Page 94 of This Time Around
Twenty-Nine
Cooper
I rumbled down Rebecca’s drive, the text I received as soon as I got off the plane from Jordan telling me everything was fine and Rebecca was safe was the only thing keeping me from going absolutely insane.
I still felt her fear throttling me through the phone line before she hung up on me, and screw the rest of what she’d said earlier.
Nothing had ever terrified me as much as being completely helpless when it came to Rebecca last night.
The plane ride was hell, and I hadn’t bothered to disguise myself through the airport I was in such a damn hurry to get out of L.A.Cameras had been turned in my direction, and I was pretty certain that had to do with the fact I was practically barreling through weary travelers in my hurry to make the flight, scoring a first-class seat.I would have flown in the cargo hold if it had gotten me there.
I’d planned this morning to meet with Max, talk about the filming I was supposed to start in September, but that all went to shit when I hurried out of the hotel I was staying in since my homes were no longer mine.
At least I’d dropped off my divorce papers at Paul’s house last night before heading to the hotel and calling Rebecca.
All of that played second fiddle to my desperate need to get to Rebecca, to see with my own eyes she was doing just fine.Then, we’d have a long, serious conversation about the other shit she spewed at me last night.
It was barely after six o’clock in the morning and the sun was already lighting up the sky casting an orange glow over the recently mowed hayfields.
I pulled the truck into the garage, taking in the black Explorer parked in front of her house along with a cherry red Tahoe next to it.Neither looked familiar, but Jordan’s Yukon was parked alongside both so at least I knew he was there.
I was halfway to the front of the house, the owners of unknown cars nowhere around when the front screen door opened.
Jordan stood in the doorway, holding it open for me.
“Come on in,” he said, waving me in.“Rebecca’s still sleeping.Neither of us got to bed until almost three in the morning.”
“And you’re already awake?”
At least I’d gotten a little bit of sleep on the plane, aided by noise-canceling headphones and a glass of whiskey.
“You’re assuming I slept at all.Does she know you’re coming?”
In my string of texts to him last night I’d told him she wasn’t returning anything of mine, and once I’d let them both know I was hitting the redeye, I hadn’t bothered texting him back.
“I texted her.She didn’t respond.”My jaw ached from gritting my teeth together and I forced it to relax.“She okay?”
“Physically yeah, but she’s concerned and she’s basically blaming the Jeffersons.We won’t know more until later though.A guy on the force, Beckett is out in the fields right now with a detective, Shawn Blakely.Beckett responded to the call last night with Ryan and for what it’s worth, I don’t think he’s slept either.Been waiting for them to come back, and fill them with some caffeine, so I’ve got coffee if you need any.”
I was jittery enough with what felt like the gallon I grabbed leaving the airport and another when I stopped to fill up on gas on the way.“I’m good.You mind if I head up?”
Jordan smirked.“Not heading to your bed in the guesthouse?”
I must have given him a look that showed my cards because he slapped my shoulder and grinned.“Don’t fucking hurt her, that’s all I ask.But let her sleep.She needs it.”
“Wouldn’t hurt her for anything,” I stated, serious as I could.If it were up to me, I’d throw my entire hand in to let Jordan know how much I meant that, but since I needed to talk to Rebecca first, see if she was anywhere near where I wanted us to go, I held back.
“Yeah?”he asked, his head cocked to the side.I could see him thinking, knew exactly what he was thinking because it was probably the same thing Rebecca had said.This was temporary.We were temporary.
The hell if we were.
I’d prove them both wrong, but I’d also take my time doing it.
“Yup.”
I kicked off my shoes and headed up the stairs.The door to her room was open a sliver so I settled my hand on it and opened it slowly.The hinges didn’t squeak and she didn’t move an inch while I set down my bag and stripped off my clothes.
Carefully, I slid into the bed next to her, wanting nothing more than to pull her into my arms, but fought the urge.
