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“Fine,” I agree but not before I take that mouth of hers. When she lets out a moan, I have to put her down and step away or I won’t live up to my word.
“Go, we’ve got a little time.”
“Right.” Why the hell do I feel nervous all of a sudden? There can be three seconds left on the clock, my team can be down by six, and I’m as cool as a cucumber.
“Nothing you’ll say will be wrong. Cooper loves you.” Red kisses my cheek before sending me on my way.
When I hit the bottom step, I run into my dad. “Looking sharp.” He gives my suit a once-over.
“Thanks.” I chuckle because he helped me pick it out.
“You heading out already?” He checks his watch.
“I was going to talk to Cooper.” My dad smiles.
“About time. He’s your dad too. You can’t punish him forever for something he didn’t know about. Though he’ll let you.”
“He should have gone after Mom.” I get defensive. Shit. That’s not the plan here.
“And he thought she was married to me with a few kids.” His hand comes down on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze.
“I know.” Fuck.
“Go on.” He lets go of my shoulder. It’s nice to have the all-clear from my dad. It eases some of the weird tension I’ve got going on. Red is going to let me work the rest of it out on her. Bet she’ll let me do anything if I clean the rest of this mess up.
I pause at Cooper’s office door. I can hear my mom’s laughter inside. I shake my head. I never knew there was a light missing from my mom. Not until I saw her with Cooper for the first time.
I don’t know how Cooper did it all those years. I know how I am with Red, and I see Dunc and Sadie. The men in this house are obsessive. We do have all the same blood pumping through us. Not that it truly matters. Sadie and my dad don’t share my blood, but they’re my family.
“Van?” Cooper calls my name. I jerk my head up, having been lost in my own thoughts.
Mom gives me a warm smile, coming over to me, standing in the doorway to the office. “I love you.” She kisses my cheek. Mom knows what I’m about to do. “I’ll go get the girls together so we can leave soon.” She closes the office doors behind her, leaving Cooper and me alone. Why the hell do I suddenly feel nervous?
“You heading out soon?” Cooper asks, breaking the awkward silence.
“Yeah,” I grab the back of my neck and squeeze, not sure where to start. “Thanks for all you did for Fleur.” He cleaned up the whole mess and didn’t blink an eye when it came to letting her move in.
“It’s what family does.” He gives a shrug like it’s no big deal, but it is.
“I’ve been an asshole.” Cooper’s brows lift at my admission.
“It tends to run in the family,” he replies with a smirk on his face.
“I suppose it does.” I shake my head.
“I’m proud of you. Not only for doing good in school and football but the way you are with Fleur too.” He walks over to me. “The time I was away from your mom almost killed me, but the silver lining is the family we have now. Sebastian and Sadie included.” He’s right. I wouldn’t change anything if it took them from our lives.
“We’re kind of a mess.”
“The best kind.” He smiles. “I love you, Van.”
“I love you too, Dad.” He grabs me, pulling me in for a tight hug. One that I didn’t realize I needed until this very moment. I know it won’t solve all of our problems, but it’s a start.
Epilogue
FLEUR
MANY YEARS LATER
