53
COOPER
Quinn looksup at me and—fuck—there are tears in her eyes. I made her cry again. I’m absolute shit at relationships. And breakups. And, apparently, at apologies too.
It’s like the dating failure trifecta.
I clear my throat and gesture to the empty seat across from her. “Can I sit down?”
She blinks, but says nothing as a tear slips free, cutting a path down her cheek before falling onto her sweatshirt.
She’s going to say no. I can see it in her eyes, in the way she’s hesitating.
A bead of sweat slides between my shoulder blades.
Why is it so damn hot in here?
Focus, asshole.
“Please. Just give me a few minutes, and then, when I’m done, if you never want to see me again, I’ll leave you alone.”
It won’t be easy to keep that promise, but I’ll respect her wishes, whatever she decides.
Third time’s the charm.
Finally, Quinn nods and I slide onto the bench.
Thank you, Starlight Twinkle.
The cafe noise fades away, and for a long minute, we just stare at each other.
When I finally open my mouth to speak, no words come out. My brain is a total blank slate. I don’t know what to say, and I don’t want to say the wrong thing, because I only have one shot here.
I can’t afford to blow it.
This is what I get for seeking inspiration from teen romcoms.
I’m going to be the laughingstock of campus and I still won’t have the girl.
Unacceptable.
“I don’t know how to say this, so I’m just going to say it,” I blurt out. “I was foolish and pigheaded to think I could choose for you. You were right. It wasn’t my place.”
“And you came to this conclusion how?” she asks, toying with the edge of the newspaper.
“I had some help.” I rub the back of my neck, remembering Reid’s tough love. “Reid helped me see that what I was doing wasn’t so much protection as steamrolling.”
“Smart man.”
I shrug. “He has his moments.”
Quinn studies me for a long time before asking, “Do you still think I need to be protected from you?”
“No.” I exhale and roll my shoulders. This is the hardest part. The part that still scares the hell out of me. “If you say you slipped on the floor, then I believe you. I’m not proud of the way I lost my temper with my father. Or the way I shrugged off your touch. But I’ve had time to process and put the day into perspective. Before last Saturday, I’d never hit anyone in my life. It’s not an experience I plan to repeat.”
Ever.
“Good.” She nods slowly. “I’m glad you’ve come to realize what the rest of us already know. You’re not your father, Cooper. You’re not a bully or an abuser.” She reaches across the table and takes my hand, wrapping her small fingers around mine.That has to be a good sign, right?“You have never given me cause to fear you, and you never will. It’s not who you are at the core.”
