Page 125 of The Secret

She saw right though his attempt to separate us. “Don’t fight my battles, Cooper.”

His hands rose up. “I wouldn’t dream of it, but you’re growing my baby and I’d rather they entered the worldbeforerealizing what a force of nature their mother is and decide to stay inside a little longer.”

She slid off the stool, her temper now aimed firmly at Cooper, but didn’t put up a fight because she lived for her naps. It’s also hard to storm off when you’re nearly nine months pregnant, and watching her waddle when I knew she wanted to stomp and slam made me feel so much happier than it should have. Thankfully, she didn’t see the smile I cracked or she’d have probably thrown something at me.

He waited a minute, making sure she’d really gone, before turning to me. “She has a point you know.”

“Who?”

“Your sister.”

My bad mood returned. “You know, if you’re going to stay here and slate me like she did, then save your breath.”

“Stop being a dick, Murray.” He got off his stool, fetching himself a beer and some more water for me. “I know you’re hurting, but behaving like an asshole won’t get her back.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Have you ever been dumped before?”

“She didn’t dump me; she just said she needed space. Space! From me. And Bell. What the fuck’s that about?” I slumped again, my face in my hands. “What the fuck does it even mean?”

“Christ, you’re dramatic.” He rolled his eyes with no empathy. “We all think Florence gets her drama from Wolfie, but it’s more likely coming from you.”

I ignored him, although in hindsight that was probably only fueling his argument.

“Look, I wasn’t here yesterday, but Fred and your mom both told me what Kit said.”

“Yes, she wants space.”

“No, you fuckhead!” He slapped me round my ear, which didn’t do anything to help my hangover. “She loves you. She wants to date and be in a relationship,with you. She wants it to be on equal terms, which is commendable in my eyes. She’s not trying to sponge off you, unlike every other fucking woman you’ve been with. So stop behaving like a spoiled brat and throwing your toys out of the stroller like Sammy.”

“I’m not,” I huffed, because he clearly didn’t understand.

“You are. You’re exactly like Freddie when she doesn’t get her own way either.”

“Freddie who I helped you win back after you royally fucked up,” I grumbled with my weakest argument yet.

“You did, and I’m returning the favor.”

“She wants space, Coop.”

“Bud…”

“What the fuck am I supposed to do? I don’t understand why she couldn’t have just come home. I love her, she loves me. Why doesn’t she understand how important she is to me? We were supposed to be a proper family.”

His jaw dropped open. “Fucking hell, listen to yourself. You’ve known her less than three months.”

“Your point?”

He scratched through his beard and took a long draw of his beer before looking at me again. “My point is, take the fucking time she’s asked for. Listen to her. Get to know each other without being in each other’s space. Date, have fun. Stop being such as asshole. For fuck’s sake, man, any woman worth having you need to fight for, every idiot knows that. If Kit is worth having, then you should be fighting balls to the wall to give her exactly what she wants.”

Shewasworth fighting for, of course she was. I’d fight to the death for her, even though I already felt defeated.

I sighed through to my marrow. For the first time in my life, I was in a bind I couldn’t seem to find my way out of.

“I don’t know how to. My chest hurts like a motherfucker, and it’s only been twenty-four hours. And that’s only the part Kit owns, that’s not counting Bell’s half, which almost hurts more, because I miss her more than I’ve ever missed anything. You were supposed to be bringing her.”

He got back up and I thought he was going to hug me, but he went to the fridge again, pulling out bread, tomatoes, mayo and chicken. He peeled the tomatoes and began slicing them. “I can speak to the Bell half, that shit never goes away, man. The half Kit owns, it feels like that because you’ve never had anything you cared enough about losing. This is what it’s like when you have to work for something.”

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