Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
“Fuck,” he mutters.
“The more time I spent with him, the closer we became. He’s a good guy, Coop. He didn’t deserve what I did to him.”
“I’m sorry. I know my timing was terrible. I didn’t plan to lay my heart out at your feet that day. I was going to just deal with it. I had lost you, and it was all on me. The minute I pulled into the parking lot that night, I knew that wasn’t going to be possible. I sat out in my truck for longer than I care to admit until Nix and Tess knocked on my window. They could see it all over my face and encouraged me to tell you how I really felt. It was like them telling me to talk to you was the validation that I wasn’t crazy. It was a sign I hadn’t lost my mind, and this pain in my gut at the thought of you marrying anyone but me was real. So real, in fact, it had consumed me for weeks. I rushed into the building. I had to find you, and when I did, well, you know what happens from there.”
“Yeah. I remember.” I’ve replayed that night and the one following it more times than I can count. I wish I knew the answer. I wish this was easy. I want to be able to look past all the pain, to believe what he’s telling me. To trust in this connection we’ve always had.
Chapter 7
Cooper
“I meant every word of what I said to you that night, Reese. I admit it’s somewhat of a haze, but I know I told you I was in love with you. I also know I pleaded with you not to marry him. I take the fault in that. I’m sorry you’re hurting, baby. I am. I wish I could take that away from you. What I’m not sorry for is you calling off the wedding. We wouldn’t be here right now if you hadn’t, and there is nowhere else I’d rather be.” I look into those big green eyes as I say the words. Willing her to believe me.
“How are you so sure about this, Coop? I mean, you told me yourself we couldn’t be more. Now you’re telling me that I’m all you want. That’s confusing. My heart is still back in your bedroom at the house when you told me we could only be friends. It’s hard for it to get past that night and believe what you’re saying.”
“I understand that. I know we have a lot to work through, but, Reese, there is no one else I’d rather be in this situation with. I’m going to show you how much I love you. I know I need to give you more than just my words, and I plan to do so.” She has no idea of the depths I’ll go to. Whatever I have to do to prove to her that this is real, I’ll do it.
She’s quiet, staring off into the distance. I wish I could read her mind. If I could only know what she was thinking, I could ease her fears. I could help her with this. Hell, if she could only read mine, her doubts would vanish just like that.
“Talk to me.”
“I need to see Hunter.”
My shoulders stiffen, and my heart stalls in my chest. “What do you mean you need to see him?”
“I need to apologize.”
Every single cell in my body wants me to protest. I want to tell her that she can’t see him. However, I can’t do that. She’s right. He’s innocent in all of this and deserves to have the questions, which I’m sure he has, answered. “Do you want me to go with you?” I offer. Part of me wants her to say yes, and the other part wants her to say no. I don’t want to see her with him. It’s not just Hunter; it’s any man who’s not me.
“I don’t think that’s such a great idea.”
“Yeah, probably not, but if you wanted me there, I would be there.” Anxiety creeps in as I worry about what he will say or do. Will she change her mind about this? About us?
She nods. “He might not want to talk to me or see me. I just feel like I owe him that much. He didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Have you heard from him?”
“No. Not a phone call or a text. Nothing. I know he’s hurt, and what I did was wrong. I ran from him, and I ran from you.” She pauses, taking a deep breath. “I’m sorry for skipping out on you. My heart just needed a break.”
“I love your heart.” It’s true. She’s such a caring, loving person. I’m so damn lucky to have her in my life. She’s torn about how she walked out on Hunter, even though she knows it was the best decision for her. Hell, she’s apologizing for skipping out on me at the hotel. While I was upset she wasn’t there when I woke up that morning, I understood her needing time to get her thoughts together. Walking out of your wedding and making love to your best friend on the same day is a lot to take on and process. I get that.