“Jenna…” Cooper needed to stop her before she said anything more.
“No, just listen Coop.” Jenna sank down until she was kneeling in front of Cooper. Taking both of his hands in hers once again. “You weren’t the only one who said things they wished they could take back that night. I’ve thought about you constantly for months. I have no excuse for the way I reacted to your proposal. All I can do is ask you to give me a second chance. We were great together once, and I think we could be again.”
But before Cooper could so much as open his mouth, Jenna’s lips and hands were on his body and he froze. Torn between what he knew was right and the part of him that was hurt by Victoria’s change of heart, Cooper closed his eyes and allowed himself to get lost in the comfort and familiarity of Jenna’s body. At least he tried to.
Unfortunately no matter how many times he repeated over and over in his head that Victoria made her choice and he was free to be with whoever he wished, Cooper’s heart knew differently.
“What’s wrong?” Jenna asked when he stopped responding to her sensual assault, but this time when Jenna went in for a kiss Cooper turned his head at the last second.
“I’m sorry, Jenna.” Cooper said as he gently moved Jenna aside and stood up. “I can’t do this.”
Everywhere Jenna’s lips and hands had been burned, and Cooper felt sick for what might have happened if he hadn’t come to his senses. Victoria may have decided that what they had together was over, but until Cooper talked to her again he wasn’t giving up on their relationship.
“I’m sorry.” He said once more and began frantically searching for a shirt. Suddenly even being shirtless in front of someone that had seen him naked hundreds of times felt like a betrayal.
“Looking for this?” Jenna asked, and Cooper spun around just in time to catch the blue Polo she flung in his direction.
“Thanks.”
Cooper pulled his work shirt over his head faster than he ever had before, but slowed his movements when he saw the look on Jenna’s face and realized how much of an ass he must seem like right now.
“Jenna. About what just happened.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Jenna went to pick up the bag Cooper had seen slung over her shoulder, but he couldn’t let her leave without at least trying to explain why he did what he did.
“No. Please let me explain.” Cooper took a step toward her, but stopped short of touching. Instead he tried using his words to convince Jenna to stay. “Please. It will only take a minute.”
There was a slight hesitation on Jenna’s part, but thankfully she had a change of heart and dropped the bag.
“Thank you.” Cooper said, relieved. Leaving things unfinished with Jenna for a second time was the last thing he wanted, so he gestured toward the table and they both sat back down.
“Cooper, you really don’t have to explain. I get it.” Jenna said once she was settled into her seat.
“No I don’t think you do.”
Cooper sat and leaned his forearms against the table.
“When I said I regret the things I said to you I meant it. The way I treated you that night isn’t who I am, but Jenna we can’t go back. I’ve moved on.”
“I know.” Jenna’s response surprised him.
“You do? Then what was all that…”
“I should have said I know that now.” Jenna sighed then laughed softly. “If the sheer horror on your face when you were looking for a shirt wasn’t answer enough for me, the way you kissed me was. It was nice, but I could tell you were thinking about someone else the whole time.”
Cooper could have played it off, made a joke to ease the tension, but Jenna was right and she deserved better than that.
“I’m sorry, Jenna. I should have said something before it went as far as it did.”
“It’s alright. I didn’t leave you much of a choice.” Jenna laughed, and this time when she reached across the table to grab his hand Cooper felt the difference. This was a friend comforting another friend. Nothing more.
“We always have a choice, but thanks for letting me off the hook.”
Jenna squeezed Cooper’s hand once more before she let go and got comfortable in her chair once again.
“Sooooo.” Jenna said after what was an awkwardly long silence. “Tell me about her.”
“Who?” Cooper played dumb.
Jenna scowled and threw a wadded up piece of paper at his head. Missing by a mile.
“Why do you want to know?” Cooper asked laughing. “Is this going to be part of your interview?”
In an instant Jenna’s whole demeanor changed from playful to almost withdrawn as she turned away and looked out the window.
“I figured my not so subtle desperation would have given it away.” Jenna said cryptically, and Cooper had had enough of trying to figure out women for one lifetime. He just wanted a straight answer.
“Given what away?”
Jenna glanced his way and gave him a sad smile.
“When I saw that the Crush were going to be in L.A I knew I wanted to talk to you, but since you refused to answer my texts I figured you wouldn’t want to meet up so I created this interview. I know it was wrong and if my boss finds out that I used my position this way he’d probably fire me, but I didn’t want to miss my chance to see you.”
Cooper should have been upset, and maybe he was just a little for the way Jenna manipulated the situation, but he figured she had already been punished enough by his complete lack of judgment a few minutes ago.
“We’ve both made mistakes. What do you say we just call it even?”
“Sounds good.” Jenna sighed in relief then looked at her watch as she turned away from the window. “I should probably get going so you can get ready for today’s game. Are we good here?”
“We’re good.” Cooper assured her, and this time when Jenna got up to leave Cooper picked up her bag and slipped it over her shoulder.
“Thanks.” She headed for the door, but paused with her hand on the handle and looked over her shoulder. “Cooper?”
