“When we’re done, the world can see what I see in you.”
Luke bowed his head on Cooper’s shoulder. Didn’t say another word. Didn’t move.
Cooper laid backwards on the bed, pulling Luke to his chest. “I’m sorry.”
Luke still said nothing, not with words. He grazed his hand over Cooper’s chest and held him firmly. It was Luke’s way of letting Cooper know he’d never let go. And in the distance, Cooper heard something else… It was Luke, but it was from another place.
Another time.
“Cooper, slow down!” Luke screamed.
“I’m fucking sorry,” Cooper screamed back, tears streaming down his face. “How many fucking times do I have to say it? I’m sorry I can’t be… that we can’t be what you want us to be. I’m sorry I dragged you into this. I’m sorry.”
“I love you,” Luke said flatly. “To the moon and back, but I need you to pull over and let me drive.”
Cooper locked eyes with Luke, and saw the tears in the other man’s eyes too. Love wasn’t supposed to hurt like this. Love was supposed to be easy, but it was anything but.
He slammed on the brakes. The tires screeched against the wet pavement beneath them, and they both jerked in place as the car came to a sudden stop. He felt a courage building in his gut and exploding in his heart. Could feel himself marching towards the precipice of throwing up as the words came stumbling out of his mouth, “If we win the Superbowl, we can come out. Together.”
Tears broke through the floodgates of Luke’s eyes. Heunbuckled his seatbelt and leaned over the shifter to kiss Cooper.
Cooper didn’t remember if there were warning signs. Didn’t remember if the headlights flashed over either of their faces. Didn’t remember if either of them screamed. Didn’t know if Luke knew it was the end before it was the end. A part of them would always be stuck in that fucking car, like he was haunting the wreckage, the pieces of metal in the scrap yard of the Bronco that used to belong to his father.
He heard the familiar sound of heels clacking on the floors beneath him and wiped the tears from his face. He forced a smile as Stassi palmed a hand over his shoulder, squeezing him gently.
“We can go home if you want.”
He exhaled softly. “You know I can’t tonight.”
“I know.” She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “I love you, Coop.”
He nodded. “Love you, too.”
Cooper couldn’t wait to crawl into bed and die. Well, not die, but he was more than ready to put this night behind him. He couldn’t bring himself to go home on the nights they memorialized Luke. Couldn’t bring himself to lay in the same bed he used to lay in with Luke.
Tomorrow, he could pretend.
Tonight, he couldn’t.
The elevators opened to the top floor of the hotel and a tall man stood in front of one of the doors of the threesuites with his back turned to Cooper. Beside the man, a duffel bag sat on the floor. Nobody should have been up there as Cooper booked all three rooms.
He approached the man who was dressed in a fancy black suit, and the man turned around.
It was Nico, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his trousers. He wore a soft smile and a new tattoo, this one on his neck. It was small, barely noticeable, but Cooper noticed everything. It read, in simple black script,I believe.
The fucking motto for the Hollywood Knights. That was a ballsy move for a second-year quarterback who was traded his first year.
Cooper stopped just short of the other man. “Tell me why you look like Jack Dawson standing at the top of the grand staircase.”
Nico cocked his head and smiled softly. “I didn’t think you were the kind of guy to like romance movies.”
“I’m not, but everyone has fucking seen Titanic.”
“Sorry, I missed the gala,” Nico said, a welcome change of subject. “My flight got delayed, so I donated to the foundation on the website.”
A simple thank you would have gone a long way, but Cooper was speechless. He scratched at the back of his head. “How did you know I’d be here?”
“Because you always book three rooms.” Nico closed the distance between them and straightened Cooper’s bow-tie. Took a step back, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a travel sized bottle of lube. “Which one do you want to fuck me in?”
