Intercepting Love (Second Chances #5)(69)
“Fine,” I snapped, grabbing my phone from my back pocket. “If he doesn’t answer this time then I’ll leave with you, okay?”
Evan nodded and waited on me to call, but it went straight to voicemail. You have got to be kidding me! I wanted to scream. Clenching my teeth tight, I slid it back into my pocket and walked silently out the door along with Evan. I was going home … alone.
Before we took off, Evan and Brianna traded seats so that I could have her to talk to. She and Derek seemed awfully cozy when I met them in the lobby this morning; it might’ve been because she had on one of his jersey T-shirts and snuggled up to him on the leather couch. At least they were happy.
We had only been on the plane for two hours, and I grew angrier with each second that passed. How could Cooper just leave me like that after everything we’ve been through? I had no clue if he was okay, or if he really just wanted to get away from me since I was the cause of his problems. All I wanted was for him to talk to me, even if it was just to end things with me.
“Where do you think he is?” Brianna asked softly.
Sighing, I uncrossed my arms and shrugged my shoulders. When I looked down at my skin, I had crescent shaped indentions from where I’d dug my nails into my forearms. “I’m not sure. I guess back in Arizona. I don’t understand why he wouldn’t answer my calls.”
“Maybe he was on the phone,” she suggested. “I’m sure he had some people he needed to call. I wouldn’t worry about it, Kate. You’re probably getting all angry for nothing. This is what Scott’s mother wants … you angry and miserable. Just forget about what that stupid article said and move on. It’s not worth it.”
It was hard not letting it get to me. When you’re a celebrity, you have to grow a tough layer of skin because you’re always in the spotlight and in the eye of the critics. There’s always something negative said about you somewhere. I wasn’t used to that.
“I’m going to ruin him, Brianna,” I choked, a tear sliding down my cheek. “He’s come a long way and it hasn’t been easy. His family sucks ass, especially his mother, and I know he doesn’t really have someone to fall back on other than Joel. I just don’t want to make his life harder than what it already is.”
“Yeah, we heard about all of that at breakfast this morning. Derek and the guys were talking about how Coach and Cooper were related. Why was it such a secret anyway?” Brianna asked, turning her body to face me.
“It wasn’t really meant to be a secret, but I know Cooper was embarrassed that no other team wanted him. He knew that if the world found out they would see it as a pity trade. He didn’t want to have to deal with the snubs and the remarks that he’d get from that. I’m sure he’ll have plenty of that to deal with soon.”
Brianna took my hand in hers and squeezed. “But you want to know something, Kate? The team doesn’t care about any of that. Now, if he wasn’t winning them the games I’m sure they’d have a different story, but Cooper is building their confidence and bringing them the wins. They have nothing but support for him. That’s all that matters, right?”
Nodding quickly, I looked over at her and smiled even though I wasn’t happy in the least bit. “You know, you’re right. As long as he has the support of the team I think he’ll be fine. I just worry about him.”
“I know you do, Kate. It’s because you love him and you don’t want to lose him.”
Closing my eyes, I leaned my head against the seat and took a deep breath, hoping I could keep my lips from trembling. “I do love him, Brianna, and if I lost him I honestly don’t know how I could face him every day. I’m miserable just thinking about it, and I haven’t even talked to him.”
After a while, I slowly drifted off to sleep. Unfortunately, I could still feel the ache in my heart and the chills of feeling alone. Brianna must’ve put a blanket on me, because eventually nothing hurt anymore and I was warm. Cooper’s blue eyes and kind smile was all I could see as I finally entered into the dream world where nothing and no one could hurt me. I was happy there, but that happiness disappeared the moment I was jolted awake by the plane’s not so gentle landing and a set of firm arms keeping me in place.
“What the hell?” I groaned, rubbing my tired eyes.
A deep chuckle sounded in my ear, along with his husky whisper, “Oh, it wasn’t that bad, love. I couldn’t let you fly out of your seat now could I?”
Eyes wide, I gasped and pulled out of the strong set of arms that were reluctant to let me go. “Cooper,” I hissed low. “Where the hell have you been?”
He sighed and held my face in my hands. “Look, Kate, I’m so sorry for taking off the way I did, but I had some people I really needed to talk to. I’ll explain everything later. Right now, all I need to know is that you forgive me.”
I huffed, “I can’t right now. I’ve spent the last six hours pissed off as hell, worried about you, and not knowing if we were okay or not. Excuse me if I can’t just forget about all of that.”
Cooper’s lips turned up into mischievous smile, and I couldn’t help but betray my own feelings as I leaned into his touch when he tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. “I know that, love, but I’m going to spend however long it takes to make it up to you … to make you forget about everything that’s happened. None of it’s important. You are all that’s important to me, and I don’t care what Scott’s bitch of a mother does to us, I’m not going to let her tear us apart. The question is … are you?”