While every part of me is begging to just leave and make them deal with it, I know that that wouldn’t beprofessionalorkind.
I fire off a short text to Lindsey, who reads it instantly and responds only with a thumbs up.
Finishing my juice, I rinse my glass, not sure what else to say as Cooper awkwardly pets my cat.
“What are you up to today?” I ask him finally.
“Practice,” he says, looking at his watch. “And then I’m going to Lulu’s with the guys. But I gotta go.”
It’s quick, as if he’s ripping a Band-Aid off.
Within seconds, he’s out of the room.
“I’m just worried, is all,” I tell Mila on the phone.
“I feel like you shouldn’t be too worried. I mean, sure, he’s Cooper. But he’s been really good, hasn’t he?”
“He’s been weirdly good.”
Something hasn’t sat right with me since Cooper got homefrom practice today. Fresh and clean from the showers at the practice facility, Cooper was quick to change into what looked like dress pants and a nice black t-shirt before heading to meet up with the guys. His sleeve of tattoos looked good enough to lick.
He didn’t say one single word to me.
Didn’t invite me to go with him.
Didn’t say hi.
Nothing.
“I kinda want to go and make sure that he’s not up to anything bad.”
Mila sighs. “I think that you need to figure out what’s going on in your brain. Because there is no way that man is going to risk pissing you off. He pisses you off, he pisses all of us off. And have youseenBriar when she’s angry? That woman is terrifying.”
She is. I’ve seen it with my own two eyes, and I pray I never have to experience it again.
“Yeah but?—”
“But nothing. Stay in. You’re going to be fine.”
I don’t follow her directions.
Instead, I throw on the first t-shirt I can find and a pair of shorts.
I had just done my hair this morning, straightening it for the first time in a while out of sheer boredom, so for the hell of it, I slap on some makeup.
If there’s a chance I’m going to bust Cooper Henry doing something stupid, I’m going to look good doing it.
I decide to walk. It takes about five minutes to get there, and I start to realize why the boys come here so much.
One of the perks of being friends with them is the girls and I getting access to the back, where all the athletes tend to hang out. It’s far less crowded than the front of the house. Isla was given access by her brother, and over time, she was able to get us all on the list, too.
So, it shouldn’t shock me when I step into the back and immediately find the guys downing shots.
I should have left then. After all, why am I even here? I shouldn’t be. I’m being nosy. I’m being jealous. I’m being controlling over a man who isn’t even mine.
But I’m scared.
Everyone knows that we’re doing this. Word spreads like wildfire.
