“Please,” he repeats, sliding the newspaper across the table.
I glance down at the paper, which is open to an article titledJockhole Seeks Miracle.
My gaze flicks to the byline. Cooper DeLaurentis.
“What is this?” I ask, hating the waver in my voice.
“An apology. A damn good one, if I say so myself.” The ghost of a smile graces his lips. “But it’s probably best if you judge for yourself.”
Cockwaffles.
Cooper wrote me an apology letter and published it in The Collegian?
My pulse skitters and I clasp my hands together to keep them from shaking.
For a guy who’s built his reputation as a playboy one hookup at a time, and who values his privacy above all else, that’s a pretty big freaking deal.
Any NFL scout who Googles his name will see it.
Future employers.
Voters, if he ever runs for office.
That’s about as vulnerable—and transparent—as it gets.
So read it already.
My fingers tremble as I reach for the paper.
Quinn,
The day I met you, my life changed for the better. Whether or not you realize it, you showed me what it means to take risks, to be unyielding in the pursuit of my goals, and most important of all, what it means to love.
Until you came along, I thought love meant protecting those you care about, and while that’s certainly part of it, you showed me that love has many facets, that it’s bigger than any one person or principle.
Through your words and actions, you taught me that love requires respect, partnership, and trust. And when I had the opportunity to reciprocate, I fumbled the ball. I let my insecurities get the best of me, and I took away your agency, justifying my actions with the misguided notion I was protecting you. I was wrong, and for that, I’m sorry.
I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, but the one I regret most is breaking your trust. You call yourself a disaster, but to me, you’ll always be a miracle. My smart, beautiful, chaotic miracle. You showed me what it is to love unconditionally, and despite all my faults, you chose me.
I can’t change the past, no matter how much I wish I could, but if you give me another chance, I won’t let you down again.
Cooper
Tears spring to my eyes,and I don’t bother trying to fight them as I turn my gaze back to Cooper. Helovesme. A warm flush heats my skin, covering every inch of my body.
If someone had told me three months ago that Cooper-the-cockblocking-jockhole-DeLaurentis would fall in love with me, I’d have called them a damn liar.
But here we are. Two broken souls, trying desperately to find our way back to one another.
I want to forgive him. How could I not?
It’s the most beautiful apology I’ve ever read. It proves he’s finally come to his senses, that he understands it’s not his place to decide what’s best for me.
But he’s right, it doesn’t change the past.
Cooper is a protector by nature. It’s not something he can just turn off at the flip of a switch. No matter how heartfelt and touching these words are, there’s no guarantee he’ll live up to them in the future, that he’ll be able to stop himself from overstepping if he doesn’t agree with my choices.
And that’s something I can’t—won’t—accept, even if it means walking away from the man I love.
