up a box of the stuff that tasted like cardboard but had plenty of protein and fiber and less sugar. It turned out that eating with your left hand while being right-handed wasn’t as simple or effortless as he thought, and he made a mess of his shirt; at least Cooper managed to get some of it inside him. But he had no idea what to do after that.
He should wait until Rick got home to shower, since he’d need help with that. Instead, he changed clothes, washed his face, and brushed his teeth. Feeling more human, he settled on the couch. Thankfully, Rick was able to get a semi-furnished apartment, since the people moving out had also been military and didn’t want to take most of the heavy stuff. That included living room, dining room, bedroom, and even a washer and dryer. There was nothing on the walls yet. But they could decorate it however they wanted. Coop already imagined half the walls being covered with motorcycle pics and the other half with helicopters. But that was for later.
He flipped through the TV channels. He would replace that soon, since it was entirely too small. He wanted at least a sixty-five-inch. Regardless of size, there was still nothing on. Nearly a thousand channels, not to mention streaming options, and nothing on.
He ended up on the Disney Channel and, after flipping around, pulled upWinnie the Pooh. A classic. But if he was going to watch Pooh, he needed more comfort.
He pulled the comforter and pillows from the bedroom and tried to get comfortable, arranging and rearranging things, until he ended up with a decent fort with the couch cushions making up the sides, and a few extra blankets thrown over the top. “Better.” He huddled down and watched his movie, and then another. Then he was hungry again.
He made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and wondered what Rick was up to while he ate it. It was Rick’s first day at his new assignment. But Coop didn’t have a clue what Rick actually did. Sure, he jumped out of perfectly good airplanes—helicopters, whatever—but that was only a part of it. He had been doing exercises when Coop had hurt his arm. But he was pretty sure that meant something different than jumping jacks. He made a mental note to ask Rick more about his work. He smiled to himself, imagining Rick coming home from work, and getting a quick kiss and a, “How was your day, dear?” It was all so domestic. And something Coop never thought he would want out of life, but now that he was actually living with Rick, it didn’t seem half bad.
He climbed back into his pillow fort after eating and cleaning up. This time, when he scrolled through the channels, he found one playing old Arenacross races. Perfect. He settled in to watch.
The race they were showing was one he’d placed third in. It wasn’t great, not his best, but he was on the bike, showing his stuff. The drone footage was pretty good, capturing great shots over the whoops, around the berm on the right turn, and over the jumps. Coop never considered himself conceited, but more confident and proud. Okay, maybe cocky too. But damn, he looked good on that bike. His deep sigh surprised him. He’dbeen lucky not to have broken his collarbone or worse. It could have been a career-ending injury. But it was bad enough that he’d killed his next season before it even had a chance. Coop had really wanted the title this next season. He wanted to show Rick he could do it. All he managed to show him was what a flake he was.
Coop buried his face under the blanket with a huff. He didn’t deserve how nice Rick had been to him. This living together felt like a reward for fucking up, and it didn’t sit well with him. He knew logically, of course, that this was them making the best of it. Taking advantage of the situation, maybe. They wouldn’t have this opportunity right now if Coop were still at camp, preparing for the next season. Emotionally, he didn’t think he deserved it.
Eventually, he must have fallen asleep, because the front door opening jerked him awake.
“Coop?”
“In here.” He didn’t want to crawl out and face Rick.
“What are you doing in here?” Rick stuck his head under the draped blanket.
“I don’t know. Hiding?”
“You don’t sound sure about that.” Rick crawled in and squished next to Coop, wrapping him up in his arms. “What’s really going on?”
Coop huffed, not wanting to answer, and not exactly sure how to put his feelings into words. “I’m restless. Bored. And feeling very useless right now. Everyone else is getting ready for the season.”
“And you’re not.”
Coop shook his head and buried his face in Rick’s chest.
“You’re not useless. You’re amazing. And this is only a small setback.” Rick squeezed Coop a little tighter.
“Why do I feel like a fuck-up? Wait. Don’t answer that. Because I am.”
