I hadn’t thought about the time or whether they’d be back from their away game, so when I see Cooper’s truck parked in the driveway, I take it as a good sign that he’s here.
Not sitting outside any longer to think about it, I push the door open and slam it shut harder than necessary, then head straight for the porch.
I don’t even bother knocking when I hear music blaring from inside. A group of guys sits in the large living space. I don’t recognize a couple of them, but I’m going to assume they’re his teammates.
Talon steps out of the kitchen at the same time and stops short when he sees me.
He takes one look at my face and doesn’t bother to ask what’s wrong.
“Hey,” he says carefully.
“Is he here?”
He nods once. “Yeah.”
Talon tilts his head toward the stairway leading up to their rooms. I step around him, and he shifts slightly, moving out of my way.
Someone from the couch calls out, “What the hell was that about?”
Behind me, Talon says, “I know that look, and I’m not about to get in the way.”
I smirk at the thought of what he might’ve done and the reaction he may have gotten out of Wren. Good for her!
By the time I reach his door, my pulse pounds loud in my ears.
I knock once, hard. The handle turns almost immediately, and Cooper’s standing there in a pair of sweatpants. He’s not wearing a shirt, but judging by the way he’s holding it in his hand, I’m guessing he was in the middle of getting dressed.
His hair is wet like he just got out of the shower.
For a second, my mind flashes back to the photo he had sent me. Now my heart is racing for an entirely different reason.
“What are you doing here?” he asks.
He wasn’t expecting to see me, that much is obvious.
I step inside and slam the door shut behind me, hard enough that it rattles the frame.
“What am I doing here?” I repeat.
He steps back, giving me space but not much.
“What areyoudoing?” I ask. “One second, you’re blowing me off, not answering my calls or texts. Then you’re pulling over to help me with my car after I’ve moved out of your family farm.” I wave my hand around. “Don’t even get me started on that topic. Then we don’t talk again. You tell me you’re dealing with some stuff. Which, fine, but you’re beating around the fuckin’ bush and won’t tell me what’s going on. And now I pick up my car only to find out you paid for the repairs?”
His jaw tightens. “Who told you?”
“It doesn’t matter who told me, Cooper. Why would you do that?”
“Because it needed to be fixed?” he says, like it’s the most obvious answer in the world.
“I can pay for my own car, just like I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can.”
“Then why?”
He exhales and drags a hand through his hair. “You’re already dealing with enough.”
I laugh, and it comes out almost cynical. “Well, I hate to break it to ya, but I’ve been through a lot more than this, and I’m still standing. I think I can take it.”
