Taking back the phone, I turn it to face me. “I’d better go. Dinner’s ready. Call you later?”
“I’ll be here.” He chuckles. “Have a good supper, love.”
Turning away from everyone, I whisper to him, “I wish you were here.”
He whispers back, “Me too, love. Miss you.”
“Miss you too.”
After we hang up, Tayler and I start dishing out the grub. When Robbi makes her way to the front of the line, I give her my stink eye.
“What?” she asks, feigning innocence.
“Bull did not come up with that idea for Cooke doing his rehab here on his own.”
“Well, I may have suggested it. But he loved the idea.” She shrugs. “Now, let’s see what happens.”
“Don’t break his heart,” I say softly as she takes her plate. “Bull, I mean.”
Robbi blinks at me. “I’ve had my eye on him since the party at the rugby house. I’m serious about seeing what happens if he is.”
“Oh, he is.” I nod toward the couch where Bull is sitting. He’s not eating, even though he was the first in line. Instead, he’s watching us. More specifically, he’s waiting for Robbi. “Go on. He’s waiting for you.”
“He’s seriously hot,” she mumbles. “And sweet.”
Dishing some food up for myself, I eat at the kitchen island with Patsy and Tayler since there’s no room anywhere else. As I look out at the group in my living room, a sense of satisfaction comes over me. I’ve got friends. Good ones. And they’re all right here with me. All but Cooke.
Hell, even Luke showed up. He’s got to head back to work right after he eats, but I feel like that was a big step for him. I know he’s not here because of me; he hasn’t left Tayler’s side since he walked in the door. I’m proud of my best friend, holding her ground even though I know she wants to jump his bones. I’ll just have some faith that things will work out for her. For now, I’m going to appreciate what I have. Because I’m happy.
“Fine food, ladies,” says Vic.
“Deli-fus,” says Dan with his mouth full.
“There’s cake too,” I tell them.
The room is quiet for a moment until Bull shouts, “Fuck yeah!”
“Eat up,” I say, sipping my water. “There’s plenty for seconds.”
Now it’s Dan’s turn. “Fuck yeah!”
Chapter Forty-Nine
“Can you believe it?”
I look up from my textbook at Dan as I study for my final exam in art history. It’s going to be a bitch. My grade is a solid B, so I hope I don’t screw that up. The chances of me giving it a bump up are slim to none since Dr. Connolly’s classes are notoriously tough. No, I’ll happily take a B, but I’ll have to slay this exam in order to keep it.
“Believe what?”
“About Cooke.”
I set my pen down. God, is he hurt? If so, how did Dan hear about it before me? I’ve talked to my boyfriend almost every night, and if we don’t FaceChat, we text. So, if there’s anything to hear about Cooke, I’d know.
“Believe what?” I ask again.
“Coach told us he’s coming here. He’s going to work with the team.”
Okay, this is all news to me. What the hell? “When did you hear about it?”
