Page 17 of Craving Cooper

“I started to say it was because he loved her. I didn’t want to offend her, but she told me not to bullshit her.”

“At least she can see him for what he was.”

“I know, but she still needs answers.”

“Did you have any?”

“I told her he probably did it so no-one here would think badly of him.”

“We all thought badly of him.”

He smiles at the reminder. “Those of us who really knew him did, but there were still enough people who thought he practically walked on water, and Mitch liked that. Plus, he’d only just opened the gym. He wouldn’t have wanted to tarnish his reputation by abandoning Laurel, having got her pregnant.”

“No, I guess not.”

He lets out a sigh. “It’s just a shame he couldn’t have been faithful to her.”

“You don’t mean that,” I say, and he smiles.

“No, I don’t… not really.”

He heads for the garage door, to go back out to the truck, and I follow. “You’re sure this is what you want?” I say and he turns to face me, looking puzzled. “You’re not just trying to make Laurel’s dreams come true by having a baby with her?”

He smiles. “I’d do anything for her, you know that. But I want this, too, Coop. I really do.” His smile fades and I’m struck by the bleak look on his face. “I can’t tell you how gut-wrenching it’s been the last couple of months, when we’ve found out Laurel’s not pregnant. Obviously it’s worse for Laurel, but I… I feel like such a fucking failure.”

“Hey, man… It’s not your fault.”

“Really? It sure as hell isn’t Laurel’s, is it? She fell pregnant the first time she was with Mitch, so…”

“That’s not what I meant. You guys have had a lot going on, and most of it has been pretty stressful. You just said Laurel’s still plagued by what Mitch did. Between that and moving house, and everything else you’ve been dealing with, I think you need to cut yourselves some slack. Get settled into your new home and give yourselves a chance to relax for once. I’m sure it’ll happen.”

He smiles, although it’s a little half-hearted, and I feel sorry for him. I may never have wanted to be a father myself, but that doesn’t mean I don’t get it.

“You’re probably right,” he says.

“Of course I’m right. I’m always right. And in the meantime, just enjoy yourselves… unless you’ve forgotten how to have fun, of course.”

He shakes his head at me and murmurs, “As if,” under his breath, jumping up into the back of the truck, while I smile at him.

Chapter Five

Mallory

Cooper wasn’t wrong. Today has been more than I’d bargained for. It’s been absolutely exhausting.

Once we’d finished moving Laurel’s furniture and belongings into the new property – most of which went into the garage – we drove to Brady’s house and did exactly the same thing there. Fortunately, although Cooper had moaned about Brady not moving his things to Laurel’s old house before today, he had at least already packed them, so it took less time to load the truck. I guess the fact that he hasn’t been living there for a while made all the difference to that, and his house had a feeling of being empty even before we moved his things out.

The new house is nothing like that. Even when we first arrived, it already felt like somewhere happy and loving… somewhere they could make a fresh start, and although I don’t know them, I get the feeling they need that.

It took us a lot longer to unload Brady’s furniture, because everything had to be put into the correct rooms, but once the beds were in place, I helped Laurel to make them up. Addy decided that was boring and went to see what Brady and Cooper were doing, which gave me a chance to repeat what she’d said outside Laurel’s old house.

“Oh, God…” She bit her bottom lip and gazed at me across Brady’s enormous bed. “Did Cooper say anything?”

“No. I don’t think he or Brady understood the significance.”

She nodded her head. “I should have realized Addy would mention it. She repeats practically everything that gets said within about a mile of her.”

I had to smile, although I couldn’t help recalling how it had felt when she’d blurted out those words about falling for someone. I dreaded Cooper or Brady asking what she meant, or where she’d heard the phrase, and her repeating my conversation with Laurel. Luckily for me, Addy chose that moment to complain that Brady’s t-shirt was damp, and he removed it, revealing a beautiful tattoo of roses and leaves, which started on his chest and wound its way over his shoulder. It provided an excellent distraction, especially when Laurel came out and started talking about it. That gave me a chance to hide my blushes… because I was definitely blushing. After all, not only had Addy nearly given away my secret, but I’d practically fallen over my tongue when I’d brought out the drinks and seen Cooper’s bare chest. I know that’s superficial of me, but honestly, the man is divine.

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