Page 36 of Say You Won't Let Go
My chest heaves from the run, and I look out at the vacant seats. Vast emptiness is all around me and inside me.
Wade should’ve told me.
Cooper should’ve told me.
Just the thought of his name brings back the images I was trying so hard to forget.
The next photo of me lying on the bed in Cooper’s shirt as I smile with the phone to my ear.
Moments that were mine—stolen.
I grip the phone in my hand, needing to tell him how wrong he was for keeping things from me.
Cooper answers on the first ring. “Em,” he says my name as a sigh.
“You lied to me! You kept the flowers from me, and this guy put a goddamn camera in my bedroom, Cooper! If I’d known this was still happening, I would’ve been vigilant. I thought it was over!” Tears of anger flood my vision as my emotions pour out. “Itrustedyou! I thought you understood that this was my problem to handle.”
He releases a heavy breath. “I was protecting you. Wade was taking care of things. Why worry you?”
I swipe the tears, but more fall. “I’m not some damsel in distress. You lied to me that everything was fine and I was safe. All the while, this man was lookin’ at me sleep, shower, and live.”
“I know, and I hate myself right now.” His voice breaks, and so does my heart.
“He…he took…” I start to fall apart. “He tookeverythingfrom me! He saw me when I was raw and vulnerable. He invaded my privacy, Cooper!”
“I’ll be there in two days, Emily. I’m on a plane as soon as I finish my meeting. I’ll get back what he took from you, darlin’. No one is going to hurt you.”
I sink down to the stage and try to slow my breathing. I just got done telling him that I didn’t need him to save me, and as much as I want to call foul on myself and tell him to come, I know he’s dealing with his own mess as well. He can’t just keep dropping things to run to my side. I’m not that girl. “But the farm.”
“The farm isn’t my concern. You are.”
I love this man. I love him so much my heart can’t contain it all, but I’m so angry and confused and…lost. “I don’t know…”
“There’s nothing for you to know other than in forty-eight hours I’ll have you in my arms and no one will get close to you.”
My hand clutches the base of my neck, and I pray that isn’t a lie. I want to see him more than anything. Even in my hurt, I crave him.
I see Wade standing on the side of the stage with his arms crossed over his chest. “I’ll see you soon. Wade has a lot to fill me in on.”
“All right, darlin’. I’ll see you soon.”
I stand and pull myself together, ready to face a very pissed-off big man who could crush me. Even though I didn’t do anything wrong, his profile doesn’t scream happy or relieved.
“Em?” Cooper calls out.
“Yeah?”
“I’m sorry you feel I betrayed you. I’ll never lie to you.”
Guilt wraps around my chest, squeezing tight. “I know you were only doin’ what you thought was right.”
“I love you.” Cooper’s deep rasp is laced with emotion.
“I love you, too.”
Wade moves toward me as I disconnect the call, and I brace myself for whatever he has to fill me in on. God only knows what made those alarms ring or where the hell Luke went.
“Is everything okay now?” I start as I make my way toward him, knowing nothing about this is going to be good news.
