Page 8 of Cooper

Now, normally, I’d gag right about now. But the way he suggests it is so sincere, so warm, that I can’t help the smile. “Don’t you think that would be rather suggestive? I think people would figure out that we were...intimate.”

“Fair.” He frowns. “But that part doesn’t bother me.” He says, just as a loud bang is heard from outside. Cooper jumps out of the bed, getting dressed so fast it’s like he’s on three times fast mode. “Stay there. Go check on Bean.” He whispers.

“She won’t wake up for anything.” I tell him, but at the same time, my heart pounds in my chest, as I swiftly redress. “Where are you going?” I hiss at him, as he runs for the door.

“To check it out.”

“Shouldn’t you call the police?”

“You go on ahead and do that while I check it out.” He says, giving me a quick kiss on the mouth.

I watch him go out to his truck and grab something, tucking it into his pants. And as I observe through the Christmas lights lining my windowsill, I can see him trotting down the street, looking in all directions. I dial and tell the dispatcher what's going on. She lazily tells me that someone will come take a look shortly. When he is out of sight, I go to Bean’s bedroom. She’s out like a light. Not stirring, nothing. Just as I suspected. Closing the door, I leave her to sleep, and walk back to the front door, tripping over the little Santa I have that looks like he’s playing peekaboo against the wall. “Dammit!” I mutter to myself.

Cooper has a flashlight in his hand, and he’s walking the streets, as I wonder if this is about me or if this is just the neighborhood that I've chosen to live in. Chosen is a word I use loosely, since there really was no choice in the matter. Getting out of where I came from was the first priority. This neighborhood was the lesser of two evils, let’s just say, but I'll get into that later. The past month rewinds in my head, setting my heart aflutter, and I try to think positive, like none of this has anything to do with it. But every time I hear a car backfire, I see a woman running from something, I hear about a stranger coming to town, until certain conditions are met, I'm always going to think that my past is catching up to me.

But they don’t know where I am.

And I've made myself invisible.

Except for tonight.

And as Cooper returns, he says nine words that both shock me and make me feel something I haven’t felt since I left home.

Chapter 4

Cooper

Igrab the flashlight and gun out of my glove compartment. Normally I keep my gun with me wherever I go, but when you’re going to see a lady who is clearly in distress, that’s one item that you should leave out. Even though I kick myself now for such a stupid rationale. As I walk down the street, certain that I heard a gunshot, I dial Wade’s number. He’s still up. That doesn’t surprise me. The man never sleeps. The Ford brothers are always ready for anything. All five of them served in the military, and therefore, they are no strangers to battle. And I know that if something did happen here tonight, and I didn’t call them first, that I'd get an earful for it.

“Wade, dude. Sorry for the late call.”

“What do you need, man.” He says, as cool as ever. I could call and tell him that his house is on fire, and he’d likely sound the same. Nothing rattles him. His brother Colton is the same. He’s the one that bounces at Mingles, so I've seen that motherfucker in action. Jack’s a pretty tough dude, too. He’s at the bar a lot, hanging with Colton and Wade. The guy is covered in tattoos, and he doesn’t take shit from anyone. Dalton and Garrett, I don’t see much of, but they’ve come to their brother’s aid a time or two, since I've known them.

“I heard a gunshot fire in London’s area. Just checking it out. She’s calling the cops right now, but you know how that works out, especially in a shit ass part of town like this one.”

“Who’s London?” Wade asks, and I can hear him shuffling, like he’s putting on pants or shoes or something.

I shut my eyes tight, realizing my folly. “Shit. Stella. Dude, there’s a whole story on this girl, but she’s real tight lipped about it.”

“She in trouble?”

“I’d bet money on it.”

“She’s got a kid, too, right?”

“Yeah. Eight years old. Cute as a button.”

“Where does she live, man?”

I tell him. “And don’t tell her that I let on about her real name. I swear to God it was a Freudian slip.”

I hear a click a moment later, from his end, as he switches to Bluetooth in his car. “It’s cool, Coop. Shit, I can’t remember half the chick’s names I've fucked around with.”

“Oh, that. And don’t tell her that you know anything, either.”

“Dude, you’re calling me at two o’clock in the fucking morning. Unless you were playing Monopoly with her, which I doubt, you were messing around. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out.” He clears his throat. “I’ll be there in five. I’m already on the road.”

“Bring your brothers.”

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