Say You Won't Let Go Google(18)

Goodbyes suck.

I’ve kept him here long enough. It’s time to make this a little easier for him. “Okay. I’ll call you after my show.”

We kiss again, and he moves back, allowing me to go inside. I have a show in a few hours and could use a nap. I inhale and open the door. My heart feels as if it’s being ripped from my chest as I take a step up and look back at him.

Cooper’s eyes are filled with sadness, but he manages a small smile.

“Bye, Coop.”

“Bye, darlin’.”

I smile and close the door.

My hand rests on the door, and I fight back the rush of despair that threatens to overtake me. I need to take a nap and get my shit together. I’m living a dream that people would kill for. I have to have faith that Cooper and I will figure our relationship out.

I climb the rest of the steps and stop.

My bus is trashed.

Things are strewn around the room. Papers and my clothes are everywhere. The roses are on the floor, smashed amongst the shards from the broken vase. I move forward, assessing the damage, and there’s another note taped to the window, cut-out magazine letters glued haphazardly into a single sentence: You’re playing a dangerous game.

My heart races as I dart off the bus. Someone was on my bus. Someone went through my clothes.

I’m going to be sick. Bile climbs my throat as I struggle to catch my breath. What the hell am I going to do?

With my back against the bus, I squeeze my eyes closed and try to focus on breathing. I need to calm down, but I can’t get the image of that note out of my head.

A hand touches my shoulder, and I scream. “No!”

“Em!” Cooper’s voice is full of concern. “What’s wrong?”

There’s no stopping the emotions that explode from me. I burst out in tears and fling myself in his arms.

He holds me and tries to soothe me as I quiver and cry. It’s no use, though. I’m too terrified to even get an explanation out. The notes and flowers were one thing, but that person getting on my bus is a whole other level of scary.

“Hey, talk to me,” he encourages.

I swallow and know there’s no way I can keep this from him anymore. “I’ve been getting letters and then—”

“Letters?” Cooper stiffens.

“M-my bus—” I start but then gesture to the closed door, unable to actually say it.

Cooper’s eyes meet mine, and I see the shift happen. He releases me but takes my hand in his.

“I’m not letting go of you. I just need to see what happened.”

Numbly, I nod, but I look at my feet, not wanting him to see my worry.

Cooper lifts my chin and waits until I look at him to speak. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Emily. Trust me.”

I nod again.

Holding on to him, I let him lead me back into the bus. His fingers tighten when he takes in the scene. “What the fuck?” Cooper’s eyes are wide and anger vibrates off him. “How the hell did anyone get on your bus? How long have you been getting these letters, Emily?”

“I…it was…I don’t k-know. It just started.” I believed it was trivial, but it clearly wasn’t. What if he had been in the bus when I got here? What if he had a weapon? So many things could’ve happened, and I thought it was just a stupid prank.

“Show me the other letters,” he says through gritted teeth.

I walk back to the bedroom area, careful not to touch anything, and tears fall when I see my drawers open. My clothing is all over the bed, and I struggle to keep upright. I feel violated, and I want to go home.

Cooper’s arms wrap around me, and he holds me as I lose it. My tears soak his shirt as I clutch him tight. I was so stupid thinking it was nothing. This…is not nothing. This is crazy.

“It’ll be okay, baby,” Cooper reassures me as he rubs my back. “Don’t cry. You’re going to be okay.”

I look up through my wet lashes and see the promise in his eyes. “I’m scared.”

“I know.”

“I was so stupid,” I admit.

Cooper shakes his head and sighs. “Did you think this was going to happen?”

“No.”

I didn’t think this was real. My dumb ass thought it was maybe some new girl joke or just part of the gig.

“The letters, darlin’,” Cooper reminds me.

I walk over to the stack of letters, which is one of the only things not thrown around, and hand them to him.

He reads them each several times, not saying a word. I’m not sure what to do, but being on this bus is the last place I want to be. Who does this? Who thinks it’s okay to terrorize someone’s home? Even though this isn’t my home per se, it’s where I’ve been living. And where the hell was our security team when this was going on? No one should’ve been able to get to my bus. Luke doesn’t allow anyone near the tour buses.

Eventually, Cooper puts the letters on the bed and runs his hand down his face. “This is disturbing, Em. When were you plannin’ on telling me ’bout this?”

“I wasn’t. I didn’t think it was a big deal. Who the hell would come after me? I’m just some C-list country music singer.”

He takes my hand in his. “You’re not some C-list singer. You’re gorgeous, talented, and clearly makin’ a name for yourself. If this asshole was able to get these to you and then get on your bus, what the hell else can he do?”