“Yes, sir.”
“Don’t even start with that sir bullshit. Come on. We have celebrating to do.”
Before they’d even made it back to the pit, he stopped and shot a text off to Davey McAllister, thanking him for hooking him up with this opportunity. Coop wasn’t sure what it would lead to or how it would change things in his relationship with Rick, but it felt important, and he wasn’t going to ignore it. Coop wonderedwhat else he could do to thank Davey. A card? Flowers? That seemed stupid, but he’d think of something.
Back at the hotel, Coop showered and packed up, then snuggled into bed and called Rick. He had to hear his man’s voice before going to sleep, which would be early. “Babe!”
“Hey, Coop.” Rick didn’t sound like himself at all. “Congrats. I peeked at the results. Nate did well, right?” That was Rick trying to be positive when he felt like shit. Coop knew Rick well enough now to tell.
“Yeah, he killed it. And we’re going to talk about me staying on to coach him this season.”
“How will that go?”
“I don’t know, but we’ll work it out. Anyway, I can’t wait to see you tomorrow. How’re you holding up?”
“I don’t know. Saying goodbye is super hard. And…” Rick was tearing up, and Coop was about to join him.
“I’ll be there in the morning, babe, and my shoulders are all yours for as long as you need them.”
“Okay. Okay. Yeah. I need you.” Coop’s heart lifted hearing Rick finally admit it. “But, uh, don’t bother renting a car. Someone will pick you up at RDU. Then we can drive back to Campbell together. ‘kay?”
“Sounds perfect, babe. I love you.”
“Love you too. Get some sleep, that flight is fucking early.”
“For you, Soldier Boy, five a.m. is worth it.”
This was how it was going to work for them for a while, whether he left racing to coach or not. Coop would be flying all over to be wherever Rick was. Early flights, late flights, rentalcars, whatever. Phone calls, airports, and missing his man. But when they were together, it was always fireworks. Coop was okay with that.
He couldn't wait to see Rick and hold him. But the more important thing for Coop was simply to be there for Rick when he was obviously hurting and trying not to show it. The best thing Coop could do was keep his shit together. And that was his plan.
Chapter Twenty- Seven – Rick
The past few months had sucked. Rick now knew the drive from Campbell to Lexington as well as he knew pre-jump. Coop’s double season with riding and coaching made it impossible for him to make many of the trips, but he’d been there emotionally for Rick. He really didn’t know how he would’ve made it through the weeks.
Once again, Rick was standing in his childhood bedroom, looking at the posters. He was in his dress uniform, wings above his ribbons, shiny in the morning light. He wondered what his mother would think of how he looked. She’d never seen him in uniform in person. He’d sent her pictures in the different uniforms; at the ball with Drew on one side, Coop the other; pinning with the other graduates; all muddy from a ruck march in officer basic; in his rig from his last rappel before getting his air assault wings. He was positive that if he looked, he’d find a photo album with pictures from every big event in his life lovingly preserved.
He knew there was a picture or two of him and Coop. She’d been so happy to meet Coop. Coop had insisted on bringing her a bouquet of roses the first time they’d gone to see her at the hospital. Said he needed to thank her for raising the man he loved.
“Thank you, Mrs. Stanton. Rick wouldn’t be the man he is without your guiding presence,” Coop said as they walked into the hospital room, bouquet of lavender roses in his hands. Rick hadn’t told Coop that purple was his mother’s favorite color, and even without that prompting, Coop had insisted that it was the perfect combination of flowers to bring. Yeah, he might have set his man up a bit.
“None of that Mrs. stuff. You’re who my boy chose, so call me Mom. Now come give me a hug. We’ve talked several times on the phone already, so I don’t need to give you the third degree. Besides, I can see how happy Rick is. You seem to settle him.”
Rick could see the blush heat Coop’s face as he approached the hospital bed to lean down and embrace Rick’s mom. He felt tears in his eyes and looked to the ceiling. Rick was determined to not cry in front of his parents or brother. They needed him to be strong. They didn’t need to be coddling him. When he was alone with Coop, he’d break down. Be the young boy losing his mother.
“Baby boy?” his mother called out. Rick took a deep breath and moved over to the bed, sitting on the side and holding his mother’s hand. He ran his finger along hers. There was no polish on the nails, which made him frown. She’d always had manicures every other week. Said that she deserved the pampering after running around with her students every day.
“We need to find a stylist who will come and do your nails. Maybe Julia has something with her. I could run out and pick up some polish. What color do you think? Fuchsia? Hot pink? Periwinkle?” Look at him knowing periwinkle. He had a memory of playing with all the bottles at the salon when he was young, before he was old enough to go to school. His mother would take him with her to her appointments, then they’d go to Dairy Queen for ice cream cones to take to the park.
“Richard, my nails are fine but I don’t think you are. You’ve been determined to prove something to your father and me since you were a baby. We could never figure out what or why. You’ve been nothing but endless joy and happiness for us. We didn’t think we would ever be blessed with another child after trying so long to give Christopher a sibling but then you surprised us. I couldn’t be more proud of you than I am. You’veopened your heart to someone worthy of you. Someone who will protect your heart from the ugly realities that you’ll face as a soldier. Someone who will give you strength when yours is failing. Just like you’ll do the same for him,” she finished by squeezing his hand.
“You are absolutely correct, Mom,” Coop said from the other side of the bed. “I’ll be by Rick’s side until he tells me to leave.”
“Then you’ll be there forever.” Mom held her other hand out to Coop. He took her hand in both of his and sat on the bed, mirroring Rick. “You two have brought me so much joy in the past few months. I can rest knowing that one of my sons has someone by him.”
“Maybe both of your sons have someone,” Rick muttered under his breath.
“What did you say?” Crap. There was no way he was going to tell his mother about Christopher and Julia. If they were even a couple? Was it too soon? His brain hurt. Time for a diversion.
