Page 46 of Tumbling the Cornerback

I sniffed, grabbing for my drink again. "I mean, seriously, I can't think of another guy who would've actually listened when I said to leave Creel alone. If things were reversed in Bizarro land and I'd been dating Creel and Cooper'd been the dickbag, Jimmy would be out trying to find him right now and being all big-balled about shit."

Liz got to her feet. "Well, I need another glass of tea. Anyone else?"

Marisol popped up. "I'll help."

"Me too!"

They headed to the kitchen, almost at a run.

"Wait!"

As one, they turned towards me. I got up, walking slowly towards them. "What is going on? Y'all are terrible liars, and I know you're trying it right now. What happened? Did Cooper beat up Jimmy before coming here? Did he lie to me?"

Marisol jerked her chin up defiantly, while Tori fiddled with the end of one of her braids, giving me a bland, curious expression. Liz looked anywhere but at me. Bingo. The weakest link.

"Lizard, talk to me."

"I...think that tea sounds really good right now," she squeaked, hurrying to the fridge.

I followed.

"Not only am I your colleague—well, not only was I, blah blah blah, since now I'm fired, but I'm your teacher!"

"Oh! That reminds me! I need to reschedule next week's private. I have a dentist appointment."

I narrowed my eyes. Marisol and Tori slipped back into the living room, leaving me and Liz alone. "What happened, Liz?"

She pinched her lower lip between her thumb and forefinger, eyes moving all around, avoiding my glare. Finally, she broke. "Ugh, okay! I told Cooper he might find Creel at Hotel Laviol."

"Where Dezzy bartends?" Liz nodded. "Shit! That was hours ago!" I bolted for my phone, left on the arm of the sofa. Several messages from Cass, two from Dani, one from Renata, one from Lynda, one from Dad, but nothing from Cooper.

Shit.

"I need to go," I blurted. "Cooper's going to ruin his career because of me and?—"

"And," Marisol said sternly, stepping in front of me to block my panicked flight to the door. "I thought you trusted him."

"I do! But?—"

"But," Tori added, "if you trust him, trust him."

Liz made a sad noise low in her throat. "He was really mad," she whispered. "I thought maybe... let him. Because Creel is an asshole and ruined your career and?—"

"And," Marisol cut her off. "Do you really think Cooper is hotheaded enough to throw his entire life's work away to beat on some jerkwad ex-player who thinks his own shit doesn't stink?"

"No," I admitted, jittering anxiously. "But I can't let him?—"

"You can." Looping her arm through mine, she led me back to the sofa. "So right now we're going to sit down. And you're going to tell us about the amazing things you’re going to do next because I know you have plans.”

"I don’t think I’m ready.” My voice shaking just made me more annoyed with the entire situation. My voice never shakes. Not even when I’m in front hundreds, even thousands, of people! I shook my head, knuckling my tear-stung eyes. “I need more time.”

"Lying liar who lies," Tori pronounced. "You've got a million of 'em. You just don't know which ones to take yet."

Liz was quiet, settling on the very edge of the sofa cushion beside me. "Sorry," she whispered. "I thought maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing if Creel got a little scared, you know?"

I nodded. "I know."

But now I was going to be terrified until I heard from Cooper.

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