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Cooper groans and runs a hand over his face.
“I… might have done a little bragging. Maybe a little taunting too.”
“I figured he wasn’t completely lying about that. I mean… what we did outside. It was asking for trouble.”
“But it was hot as fuck.” I can see him grin even in the dim light, and it’s infectious. I shake my head despite myself.
“It’s probably given him a complex.” I glance toward our door, half worried he’ll come back in and lecture one of us some more.
“That and then some based on what he said to me.” Cooper’s amused tone returns, and he relaxes for a moment before he grows serious again. “What did he say to you?”
“Nothing I didn’t already know.”
My heart hurts staring at Cooper because I know this might end soon. It’ll end badly if we keep dragging it out like this, and I desperately want us—maybe even need us—to stay friends after it’s all over. I care about him and Lizzy too much to imagine anything else. As long as I still have them in my life, I can be happy with with memories of this summer. Or at least it’s what I keep telling myself.
“I care about you a lot, Trix. I would never ever hurt you. You know that, right?”
“I know. You’ve been nothing but good to me. You’ve gone above and beyond, and I’m so grateful for you. That I’ve had you this summer to confide in and help me deal with all the craziness. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
“No fucking way would I let you do that alone.” He wraps his hand around my wrist and pulls me down next to him. I put my arms around him and rest my head against his chest.
“I don’t know what he said to you that rattled you that much, but he just wanted to hurt you. Even he doesn’t mean it. You know that, right?”
“Oh, I’m pretty sure he meant some of it. But he’s still my brother at the end of the day.”
“Don’t ever let him tell you you’re anything but good, Rawlings.”
Cooper kisses the top of my head.
“I know. I have you to convince me of that.”
34
Beatrix
The rest of the summer flies by and before we know it, Lizzy’s back in school and football season has started. We’ve been so busy with Cooper at practice and games, me helping Madison deal with all the Undergrove and Westfield drama, and Lizzy adapting to life as a high school student that I’ve barely had time to think about anything else.
The stalker’s been quiet too. I don’t know if the extra security measures have been noticed and are serving as a deterrent, or if maybe they’ve finally just decided to leave us alone but I’m thankful. It had been like this before when my dad would run for office. There’d be a sudden flurry of interest; notes in the mail, threats online, and strange cars driving down our block. Then as soon as it started, it would stop. It was like they had gotten bored of us. I hope whoever this was had grown uninterested in Cooper and me finally. I’m hopeful that maybe I’m back to something approximating a normal life, even if that new normal might mean reevaluating if I need to be living with Cooper.
Today though, my focus has been Madison Westfield and Quentin Undergrove, because despite the fact it’s midseason and the middle of the week, the two of them have finally made their way back to an altar. Or more specifically, they’ve made their way back to a courthouse, and the rest of us are spending the day celebrating. I’m so happy the two of them have finally admitted to the world that they can’t live without each other.
It's been a long day though of dresses, hair, makeup, vows, photos, and last but not least, a friends and family dinner at West Field. By the end of it, we get a ride home from the post-wedding celebrations because I did my fair share of toasts, and Cooper hasn’t been light on the drinks either. It’s unusual for him since the season’s started, and I haven’t seen him drink since the summer. He’s quiet on the car ride home, and when we get in the door, he takes his shoes off and leans against the store frame studying me like he’s looking for answers. He stares at me for a full minute before I raise my brow.
“What is it?”
“I have to show you something. I don’t want you to be mad. I didn’t want to show you earlier with the wedding today. I wanted you to be able to enjoy it with Madison and Quen. Just know that I had good intentions. I’m just real fuckin’ worried you’re going to be mad now.” His voice is soft and my heart drops into my stomach with dread.
I don’t know what he could possibly do that would make me mad. Not this otherwise perfect man.
“Show me. You’re making me nervous.”
He blows out a breath and then takes my hand, bringing me to his office. There’s a large manila envelope addressed to him sitting on it. It’s already been opened. He pulls out the contents—at least a dozen photographs—and scatters them over the desk.
I stare at them because it takes full minutes to process what I’m looking at. It’s Rob and me. We’re standing outside the lake house. Me in my PJs and him bleeding, barely lit by the lamps at the back of the house and the moonlight. The shots are zoomed in though, some of them action shots with light trails obscuring half our faces.
Another of him grabbing my arm and pulling me close. One where I look like I’m lost in whatever he’s saying. One of me telling him something. Another of Rob looking distraught, and the next one where he’s alone, and he’s crying. If I didn’t know the contents of the conversation, I’d think—
“You’re still in love with him,” Cooper blurts out the accusation, and I hear the strain in his voice.
