Intercepting Love (Second Chances #5)(70)
Leaning forward, he brushed his lips against mine and lingered there until I opened my lips further, basically answering his question with my kiss. At least the plane ride didn’t end as horrible as I thought it would.
When Cooper and I turned down my street, the first thing I saw up ahead was Scott’s car sitting in my driveway. I didn’t know if I’d ever get used to seeing it there, or if I’d ever get the nerve to drive it after all this time, but it brought a smile to my face. My memories of Scott would always be exactly that … mine. His mother couldn’t take those away either.
On the way home, Cooper told me that he’d called Paige Monroe, who was one of his friends and wrote that amazing article on him in one of my issues of Physique Magazine. It was the only redeeming article I had ever read on him, but it also happened to be before he hurt his shoulder and went downhill. Anyway, she was going to find out who spilled Cooper’s private information and mine to The Star Report people. Hopefully, she’d find some answers soon.
Grabbing one of my bags from the backseat, Cooper fetched the rest and we got out of my car. I couldn’t believe that the whole time we were on the plane he was up in first class with Joel. He came aboard late and Joel made him sit up there with him so they could talk. I wish I would’ve known he was up there.
We walked up to the door, but before I unlocked it, I gazed up at Cooper’s blue eyes and sighed. “Once we find out who leaked the information to the TSR people, how are we going to go after them? How can they get in trouble if they have freedom of speech?”
“To those I paid off they don’t have the luxury of freedom of speech in this matter. They had to sign a disclosure form in order to receive the money I gave them to keep quiet. They talk, they don’t get the money. If they took the money and then talked, they would have to pay the money I gave them back times three. So if I find out that it was one of them, they’ll be paying me a shit ton of money.”
“How much are we talking?” I asked curiously.
Cooper shook his head and smiled. “It’s a lot, love. Trust me.”
Wow, I can only imagine. I had no idea how much money Cooper has made, but I did know one thing … I was sure he made more in three months than I did in two years of working. Opening the door, I walked in and carried my bags to my bedroom while Cooper went to the kitchen to fix something to drink. I knew that once I went into my bedroom there would be two boxes filled with things from Scott. I was nervous as hell to open them because I could just imagine there being a sick surprise from his psychotic mother.
While Cooper was downstairs, I figured it was the best time to open them up. Sliding my finger under the tape, the first box I came to was basically things I needed for the car. The title was in there with my name clearly printed in bold letters, but there was also something else attached to it … a note.
“There is nothing wrong with doing the speed limit, Scott,” I half laughed and half cried. With a smile on my face, I folded up the letter and put it back into the box, setting it beside Scott’s favorite baseball bat, which I had propped up against my nightstand.
Sitting on my bed, I grabbed the other box and placed it on my lap. Once I had it opened, I looked in to see another box, only smaller in size sitting inside of it. Okay, I thought to myself, this is strange.
Pulling the smaller box out, I opened it up to find another box, and another, and another, until finally the last one I pulled out couldn’t possibly fit a box inside of it.
I was wrong.
My heart fell when inside there was another box … it was a small blue one tied with a white ribbon. Hands shaking, I reached in and grabbed it, tears flowing like hot rivers down my cheeks.
“Oh my God,” I cried softly, placing a hand over my mouth. “Scott, what did you do?”
Gently, I untied the ribbon and opened the blue box where a black velvet one sat along with another tiny note. Fingers trembling, I opened up the letter.
Closing my eyes, I held the box in my hands and cried until I felt Cooper’s arms wrap around my body. I didn’t even hear him walk into my room. For the rest of the night, Cooper didn’t ask any questions, he just held me tight until I fell asleep.
When I woke up the next morning, I was alone in my bed with Scott’s ring glistening in the bright morning sun, except it wasn’t in the box … it was on my finger.
“Dude, I can totally see the resemblance between you two,” Derek joked, glancing back and forth between me and my uncle, who was down the field talking to Evan. “I don’t see how those of us on the team didn’t notice it before.”
I scoffed, “I can see why. You aren’t exactly what I’d call perceptive, Derek.”
“Hey, you better watch it, Davis. I’m one of the ones who protect you out on that field. I can easily let someone bypass me and sack your ass.”
Chuckling, we both grabbed our bags and started on our way to the end zone where Joel and Evan stood talking. Practice was finally over for the day, but after this weekend’s game in Arizona there were a couple of players who were injured and needed Kate’s help. I hadn’t seen her since this morning before we left to come to practice. I thought she would’ve kept Scott’s ring on, but when she came downstairs to eat breakfast I noticed that it was gone. I didn’t ask questions … I just wanted her to know it was all right with me if she wanted to wear it.