Page 35 of A Scoring Chance

I really need to get a handle on saying the first thing that pops into my head, but he takes it all in stride. “Your guess is as good as mine. Murphy, the team trainer, said I needed some more time to rehab my knee to decrease the chance of my injuring it again so soon.”

Well, that makes sense, mostly. I look over at Cooper, noticing the tension in his posture for the first time. His thumb brushes back and forth over the top of my hand, like I’m the only thing anchoring him in place. I could ask him what’s wrong, but I let it go. If he wants to tell me anything more, he can do it in his own time.

“He’s gonna be out of a job if you guys don’t win the big trophy this year,” I say, attempting to lighten the mood a little.

“You really know nothing about sports, do you? It’s called the Stanley Cup.”

“Nope,” I pop the p for good measure, finally getting those dimples of his to appear again. “Not a damn thing.”

“Good thing hockey has practically been my life since I put on my first pair of skates when I was seven. I know enough for the both of us.”

Cooper flicks on his right turn signal as we ease toward the exit for NW Flanders St. I don’t really know my way around Portland, but we’re headed toward Washington Park, the crownjewel of all parks in Portland. I remember visiting the park a lot when I was younger after visits to Hoyt Arboretum or the Oregon Zoo. To save money, Ma would always pack a picnic lunch for us with sandwiches and fruit. Imani started doing the same for her and Darius right before… Tears spring to my eyes as memories from childhood fill my mind. My throat tightens as the grief threatens to swallow me whole.Not now. Please, dear God, not now.

Cooper must sense something is wrong because his hand tightens around mine. “Are you okay?”

I turn my attention out the window, blinking back the tears as I wrestle to regain my composure. No, I’m not okay. I haven’t been okay for a very long time. That’s why I go to therapy two times a week and need to know where everyone I love is at all times. But that’s not a story I want to tell right now. I couldn’t even if I wanted to.

Chapter Thirteen

Cooper

Something is very wrong with Ramona. We were joking around and having what I thought was a pleasant conversation, and then her entire demeanor changed. Her knee is bouncing a mile a minute as her hand tightens around mine.

“Beauty,” I whisper, pulling my truck to the side of the road. “Please tell me what’s wrong.”

As soon as we come to a complete stop, she unbuckles her seat belt and slides closer to me, wrapping her arms tightly around my neck. Her entire body is shaking as I wrap my arms around her, pulling her onto my lap. She’s spiraling quickly. I might not know exactly what triggered such an intense reaction, but I know the signs.

“Tell me what to do.” I’d burn down heaven and earth right now if it would stop her from shaking in my arms.

“Just hold me.” She sniffles, burying her nose into my chest. My shirt is damp from her tears, but I don’t care. Nothing else matters besides making all her pain go away, even if it’s only for a little while.

“That I can do.” I rest my head on top of hers, breathing in deeply. I want her to feel each breath I take, giving hersomething to focus on other than the ghosts in her mind. We stay like this for a while—I’m not entirely sure how long—but the shaking in her body lessens. It doesn’t go away completely, but this is a start.

I want to ask her what happened, what demons in her mind caused such a visceral reaction in her body, but I don’t. Just like she did earlier, I choose humor instead. “Did you know incest is legal in New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Ohio if it’s between two consenting individuals over the age of eighteen? Sixteen if you live in Rhode Island.”

Peals of laughter fill my truck as Ramona throws her head back in pure elation. Tears stream down her cheeks, not from fear this time, but my guess is relief. “Ah, you have been on the receiving end of one of Alise’s random disturbing facts, haven’t you?”

“Yeah. In the grocery store, of all places.” I chuckle, brushing my lips against her forehead. “I don’t know where she gets her Google ideas from.”

“Me either, but I’m not sure I want to know either.” She plants a kiss on the tip of my nose and smiles. “Thanks for this, Cooper.”

“You’re welcome, Beauty,” I respond, catching the glimpse of someone waiting impatiently outside my building. I wasn’t being dishonest when I told Beauty I was taking her to one of my favorite places in the city. We just needed to make a pit stop first. “You’re lucky we were already here, or we’d have been late. Oliver would’ve never let me hear the end of it.”

Ramona turns her head, not moving from her place in my lap, when she notices who’s waiting for us. “Is that Oliver James? The executive chef at The Silver Spoon right here in Portland?”

I shouldn’t be surprised that she knows who Ollie is. Everyone does, if I’m being honest. He’s more famous than somemovie stars. So famous that people from other countries come here for a chance to eat at his restaurant. “So you know chefs but not hockey players?”

“Correction. I know chefs but not any sports players of anything. I need food to survive, not a puck like some people.”

“Want to meet him?”

“Hell yeah!” Ramona squeals, grabbing her bag as she clambers out of my lap and opens her door.

Jealousy bubbles in my stomach, wanting nothing more than for her to be that excited to see me someday. Which is completely ridiculous. Not only is Oliver in a very committed relationship, but women really aren’t his thing, if you get my drift. I need to get my emotions under control because I don’t have time for this. No matter what asinine feelings I’m dealing with, today is about Ramona. If what Beauty wants is to simp over a famous chef who happens to be a good friend of mine, then that’s what Beauty gets. I don’t have to like it, which I don’t, but I have to deal with it.

I inhale deeply before climbing out of my truck and making my way over to the passenger side. She’s practically vibrating with excitement, bouncing from foot to foot like a toddler waiting patiently for me before going over to meet my friend. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were excited to meet him or something.”

“Or something, for sure.” She rolls her eyes at me before grabbing my hand and practically dragging me toward the entrance to my building.

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