Chapter 7
ANGEL
Driving to Rosewood Heights on a whim, leaving Mehki with my parents, to see Cooper was a huge step for me. Hoping that we’d be able to spend some time together without Mehki had fueled my decision because I felt time alone time was needed in order to move forward. Taking a chance that he would agree with me was a risk. And realizing he wasn’t sitting alone thinking about me, but having breakfast with a beautiful, nice woman sucked. I knew I shouldn’t be angry, but I was pissed. At myself. For letting my heart skip ahead of my brain.
I’d asked him a question. But for whatever reason I didn’t have an answer. The only thing I had was an apology when he had to go home to handle an importantandunexpected business call.
Now I was sitting outside on the balcony of my rental, wondering where I went wrong and why I was still here. Instead of taking my ass back to Charleston, I’d settled in to wait for him. Because he told me he’d come back so we could talk.
I poured my second glass of wine and dialed Tee.
My friend’s face popped up on the screen a second later. “What’s up, boo?”
“Tell me again why you encouraged me to come back here?” I took a sip of wine. “If I was coming back to be alone, I could have done that in Charleston.”
“Girl, he said he was coming back.” Tee walked through her house and plopped down on her bed. “Give him some time.”
“Time to what? Make me feel like a bigger fool.”
“You’re overreacting. Right now, we don’t even know who the woman was to him.”
I’d explained everything to Tee when he’d left earlier, complete with a full description of Ryleigh. “You didn’t see how he looked at her. I swear, they used to fuck.”
Tee’s mouth fell open. “Sis! Stop. Again, you don’t know that. Don’t jump to conclusions.”
“She had a baby. What if it’s his?”
Sighing, Tee said, “Don’t you think he would’ve told you if he had a kid by now? In fact, didn’t you say he told you he didn’t?”
Tee was right. They’d talked about kids when he’d mentioned he’d been married once. None of his brothers had children. Only his sister did. I knew that. “Fine,” I grumbled. “It just didn’t feel right. My gut is telling me—”
“That isn’t your gut. That’s your inability to let yourself be happy.”
I clamped my mouth shut. “I’m hanging up.”
“Bye. But don’t call me back and complain about anything else.”
Of course, I didn’t hang up. I just sat there, staring at my friend and finishing my wine. When I was done, I set the glass down. “Tee, I’m scared.”
Her eyes softened. “I know. But if you stay scared, you’ll never do anything different. You know this.”
“I—” The doorbell chimed and I sat up straight. “It’s him.”
“Or it could be a killer,” Tee suggested.
I glared at her. “I’m going to answer the door.”
“Can you just do me a favor and put some something on those lips?”
I laughed. “Bye.” I ended the video chat and rushed to the bathroom, put my lip gloss on, and brushed my hair back into a tamer version of a ponytail. On my way to the door, I picked up my coat and hung it up. Taking a quick, calming breath, I opened the door.
Cooper smiled. “Hello.”
I stepped aside and gestured for him to come in. Without a word, I walked over to the sofa and plopped down on it, pulling one of the throw pillows on top of my lap.
He slid out of his boots, and joined me a few seconds later. “I’m sorry.”
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
