Page 67 of Cocky Choices: Zoe Cocker

“There are videos of him partying to excess, Zoe.”

“As if you’ve never done that.”

“There’s a popular article about him passed out in front of the building where he works at in New York City.” Wyatt holds my stare for a silent moment, “It said his dad owns the building and he was meant to show up that morning, just not show up so wasted that he fell asleep out front with a bottle in his fist, wearing the clothes from clubbing the night before.”

I throw my hands on my hips. “Wyatt, I know all about that.”

“You what?”

“Not all the gory details but he told me he’s soberandthat he had a problem. Remember Paige’s brother? Bobby completely turned his life around and he was stealing from Shelby and worse! Remember? But look at him now.”

“Zoe…” Wyatt begins.

I cut him off, “We can’t shut the door on people because they went sideways. Not when they’re doing everything in their power to make up for it, and to live a better life now! Did you find anywhere on the internet that he’s — God forbid — a rapist or murderer?”

“No, Zoe, but…”

“That’swhen I’d listen, Wyatt. I wouldn’t marry him if he were a monster like that! But Caleb had only a drinking problem which he’s working on. He’s very involved in A.A. and has a sponsor.” I mutter to myself, “Not sure if I’m supposed to tell you that, because it’s anonymous,” and slide a quick glance across the other two policemen’s faces before returning to Wyatt, “But he was very forthright with me. You know what I think about it? I think that changing your life around, especially if your name has been dragged around through the cruelty of the internet, is brave! And from what I understand, Caleb has a not-great relationship with his family. We’re lucky, Wyatt. We have a great mom and dad! And all of the Cockers! If I called any of them and needed help, do you think they’d be there for me? For you?! Not everybody has that. And some people are prone to addiction by DNA, right? Isn’t that what we learned when Gabriel told us about Paige’s brother? What his dad said?”

Wyatt frowns, “Uncle Justin was wrong about that.”

“Exactly! But if you’re healing yourself, improving your life, as Bobby didandas Caleb is doing, that’s more than most people do!”

The officer who was driving the patrol car I chased says under his breath, “She’s not wrong.”

I step closer to Wyatt, not at all caring what those officers think of me. But I do care about my brother, what he thinks, how he sees me, and what he feels. So I get good and close to tell him, “We weren’t raised to turn our backs on the underdog.”

From behind me I hear the same officer mutter, “Don’t know if you can be that rich and be an underdog.”

Over my shoulder I lock eyes with the man. “You can have a ton of money and still live a miserable existence if you’re not supported by love.”

“Harder to.”

Wyatt pulls my attention back by asking, “Do you love this guy, Zoe?”

My eyes flick to Tom and hold. He’s watching me. Especially now. With my heart aching, I find it almost impossible to say, “That’s not the point. I made a promise.”

Wyatt grunts, “Great! Now that backfired!” His police comrades throw curiosity his way, so he expands on his statement, “Here I went and told her all the things that Nicholas, Nate and I found out about, thinking our sister would ditch the idea and instead she’s more committed than ever to the sad little puppy dog she found on a gold paved street!”

I cross to Tom’s cage, and touch the window. He raises his cuffed hands and touches it, too. Through the glass he says, “You’re a saint.”

I’m suddenly choked up because I want to break the glass, pull Tom through it, jump into his Jeep and disappear somewhere, but I did make a promise. And Wyatt reminding me about Caleb’s drinking issues, right after I saw what a jerk his father is, only cemented that I can’t be another person who lets Caleb down. “Wyatt, please make them let Tom go. He was just defending me. And he only punched Caleb once!”

My brother asks the officer who was driving, “Peters, these charges gonna stick or can we do something?”

“You want me to let him loose on a public street with all of Atlanta slowing to watch?”

“Yeah,” Wyatt smirks.

“Not gonna happen.”

“I know. Had to try. For my sister.”

“Fucking Cocker Family,” Peters mutters on a chuckle. “Think you can get away with anything.”

“We get away with being the best looking people in this city.”

The officer who was in the passenger seat is a pretty handsome guy, and knows it, so he comically puffs his chest. “Hey, I take umbrage to that.”

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