Intercepting Love (Second Chances #5)(43)
Thankfully, I was going to be able to put the ending words in my notebook: Mission Accomplished.
Putting on one of my long-sleeved T-shirts and pajama pants, I quickly used the bathroom and washed my face … only to gasp when I looked at myself in the mirror. Even though it felt good while Cooper did it, I had red marks all up my neck from the stubble of his beard. He hadn’t shaved all week, but I prayed the redness went away before the game tonight. September had finally come, but it was still hot outside and the last thing I wanted to do was wear a turtleneck. I had makeup, but I didn’t exactly want to douse my neck in foundation.
The marks on my arms and legs were another story. I had hoped they would go away before he saw them, but now that he was back to normal I knew he would see them if he got me into bed. When I got downstairs, Cooper smiled and scooped me up into his arms. My body was so sore I cringed, but bit my lip to hold in the gasp.
“Thank you for standing by me this week, Kate. I can’t tell you how much it means to me. I’ll admit, it’s all kind of a haze and I don’t remember too much, but in the center of it all you were there. Your voice was what I heard.”
“Well, I told you I wouldn’t leave you,” I replied wholeheartedly. “Do you think you’re ready for the game this afternoon?”
Cooper scoffed, “Of course, I am! Except I wanted to ask you if you wouldn’t mind if we skipped the after party tonight. I know this week had to be hard on you, and I thought it would be a good idea if I made it up to you.”
“What did you have in mind?” I asked, smiling from ear to ear.
“Well, I was thinking that since we hadn’t been out on an official date since we started seeing each other, I figured it was time we let the world know we’re together. Are you ready for that?”
“Only if you are,” I teased. “You know that if your women fans see us together you might lose some of them. When you’re not accessible you’re not as appealing to them anymore.”
He gazed at me incredulously. “I don’t care about that, Kate. I don’t want any other woman … I want you. I want them all to know that you’re mine. Now let’s eat and get ready for the game so I can show you off.”
“Shouldn’t it be the other way around? I’m not anything worth showing off, Cooper. I’m not like the models or the rich girls you were seen with out in California. You’re probably going to get hell for being with me.”
“No, I’m not,” he scoffed. “If anything, you are going to get hell. That’s why I want to make sure this is what you want before we start really going public. This is your chance to turn back.”
I leaned up to kiss him gently on the lips. “I told you before and I’ll tell you again … I’m not going anywhere.” That was a promise.
For once in my life I wasn’t in any pain. My shoulder felt the best it had ever been since I injured it and I had Kate to thank for that. I never realized how much better I’d feel by getting clean.
We were in the locker room getting ready to run out and take the field when Evan came up beside me and said, “You look like you’re feeling better today. I must admit the guys and I were worried that you’d flake out on us. You weren’t looking too good this week.”
“Yeah, I wasn’t feeling good at all,” I replied cautiously. “But I think I’m better now.”
“Great! Then you and Kate can come to the party tonight. It’s going to be at Derek’s.”
“I can’t,” I told him, before he could walk away. “I have plans to take your sister out tonight.”
Evan had his back to me, but he turned around slowly and waltzed back over to me. “So you’re choosing my sister over the team tonight?”
“Yes, I am. Is that a problem?”
He stared at me for a moment, but then laughed and slapped me on the arm. “Nope, not at all. There’s going to be strippers at the party tonight, so I guess it’s a good thing you’re not going to be there. I’d hate to kick your ass for drooling over them when you have my sister, especially since Luke seems to not stop talking about her. I didn’t want to ask you when you were sick because you literally looked like you could rip someone’s head off, but he told me about this letter you found. You didn’t write it, did you?”
“What? Hell no, I didn’t write it. Kate chose me before the note even got written. Why would I even do that?” I asked incredulously.
Evan shrugged. “I don’t know, but Luke says he didn’t either. If he didn’t then that means someone else did. I’d like to know who. Whatever’s going on it involves my sister and I don’t like it.”
“And you believe that Luke didn’t do it?” I asked.
He didn’t think twice before responding, “Yes, I do. Luke can be many things, but he wouldn’t lie to me about this. He was the one who came to me. Do you mind asking Kate if she thinks it could be anyone else?”
Sighing, I hung my head and closed my eyes; I knew I should have just told her. “That might be a problem. I never told her about the letter.”
Evan’s eyes went wide. “Why not? Luke figured that was why Kate’s ignored his calls this week. He thought she was mad at him. I think she needs to know.”