He had ingrained into her mind that her body was all she was useful for, the only thing that would get her anywhere and the only thing that would get her attention. He was the reason she had so many scars, physically, mentally, and emotionally, and he was the reason she couldn’t let go.
Her father was the reason she couldn’t give her heart to Cooper—because it’d only hurt her worse when he inevitably left.
“You’re okay, baby,” he whispered into her hair, bringing her back down into the moment. She sniffled, opening her eyes and slowly pulling back, but he kept one hand on her arm and the other on her back. “What can I do?”
Elliott was surprised—she was expecting him to ask her what was wrong. “Nothing, I’ll be fine.”
“Elli,” he mumbled, pushing a piece of her hair behind her ear. “What have we said to each other before? You don’t have to tell me, but you don’t have to lie.”
“I need to get out of here,” she responded, wiping at her face with the back of her hands. “Can we go somewhere?”
Cooper nodded, giving her arm a gentle squeeze as he gave her a careful smile. “Of course, baby. Why don’t you put on some comfy clothes and I’ll take you somewhere.”
She gave him a weak smile before he stood, and he held a hand out to help her to her feet. Elliott disappeared into the kitchen and up the stairs to her room, leaving Cooper alone in the living room with his thoughts.
He stared down at the shredded paper before he glanced back over his shoulder to where she had disappeared. He picked up the mess, wanting to get rid of it before she returned, as it was obvious whatever the paper was or had contained was the reason for her breakdown.
As he picked up the remnants, he realized it was someone’s handwriting, and upon further inspection, some words stood out to him:hatred, mistakes, regret, mother, death, visit, demand, love.
Dad.
Cooper knew there had been a reason she had never talked about her family, why she refused to discuss her past. He was always curious, wanted to know what her life had been like and what made Elliott the way she was. But if the few words he could make out from the letter had been any confirmation that he shouldn’t ask, the open envelope on the floor was.
California Correctional Facility.
Her father was in prison.
He thought back on the little that he knew, and he grew curious despite himself. She had a brother, two to his knowledge, and had talked briefly about her parents. But that seemed like a happy home—so what was this letter?
“Where are we going?” Elliott asked from behind the couch, startling Cooper as he knelt with the scraps in his hand. He looked up at her and stood, walking around into the kitchen and throwing them into the trash can.
“Somewhere I know always makes you happy,” he stated, walking back over to her and grabbing her hands in his own. “And you have no spending limit.”
Her eyes widened as she looked up at him with a small shake of her head. “I can’t, Benny. But I appreciate your offer.”
“It wasn’t an offer,” he countered, pulling her toward the door. “I’m also taking you to the cat cafe. Now come on, baby, let’s go cheer you up.”
§
They had been walking around the mall for a little over an hour, but Elliott had yet to find anything she wanted to buy. She knew Cooper was trying to cheer her up, trying to make her feel better, but that letter from her father had thrown her for a loop.
She hadn’t heard from him in eight years—since her aunt and uncle got full custody of her.
Since she had last seen her mother.
Why now?She wondered to herself as she paced outside of the men’s dressing room.It couldn’t just be because of the transfer, could it? Did he really think she’d show up?
She shook her head, leaning against the bare wall as she placed a hand on her chest, playing with the small wave pendant on the chain around her neck that Cooper had gotten her a month prior. It was cheesy, one of those quarter machines in a restaurant they had gone to, but he insisted. And as if fate knew who she was, knew what she needed in that moment, this necklace came out.
A wave for my huracà,he had said before placing it around her neck.A beautiful, simple necklace, for my beautiful and simple girl.
She grinned at the memory, a little more at ease before she looked up and saw a father helping his little girl pick out a dress. Elliott huffed, growing frustrated once more.There’s only one thing that can help me forget about this,she thought as she walked into the men’s room.And he’s going to help me whether he wants to or not.
Cooper was the only one in the changing room so it didn’t take her long to find him. She knocked on the door and heard him rummaging around on the other side before he creaked the door open. She pushed her way in, hastily closing it behind her.
“Baby, what are you—” but before he could finish his sentence, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. He hesitated for a moment before pulling her away from him, looking down with a confused expression. “What’s going on, baby?”
She shook her head and tried to pull him in for another kiss, but he refused to budge. She groaned in frustration, closing her eyes to try and stop the tears from falling. “Please, I need you to help me forget.”