“Yeah?”
“This new girl. The one you were thinking about. Do you love her?
Cooper didn’t even hesitate.
“I do.”
“Then don’t let pride or fear get in the way. Tell her how you feel. Believe me, its better to go for something and get turned down than always wonder what could have been.”
Cooper could feel the emotions rolling off of Jenna in waves, and whether it was the right thing to do or not, he didn’t care and pulled her into a tight hug.
“I have no doubt you’re going to find someone great one day.”
“Thank you.” And then just as quickly as it had started the hug ended, and Jenna finally opened the door and stepped into the hall.
“Take care of yourself Cooper.” Jenna gave him a sad smile.
There was so much said in one look from Jenna that all Cooper could do was smile back and lean against the door.
“Goodbye Jenna.”
And after a nod of her head Jenna walked away. Taking all the pain and agony from that part of his past with her. When Jenna was completely gone from sight, Cooper slipped back into his room.
There was still a little while before he needed to be at the stadium for today’s game, but now that he was alone Victoria’s absence was that much more noticeable and Cooper just wanted to get out of there.
Grabbing a change of clothes and all his things for work, Cooper left the hotel with the top down on his Mustang. His mother once told him that there were times in your life when you just needed to get in your car and drive. And this was definitely one of those times.
So as Cooper raced down the busy streets of L.A. he let the warm California rays shine on his face and the wind blow in his hair. Clearing his mind of everything he couldn’t control until all that was left was what he could. And what he could control was how he chose to handle Victoria’s rejection.
It would be so easy to accept what she said
at face value, but that would mean he was no better than all the other people in Victoria’s life who let her push them away. No, it was time for someone to step up and push back, and Cooper knew he was just the man for the job.
****
Chapter 17
“And for the one hundredth and fifth year in a row the Crush have crushed the hopes and dreams of their fans. Dashing any hopes of a World Series victory after a monumental fall from grace during a very subpar six game road trip.” Amy made the sound of tires squealing on the pavement then hit her hands together like a car crashing and exploding.
“Remind me why I thought living with my bratty sister again was a good idea?” Cooper asked Kyle as they placed the last load of boxes on the floor in Cooper’s bedroom in his new condo.
“Because you did something terrible in a past life and you’re trying to make up for it?” Kyle’s answer made him laugh.
“Nope, that can’t be it. What else you got?”
This time Kyle pretended to think about it.
“Can she cook?”
“Can’t even boil an egg.” Cooper quipped back.
“Damn! I’m stumped then. Guess you’re just a glutton for punishment.”
“I’m standing right here, assholes.” Amy shouted, clearly annoyed by the jokes being made at her expense.
“What are you going to do about it, Runt?” Kyle ruffled Amy’s hair like he had since they were kids.
“Call me that again and I’ll show you who the runt is.” Amy threatened as she smacked Kyle’s hand away from messing up her hair further.
“Bring it on…Runt.” Kyle made sure he emphasized the nickname he had given Amy years ago, and Cooper took a step back.
Kyle may be a firefighter, but Cooper knew Amy played dirty when she was at a disadvantage so this was definitely going to be anyone’s fight.
“Prepare to whine like a baby, Brady.” Amy cracked her neck and stretched her arms like she was a fighter getting ready to step into the ring.
“Don’t break a nail, Wilde.” Kyle shot back, and all Cooper could do was stand by and watch as Amy flew at Kyle like a spider monkey on speed.
At first Kyle had the upper hand. Locking Amy in a headlock and giving her the noogie from hell, but then he made a fatal error. He let her hands get free. In a flash Amy slipped free and was on Kyle’s back with her hands resting on his chest.
“Ahhhh” Kyle screamed as Amy grabbed hold of his left nipple and twisted. Dropping six foot four Kyle to his knees.
“What was that? I couldn’t hear you over the sound of my nails breaking.”
Cooper had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing at his buddy’s pain, but he had learned long ago that challenging Amy never ended well for her opponent.
“Alright, alright” Kyle groaned in pain. “You win.”
As soon as Kyle said the magical words Amy let go, but not before getting in one last shot.
“Who’s the runt now?”
Cooper could see how much it pained Kyle not to give a smartass retort back, but he probably knew what would happen to his other nipple if he did and wisely stayed quiet.
“Are you two finished? I’m running on like three hours of sleep this morning and could use some help unpacking all these boxes.”
The plane carrying him and the team had gotten in at a decent time last night, but like the two nights before it was nearly impossible for Cooper to sleep without Victoria curled up beside him.
“Don’t mind him.” Amy told Kyle as she offered him a hand to help get him off the floor. “He’s just cranky because his girlfriend isn’t talking to him.”
“Girlfriend? I didn’t know you were seeing someone.”
“Amy!” Cooper scolded. “What part of ‘its private’ was unclear?”
The last thing Cooper needed was anyone else knowing about his problems with Victoria. Especially the man married to her best friend.
“Sorry, Coop. I figured at least Kyle knew.”
“Does someone want to tell me what’s going on since the cat is seemingly out of the bag?”
