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“Leave him alone, Gio. Honestly. This is not the time.”
“I know that, but what do we really know about him other than the fact that he’s in serious debt? What if he’s after money?”
“I don’t want his money,” I insist and then feel the need to explain. “I don’t want a cent from him. I know I’m in debt, but I’m paying that off myself. It has nothing to do with Coop.”
Coop peers at his parents, his mouth pursed. “I know why you’re worried, but he hasn’t asked me for a thing. In fact, it was me who asked him to move in.”
“He did,” I say, moving my gaze to his father, who is eyeing me over the lip of his wine glass.
“Even so, I’d feel better if the lawyers drafted up postnuptial paperwork and you’d sign them, son.”
The son is directed at me, and I swallow. “Okay, I can do that.”
Coop rolls his eyes and throws his father a look. “Dad. Seriously. This isn’t your decision to make.”
“No, it’s fine,” I say and then shift away from him slightly. I don’t want his parents to get the wrong idea about me, that I’m here for his money, that I’m some kind of gold digger. It will taint what Coop and I have, and I’m not ready for whatever this is to be ruined. “I can do that. I can sign the paperwork.”
“Glad to hear it,” his dad says, and I nod, focusing on finishing my dinner. I can barely taste it and it goes down like cement and settles in my stomach like lead.
What a fucking waste of a meal.
Coop’s mood only sours from that moment on. He’s snippy and grumpy, and as much as his mother tries to soothe him with her kind words, it doesn’t work. I can tell she’s distressed over the change in conversation and the overall mood, so I pull Coop aside when he brings the plates in and hug him.
“Cooper,” I say softly into his ear. “It’s okay. You don’t need to be so grumpy over your dad trying to protect you. I don’t mind it.”
“I know, because you’re a good and kind man. But to be frank, it’s none of their business.”
“I know, they’re just worried about you. It’s fair if they don’t trust me, I don’t think I’ve made the best impression.”
Coop’s eyes narrow, and he grabs on to my arms roughly. “Yes you have. They’re just protective. They don’t want me to be used for my wealth. But you wouldn’t do that.”
“I won’t, and I can prove it by signing any paperwork your lawyers draw up. It’s fine. It will put them at ease when we tell them about the divorce.”
Yep. That was not the right thing to say. I know it the minute the words slip from my mouth. But at the same time, we can’t stay together forever like this, right? Not when we got together under such odd and mysterious circumstances.
But then again, since when have we ever followed the rules?
Coop’s eyes narrow on me. “Divorce? Is that still what you want?”
I swallow and try to find the words. Of course I don’t want us to separate. Is he crazy? But for some reason the words get lodged in my throat and don’t come out like they should.
“I see. Maybe we should just forgo the paperwork entirely,” he says as he stomps off, clearly upset.
I try to go to him to reassure him, but he’s already putting on a fake smile in front of his parents and carrying on like nothing happened.
I’ve ruined it. I ruined it all.
And his parents can see it. They can see how unhappy I’ve made him.
I don’t know how I could have made a worse impression.
As soon as the elevator shuts behind his parents and this disastrous evening comes to an end, Coop stomps to his room and slams the door. The bang echoes off the walls, and I feel my chest pinch. I’m such an asshole. Why can’t I ever say the right thing?
I move to stand outside our bedroom, worrying my bottom lip between my teeth. Does he still want me? Should I just go? My eyes sting, and I sniffle softly.
I hate it. Hate this feeling so much. But I’ve never been a quitter. Never just stopped because things got tough. I can’t give up now.
I have to fight for this, for us, and I will.
