Nico shook his head. “You didn’t trap me in anything.”
It was a lie borne from a need to make things right. They both knew the truth. Knew how destructive the cage was to both of their lives. Knew that first night in the hotel room altered the course of Nico’s life. More importantly, they both understood the gravity of the situation they were forced into. There was no easy answer when the truth could have ended both of their careers. They were the face of their respective teams, and after seeing the way things played out with Matteo, there was no option left for Nico but to stay in the cage forever.
And that’s why he ran.
“I think about that first day all the time,” Cooper said flatly, his voice void of emotion. “The way you sauntered into the training facility an hour late without a care in the world. Funny and sarcastic, and free. That version of you doesn’t exist anymore because I put you in a cage andlocked the door. I was afraid of what the world looked like outside of this thing I created and I made sure you were just as afraid because with you, it was a little more crowded but a whole hell of a lot less lonely.”
“Coop—”
“Tell me I’m wrong. Tell me if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t be out loud and proud right now.”
Nico set his drink down and sighed. “We can’t turn back the clock.”
“That’s the most painful realization, isn’t it? Knowing you can never go back and fix what’s broken. Knowing that an apology doesn’t glue a broken plate back together again. And I’ll still tell you I’m sorry for the rest of my life.”
Cooper pulled his hand to his mouth and kissed two fingers. He reached out to Nico and tapped those same fingers on Nico’s forehead. Cooper’s way of kissing Nico in public, to comfort him the same way a kiss always had done.
A weight was lifted from Nico’s body as Cooper turned and walked away.
Forgiveness.
For himself. For Cooper.
And the smallest feeling that things could be right again.
Cooper’s nervous system screamed for relief. Nothing a few hard pours of whiskey couldn’t cure, but he resisted the urge to lock his emotions behind the bottle. His therapist emboldened him to allow himself to feel every part of whathe needed to feel. Healing was a messy road littered with potholes.
Coach White took to the stage for a short speech to introduce Cooper while Cooper made his way to the sidelines where the steps were. He breathed in, breathed out. The calming techniques his doctor prescribed him weren’t working worth a damn.
A familiar scent wafted over him—a floral, vanilla scent from yesteryears.
“I hope you’re not planning on another embarrassing display,” Elsa said, as cold as ever. “Your fuck-up at the altar still has this town talking.”
Cooper couldn’t bear to look at his mother, not just yet. He stared into the void as he whispered back, “You might not want to be here for this speech.”
Elsa circled to stand in front of him. She looked up to him with squinted eyes. “You’re not that stupid.”
The truth hit him like a fucking wrecking ball. That somehow she knew exactly what he was about to do, and it should have been a surprise to her considering everything she had done. But she fucking knew.
Cooper ground his teeth and seethed, “How long have you known?”
She pursed her lips and straightened herself. “Since you were a little boy. I knew you were different. I prayed for you to be like all the other boys, but it never went away.”
Cooper’s rage was only eclipsed by a deep sadness, unable to tear his eyes away from the devilish woman before him. “This isn’t about God. Your relationship with him is superficial at best. This is about you.”
She caressed a hand over his cheek. “I beg you to not go on that stage and tarnish the family name.”
“I could never figure out if you knew. Every little threat, every little power play you wielded over me. I didn’t know. Now, I know.” Cooper nodded away from her touch. “You watched me suffer for all these years.” He inhaled the courage to continue. “You weaponized my fears because you were too ashamed that your only son was a boy who liked other boys.” He balled his hand into a fist, his fingernails tearing into his own skin. His throat tensed and his teeth ground together. “I could have lived whatever fuck kind of life I wanted to live instead of this fucking game of performative theater.”
The woman had no apologies. Instead, she just fucking smirked. “Then why didn’t you?”
“Because I was a scared little boy who had nobody to protect me. I’m not scared anymore.”
“Please welcome Cooper Callahan to the stage,” Coach White said, his voice echoing through the ballroom.
The audience applauded, and Cooper took the first step onto the stage.
Elsa grabbed him by his wrist. “Please! Think of your father.”
