“How did it go?” Blake asks me, jumping to my feet.
“Lets get out of here first.” I grab his hand and lead him from of the building.
“Cooper, tell me, I’m going out of my mind,” he begs me. “Are you expelled?”
“No.” We stop and I turn to face him, wrapping my arms around his waist. He lifts his arms and wraps them around my neck. “I’m on probation, but not expelled.”
“Thank fuck,” Blake groans, his head dropping to my chest.
“But...”
His head snaps back. “But? I don’t like buts.”
“Are you sure about that?” I grin. “You seem to like mine. And I sure as hell love yours.
“Cooper,” he warns me, but I see the way his cheeks turn pink.
“I’m kicked off the team.”
His face drops. “No,” he whispers. “No. No.” He shakes head hard. “I’m so fucking sorry. This is all my fault,” he starts to spiral, but I stop him.
“Baby, baby, breathe.” I cup his face. “It’s okay.”
“No it’s not!” he says through angry tears. “You worked so hard to stay on the team, to be able to finish out your last season. It’s why you had me tutor you. You came so far and all for nothing."
“Oh, baby.” I smile down at him. “It wasn’t all for nothing. If anything, it was the complete opposite. I got better in school, passed all my classes. I cared more about my degree than football. Sure, I love the game, I always will, but the degree I need for the future I want is what I'm here for. And that’s not even the best thing to come out of having you tutor me.”
“It’s not?”
“No.” I shake my head.
“What is?”
“You silly.” I chuckle, kissing him. “I got you out of it. First, one of the best friends I could ask for, then the love of my life. You’re my forever, Blake. You are what matters, not football. I don’t care if I lose everything I have in life. As long as you’re safe, you’re happy, that's all that I care about.”
“I’m only happy when I’m with you,” he tells me. “I can’t lose you.”
“You’re not going to lose me, baby.”
“What if he presses charges, if he tries to get you put in jail?”
“Then we fight fire with fire,” I tell him. “He has that tape of us. He’s the one who’s been harassing you for years.”
“I don’t have the money to fight him.” Blake looks defeated.
“But Brody does. He messaged me last night and told me he will help us in any way he can. I’m not one to take help from others, but if it means I’m able to get you the justice you deserve and can still stay by your side, I’ll do it.”
“I don’t know what I did to deserve you,” Blake whispers.
“You were just you. Your grumpy, kind, sweet, loving soul. The man who would do anything for his friends, for his lover. I know you believed for a long time that you weren’t worth the effort, even though you didn’t say the words, I heard it in the way you talked, the look in your eyes. But I want you to listen to me, Blake Clark. You are worth it. You are loved. You are wanted. Not only by me, but by our friends. And while we’re alive, you will never be alone.”
Blake buries his face into my chest, clinging to me for dear life. He cries softly as I hold him, rubbing his back and murmuring sweet things to him, reminding him how much I love him.
He’s not used to people fighting for him, but he’s going to need to get used to it, because I will always be by his side. I will always fight for him. Defend him. Take care of him.
I don’t know what will happen regarding Mickey, but as long as I have him and the people who love me by my side, that's all that matters.
I started this school year thinking being kicked off the team was the worst thing that could happen.
