Breakaway (Beyond the Play, #2)(69)

“Dad,” I say, my voice wobbly. “I’m just doing some homework. I’ll see you later.”

“Penelope, open the door,” he says. There’s a hard edge to his voice that some would mistake for anger, but I know it’s something worse: worry.

“I saw her go inside with someone,” another voice says. “I just want to make sure she’s okay, you know?”

That sounds like Brandon Finau. I glance at Cooper, who suddenly looks like he wants to commit murder. Before I can shove him in the direction of the bathroom, he leans over and opens the door.

Dad is standing there with Brandon, apprehension etched into every line of his face. He takes in the scene in an instant, in only the way someone used to assessing situations in mere seconds can do, and his mouth twists.

Before he can say anything, Cooper says, “Sir, we need to talk.”

“Cooper,” I say urgently.

He glances over at me briefly before settling his gaze on my father once more. “It’s not what it looks like.”

“I think I know exactly what it looks like,” Dad says. He looks at Brandon, who has a smug edge to his smile, arms crossed over his chest as he surveys the scene. What an asshole. I don’t know what he did, exactly, but somehow, he convinced Dad I needed checking up on. By the way Cooper is glaring at him, it’s plain that Brandon wanted my dad to find him here. His reaction to me wearing Brandon’s sweater makes a lot more sense now. It wasn’t just that I wore someone else’s, it’s that I chose Finau’s.

Whatever the beef is, I don’t care. What I do care about is my dad seeing a shirtless Cooper Callahan in my hotel room, and the fact Cooper’s bright idea to all of this is to ask him to talk. Cooper might’ve helped me back into the tank top, but I’m still feeling exposed. My stomach churns.

“Thank you, Brandon,” Dad says. “I’ll take it from here.”

It’s a dismissal, but Brandon stays put. Cooper raises an eyebrow, somehow looking cool and collected even though he’s under a microscope like me, and says, “I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure Coach told you to get lost.”

“And miss the show?” Brandon drawls. “I can’t believe you’d be such an idiot, Callahan. The coach’s daughter?”

“This is how you get back at me for earning captain?” Cooper takes a step in his direction, his gaze dark. “Screw you for dragging Penny into this.”

“Callahan,” Dad says warningly. He turns to Brandon. “Finau. Leave before I sit you out of the next game.”

Brandon’s mouth drops open. “Why? I’m helping you!”

“And now you’re done. Go.”

Brandon glares at Cooper for half a second longer before taking his sorry ass to the elevator. I shrink back against the wall, hugging my arms to my stomach tightly. There’s a dull ringing in my ears. I had nightmares about situations like this for a long time after the incident with Preston; I’d imagine Dad walking in on the moment everything fell to pieces. Sometimes he’d save me, but more often, he’d let me suffer the humiliation of his presence. Cooper wraps his arm around my shoulders. I turn into his chest, unable to look at my father.

“Sir,” Cooper says, “Give us a minute to get more presentable, and then come in and we’ll talk.”

I peek at Dad. He has a funny expression on his face, like he’s not sure what to think about this side of Cooper, but eventually he nods. Cooper shuts the door most of the way, then picks up his shirt, throwing it back on. He walks over to my suitcase and pulls out the sweatshirt I’d planned to sleep in.

“Thanks,” I say as he holds it out to me. My voice sounds rusty, like I haven’t used it in a while. “Can’t believe I wore that fucking guy’s sweater.”

Once I get the sweatshirt on, I curl my hands into the floppy sleeves. Cooper smiles, like that’s as adorable as the way Tangerine sits on the windowsill to watch for the mailman, and kisses me on the lips, feather-light. He tucks my hair behind my ear.

“It’s going to be okay,” he whispers.

I wish I could believe him, but I honestly don’t know what Dad will think about this. Does the fact it’s Cooper make it better or worse? Is he looking at this and feeling like I’m heading down the same road as before?

“I meant what I said,” he adds. He kisses my forehead. “Come in, Coach.”

Dad pushes open the door cautiously. “Bug. Are you okay?”

I untangle myself from Cooper. I don’t want to sit on the bed—thankfully still made—so I back into a corner instead. “Yes. What did he tell you?”

Dad shuts the door behind us with a firm click. “He made it seem like you were up here with someone random. I’m sorry, honey. I just—I panicked.” He frowns. “Although now I’m worried for an entirely different reason. What’s going on here?”

“I’m trying to convince your daughter to date me,” Cooper says. There’s a hint of a challenge in his voice, like he’s daring Dad to protest. If you didn’t know him, you’d think he’s relaxed right now, but I can see the tightness around his mouth. “I’ve been having a hell of a time of it.”

“Penny doesn’t date.”

“I won’t lie to you; we’ve had a thing going.” I flush at the matter-of-fact note in his voice. That’s one way to put our arrangement. “And if you don’t like that, I don’t care if you demote me from captain or bench me.” He glances over at me, his gaze softening. “I just want a chance with her.”