Intercepting Love (Second Chances #5)(21)

“Kate, you can’t keep putting up with that shit,” he said, lifting my chin so I’d look at him. “These people have some serious issues, and if you don’t do something about it who knows what they’ll start doing.”

I nodded. “I know.”

It was then I looked down and noticed that I had on the same clothes from yesterday. Someone had to have carried me because I couldn’t remember how I got there. I vaguely remembered rushing to the bathroom and throwing up, and then someone holding me during the night to keep me warm.

“Were you here all night? Was it you that helped me? I remember someone helping me.”

Tucking my hair behind my ears, he smiled and nodded. “Yeah, it was me. I didn’t want to leave you alone.”

“What about Cooper? Where was he?”

Luke scoffed. “He bailed exactly like I thought he would. I told you he was only playing games with you. When things got rough he left.”

“But how did you get me home? I couldn’t have ridden on your motorcycle.”

“Oh, Cooper brought you back, but he didn’t want to stay. I left early this morning to get my truck and come back. I thought maybe we could spend the day together if you weren’t feeling up to going to work.”

Cooper didn’t want to stay, huh? Not that I expected him to stay all night and take care of me, but I at least figured he’d show some concern. As much as I hated to admit it, I was hurt … and pissed. I guess it was better I realize what he was like before I let myself get too involved.

“So, how about it? Do you want to spend the day together?” he repeated.

“Luke, you know I’m not a slacker like you. I have to go to work, even if I don’t necessarily feel like it. You can come over for dinner tonight if you want.”

Mischievously, Luke grinned and leaned in closer. “That sounds like a plan. If you want I can drop you off at the practice field and come pick you up when you get off.”

That wasn’t such a bad idea because then Cooper could see that I didn’t get hurt by him dismissing me last night. “Yeah, that would be great, Luke. I’ll be ready to go in thirty minutes.”

Kissing me on the cheek, he smiled one more time before getting up and leaving me to my peace. Yesterday was a complete whirlwind of emotions and I was glad it was over. Although at some point during the day, I needed to get a new phone … and a new number. Why couldn’t Scott’s family leave me alone?

Turning on the shower water, I waited for it to get warm and waltzed back into my bedroom. In my nightstand, I had a collection of letters that I’d kept over the course of my life, including the one I found on the floor in Scott’s room when he killed himself. I never got the chance to read it yesterday.





“Dammit,” I hissed, swiping angrily at the tears on my cheeks. “You said one day I would understand, but it’s been two years and I still don’t.”

Folding the letter up, I stashed it underneath all of the others in my drawer and slammed it shut. Every time I read the letter, I kept thinking I would understand why he did what he did, but I didn’t. I was starting to think it’d be a mystery for the rest of my life.





After drinking a couple of cups of coffee, I was ready to go. Luke drove me to the field and I was only a few minutes late, but everyone was there, stretching and warming up before the hard day, including Cooper.

“All right, sweetheart, I’ll pick you up around five-ish, right?”

Unbuckling my seat belt, I reached to the back and grabbed my bag. I planned on working out hard and sweating all of the toxins from the wine out of my system.

“Yes, around five will be perfect. Then we can head to my house.”

Luke grinned and leaned in, touching my lips lightly with his. “Maybe we can enjoy that pool of yours tonight. I’ve always wanted to skinny dip.”

He kissed me one more time, this time a little slower and deeper. When he pulled back, I laughed. “You expect me to believe you haven’t skinny dipped. I’m not that na?ve, Luke.”

“Hey, I didn’t say I hadn’t skinny dipped before, I just meant that I’ve always wanted to do it with you. Why don’t you forget everything that happened yesterday and concentrate on me and you? I can offer you so much more than Cooper ever could.”

“You don’t have to worry about Cooper,” I told him.

“Good, then there’s nothing holding you back tonight.”

There’s nothing holding me back tonight, I chanted over and over. Why did it feel like something was? When I turned my head, I figured out why I had that feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach. Cooper was there watching every single move Luke and I made. He saw the kiss, the bantering back and forth, and he wasn’t happy. In fact, he stared at me in utter disbelief. He had no right to look at me like that when he was the one who left me.

Opening the truck door, I slid out and smiled up at Luke. “I’ll see you later.”

I shut the door and walked right across the field past Cooper, who tried to reach for my arm, but I pulled away. “Really? That’s how you’re going to be to me? You’re joking, right?”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know what you’re talking about. Have a good day at practice, Cooper,” I responded cheerfully. I didn’t want him to know that not only was I angry, but it hurt that he didn’t want to be there for me. The only thing I could do was pretend; I was used to acting like everything was okay anyway.