“It’s nothing. My sister’s brain must have still been spinning from all the roughhousing.” Cooper said as he glared at Amy.
“Nothing? It doesn’t sound like nothing.”
But just as Cooper was about to deflect Kyle’s questions once again the buzzer rang.
“Saved by the bell. I’ll get it.” Cooper dropped the shirt he was folding and left the room. Hopefully in his absence Amy could manage to keep her mouth shut before she spilled any more secrets she wasn’t supposed to.
The buzzer rang again and it took Cooper a second to remember that he had to hit the black intercom button to answer.
“Hello.”
“Sorry to bother you Mr. Wilde.” Benjamin, the doorman’s voice boomed through the speaker. “But I have a Stella Howe here to see you. She says it’s urgent.”
“Of course, send her up.”
Stella? Urgent? Immediately Cooper’s mind went to work conjuring up all sorts of reasons Victoria’s sister could need to see him right away and none of the scenarios in his head ended well. Especially after the shape Victoria was in the last time he saw her.
“She’s on her way.”
“Thank you, Benjamin.” Cooper made sure to prop the door open slightly on his way back to his room.
Amy and Kyle were both busy unpacking boxes but stopped as soon as Cooper came into the room. The look on his face must have given away his distress.
“What’s wrong?” Amy asked first.
“It’s Stella. She’s here and apparently it’s urgent.”
Amy looked confused.
“Stella? What’s she doing here?”
“I’m not sure. I guess I’ll find out when she gets up here.”
“Do you think it has to do with…” Amy started to ask a question that would only lead to Kyle asking more questions of his own, so Cooper cut her off.
“I don’t know, but probably.” Cooper felt a tremble in his hands and tried to shake it off, but it didn’t work. He was worried.
“Cooper now would be a good time to tell me if there’s anything I need to know.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Nothing?” Kyle asked skeptically. “If it was nothing you wouldn’t look like you’ve seen a ghost right now. Come on man, I’m your best friend. You can tell me. Is it Victoria? Did something happen between the two of you on your trip last week?”
“I’d like to know the same thing.”
All three of them turned to see Stella standing in the doorway of the bedroom and Cooper knew before she even said “And I’m not leaving here until I get some answers” that his already long morning was about to get even longer.
Cooper just hoped what he had to say to Victoria’s sister didn’t backfire because if it did he could lose more than just Victoria. He could lose a couple of friends too.
****
Monday had never been one of Victoria’s favorite days, and that was especially true as the most God awful pounding awakened her. At first she thought it was her head trying to explode off her shoulders, but it turned out to be someone knocking, not so softly, on her front door. Figuring if she just ignored whomever it was they would just go away, Victoria pulled the pillow over her head and wished for a quick death.
After arriving back at her condo late Saturday night, Victoria didn’t even bother unpacking her suitcases before she opened up the liquor cabinet and poured herself a drink. Opening up the Pandora’s box of her past had become like a bad date that wouldn’t end. No matter what she did the images and memories of that night were never far behind, so Victoria’s solution to the problem was to drink herself stupid until she blacked out. It was the only way to get the dreams to stop.
“Shit. Be careful.”
Victoria heard a familiar voice whisper from somewhere in her condo.
“I’m trying.” An equally familiar voice whispered back. “How was I supposed to know a suitcase would be
lying in the middle of the entry way?”
“God it smells like a night club after the lights come on in here.”
Victoria groaned into her mattress as she heard the not so stealthy duo of Stella and Lindsay making their way through her place. The last thing she wanted was for either of them to see her this way, but in her current state a quick run to the bathroom wasn’t in the cards. So instead Victoria closed her eyes and prayed to whatever higher power there may be that a hole open up beneath her mattress and make her disappear.
Unfortunately it seemed today whoever it was wasn’t taking request because a few seconds later Lindsay and Stella’s voices were hovering above her.
“Jesus!” Victoria heard Stella gasp.
Victoria could only imagine the sight she presented to her sister and best friend.
“I think he’s out for lunch.” Victoria quipped. She may have been in the seventh circle of hell, but clearly her smartass instincts were still fully intact and operational.
Stella apparently didn’t appreciate the humor though because she ripped the pillow from the back of Victoria’s head and let the bright sunlight shine on her face.
“Rise and shine.”
“Ahhh.” Victoria screamed and reached for her blanket to block out the light, but Lindsay was one step ahead of her and pulled it out of her grasp. Along with the rest of the pillows.
“Give me that.” Victoria demanded.
“Not a chance.” Stella stated firmly. “You have two seconds to get your ass out of bed and into a shower, or else.”
“Or else what?” Victoria asked defiantly. Finally able to crack her eyes open ever so slightly, she glared at her sister. “You’re pregnant and not allowed to lift anything over ten pounds, and Lindsay is still recovering from her injuries so unless you brought a forklift I’m not going anywhere except maybe back to sleep.”
“Is that your final answer?” The sadistic smile Stella gave her should have been a warning to Victoria, but her vodka-flooded brain wasn’t reacting quick enough to catch on and she stubbornly egged her sister on.