Six months later
“This is it,”I say, attempting to be as perky as possible.
“It is.”
I can tell Cooke’s nervous, because his good leg is bouncing up and down on the exam table. In case you were wondering, we’re back in England for the summer so Cooke can have his brace removed. It’s been a long time coming, let me tell you.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Thompson,” says the orthopedic surgeon as she enters the room. “Are you ready for this?”
“I am,” Cooke says with confidence.
I’m not. This entire thing is scary, because they need to put him under anesthesia to remove the brace. He’ll be in pain afterward, and there will be some swelling after the pins are removed. I know he’ll do fine, but it’s still nerve-racking.
Then there’s afterward.What will happen next? Will he be able to play?Those are the questions we keep hearing on the telly since we’ve been back in England. The rugby pundits are all speculating on his return. I wish I could tell you that everything’s been settled, but it hasn’t. Once this brace is off, he’ll start intensive physical therapy. He’ll have to learn to walk, literally, before he can run. We know he won’t be back for this season, and it remains to be seen about the next one, but I think Cooke’s fine either way. Honestly, I’m terrified of him playing again and reinjuring his leg, but I’ll need to trust the physicians and Cooke to do the right thing.
I have one more year of college remaining, and I plan to finish my degree. It may be difficult with everything Cooke will be going through, though, so we’ll have to wait and see. In the meantime, Cooke still has his place in Ames, and I’m still living with Tayler—sort of. I’m not there very much, but I pay my half of the rent and stay with her when I can, so it’s all good, especially since Tayler’s got her own drama happening. Boy troubles. I try to help when I can, but being away from her and my other friends, and even Vic and Mary, is hard. FaceChat is handy, so I can see and talk to them, anytime I want. Even Vic is set up for it now. I think he did it more for Mary than himself because she seems to enjoy looking at my face on his laptop as I talk to her. She’s such a good girl.
My hope is that we can fly back to Ames for his therapy. They’ve been great, and his trainers here in England are pleased. If that’s approved, I’ll be able to get another semester under my belt, at the very least. No matter what they decide, I’m not leaving Cooke so I’ll have to figure things out. I’m good at that. No worries.
“We’re ready if you are.” The doctor chuckles.
Leaning over him, I kiss his lips. “I love you. I’ll be waiting right outside this door.” I kiss him again. “Your mom and Saff are here. Saff wants the chance to give you a pre-surgery pep talk.”
He chuckles, then nods and gives me a smile I recognize. It’s a fake one. He’s nervous. Maybe Saffie can help with that since I’m doing my best to hold it together. When I step out of the room, I smile at her and Caroline, Cooke’s mom. “They’re getting ready to take him back.”
“Right.” Caroline stands, straightening her dress. The woman is always dressed to the nines. I guess she must dress the part since she’s owns her own business. A cute dress shop not far from Twickenham. I like her, and she seems to like me. Cooke and Saffie both say she does, and I don’t think they’d lie. I haven’t spent enough time with her to be sure, however. When she visited Cooke in the states, I did my best to let them have time together. Besides, I was busy with school and work. The time I did spend with the two of them proved how much they care about each other. That their little family was a tight-knit group.
The same is true about Cooke and my family. He’s gone home with me several times, and it’s gone well. My dad’s the one who’s having trouble warming up to the big Brit. I think he’s worried I’ll fly off to live in England, never to return. Well, the first part might be true, but I’ll always come back. I’d miss my family too much, even if my brothers are a pain in the arse.
I look down at my leggings and long tee and sigh, thinking about Caroline’s outfit. Comfort. That’s all I was thinking about, because I knew I’d be here the entire time with Cooke. Running my palms over my shirt, I attempt to rid it of some wrinkles, I smile at the sparkle on my finger. Holding my hand up in front of me, I stare at the pretty sapphire and diamond engagement ring Cooke gave me just yesterday morning. He said he chose the sapphire to match my eyes. It’s beautiful, just like his proposal.
It wasn’t anything crazy. It was at the breakfast table, the one where he’d held my hands in his and told me he loved me for the first time. Like before, he prepared scrambled eggs and toast. There was juice and coffee and my handsome boyfriend on one knee. His good one. Holding a small box, he opened it and smiled while I gasped and covered my mouth in shock. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting it.
Holding the box, he simply said, “Love. You’re my everything. Marry me and make me the happiest man in England. The world.”
“Yes.” Tears were streaming down my face, because of course they were. “Yes. I’ll marry you.” Before I even took the ring from the box, I stood and wrapped my arms around his neck. “How did I get so lucky?”
“I’m the lucky one, love. And all thanks to a wrong number.”
“Right?” I laughed, helping him up from the floor and into his chair. “We should probably invite Maxwell Quinn to the wedding. Did you ever find him?”
“Ian found him. Said he was a right git.”
I coughed, then laughed. “Well, it’s lucky you got me that night instead, huh?”
“So bloody lucky.” Cooke pulled me closer until I was standing between his legs. I gazed into his beautiful golden brown eyes. Bending down, I touched my lips to his for a sweet, soft kiss I’ll remember for the rest of my life.
* * *
“You did it, babe.”I say as I lean down to kiss him.
“It’s off?” he asks groggy from the anesthesia.
“Yep. You weren’t even in there two hours. They said you were perfect.” Except now the hard part begins. Rehab.
“I’m glad that thing is off. I was starting to forget what life was like before I had it,” he chuckles.
“Your mom wants to come in. Then Saff. I’ll come back in after that. They’ll be moving you into a room soon.”
