Page 54 of Every Single Vow
“Holt? I haven’t seen him in years.” Cooper chuckles.
This is the thing about Cooper. He’s mister sunshine. Never meets a stranger. And she happens to be a pretty stranger that would be straddling his lap if I wasn’t moping on the stool next to him.
I mindlessly run my fingertip over the ring currently resting on my left hand. The one I haven’t taken off since the day he put it on. I don’t even want to psychoanalyze that right now.
“Yeah. Small world.” She giggles again. “I don’t remember you looking so handsome.”
And that’s my que.
I take one more gulp of my drink before I slide off the stool.
“Where you going?” Cooper turns to me and frowns.
“I’m kind of tired. Gonna crash. You two catch up.”
“But…”
“Oh perfect!” She shrills. “Let me just grab my purse.”
“Here.” I fish the extra room key out of my pocket. “Take this.”
“Why are you giving me the key?”
“Cooper. She likes you. She’s pretty. Go have fun. I know you want to, and I already said you can have your pass when we go out of town.”
His frown deepens, but before he can say anything else, I turn on my boots and bolt for the lobby.
A giggle sounds faintly behind me, and when I finally make it to the elevator, I let the first crack in my resolve splinter straight down the middle of my heart.
Chapter thirty-four
Dakota
It’s been forty -five minutes. I took a quick shower, changed into my favorite t-shirt, then climbed under the covers so I could torture myself by watching the clock move slower than molasses. He was probably in her hotel room right now. Kissing her. Touching her.
“Stop it, Dakota,” I scold myself out loud into the empty room.
It’s about his happiness. Always. And if this makes him happy, then I want that for him. My hands come up to press into my eye sockets, the heavy feeling of tears forming behind them.I will not cry.
I will not prove to the universe that this is the most gut wrenching thing I’ve ever had to endure. Worse than him taking Shandi Turner to junior prom, where he got sloppy drunk, then proceeded to lose his virginity.
Taking a deep breath, I move to grab the remote when the beep indicates our door is opening.
I freeze, watching with caution as he walks in. His eyes remain on the floor, his hair tousled. Like someone’s hands have been running through it.I think I’m going to be sick.
He walks into the room, dropping down on the end of the bed, never making eye contact with me.
This is too much.
I toss the comforter off of my body, my legs swinging to the side as I slide my feet into my slippers.
“I’m glad you’re back. I’m just going to go get some air and try to call Ivy again,” I rattle off before I swipe the key from the dresser. “Be back in a bit.”
I go to walk past his silent form when a rough palm catches my thigh.
“Don’t think so,” he rumbles.
I pause, my breath catching as I stare at his hand.
