Page 54 of Play the Game
“You know it, Rhodes.”
“Men really are all the same.”
Cooper shrugs. “I’d like to think I’m more evolved than most because my mom would kill me if I wasn’t, but you’re really pretty, and you have really great tits. I like looking at them.”
I smirk at him, angling the phone down so he can see my great tits encased in black lace. Literally the only upside of pregnancy is that they look amazing.
Cooper groans, his eyes flashing. “Hot as fuck, Rhodes. Hot. As. Fuck. So, tell me about your existential crisis.”
I settle back in my chair, holding the phone in front of me. “I was going to go into the office, but I couldn’t zip the dress I put on. So, I tried another one and couldn’t zip that one either. Then I tried on everything in my closet, and nothing fit. Literally nothing. And instead of putting the clothes away, I piled them all on the floor and glued my ass to this chair. And then my mom called, and I shouldn’t have answered but I did because I’m aglutton for punishment, and I had to listen to her carry on about the fact that I’m not going with my brother and Rio to Florida for Christmas, which was not the time of my life.”
Cooper narrows his eyes at me through the screen. “Why were you going to Florida for Christmas when your parents live here?”
“Because my parents won’t be here for Christmas.”
“Where will they be?”
“Somewhere on the Mediterranean. They’re going on a cruise.”
“Who lives in Florida?”
“Rio’s family. Chris and Rio trade off holidays with their families, and this year is Rio’s turn.”
“But you’re not going with them?”
I shake my head. “I was feeling so crappy when Chris asked me to come, and the idea of getting on a plane and being at someone else’s house when I was throwing up all day sounded like hell, so I said no.”
Cooper studies me through the phone. “But you said you’ve been feeling better. You brought actual caffeine to work yesterday morning and drank it without throwing up.”
It does something funny to my chest that he remembers I drank actual coffee yesterday for the first time in weeks. That he pays such close attention to me. “I did. I could probably go, but honestly, the idea of being in Florida for Christmas is kind of depressing. It’s all hot and stuff and it doesn’t snow. I prefer my Christmases to be snowy and cold, if at all possible.”
“Same.” Cooper grins at me like he’s delighted that we have this in common, but a second later the smile drops off his face. “Wait a second. If your parents are on a cruise and Chris and Rio are in Florida, where are you for Christmas?”
“I’m here.”
“Alone?”
I shrug, pointing the phone at my aquarium. “Just me and my three favorite salamanders.”
When I point the phone back at me, I see Cooper sitting up straight, his face a thundercloud. “Are you telling me that your parents know you’ll be alone for Christmas and they’re leaving anyway?”
“It’s kind of the way it goes in my family. The years that Chris is with Rio’s family, my parents go to some exotic location for the holidays.” I keep my voice light, like this is all so completely normal, even though nothing inside me feels that way. The familiar feelings ofnot enoughandnot importantandsecond bestrise up so fast they almost choke me. “I guess they figure if our whole family can’t be together, then why bother to be here at all?”
“Because you’re here.” Cooper’s voice is so sincere, his eyes so intense, that my own eyes burn. “Why don’t they want to stay and have Christmas with you? Who cares if Chris can’t be there?”
“They care,” I manage. Cooper’s deep confusion, the light touch of anger in his voice on my behalf, threaten to do me in entirely. I clear my throat and look away, blinking hard against the tears that want to come. “Chris is their golden child. The baseball phenom, the famous athlete. I’ve always kind of been an afterthought. Not to Chris. Never to Chris. He’s my best friend and hates this dynamic, but he knows I’ll murder him if he tries to intervene. But to my parents?” I slouch down in my chair, reaching down and pulling a blanket over me. “I honestly don’t think they care much about me at all. Why do you think I work so fucking hard? Care about making partner so much?” I suck in a breath and resist the urge to slap my hand over my mouth.
“Because if you’re successful, maybe they’ll see you the same way they see Chris.”
Hearing my hardest truth from Cooper’s mouth should make me want to curl up in a ball and die, but somehow, it doesn’t. It feels…comforting almost. Like he’s a safe place for me to unburden myself. To lay my secrets, knowing he’ll treat them kindly. “Yes. It’s why I haven’t told them about the baby yet. Because I know the second I do, I’ll be the stupid girl who got pregnant accidentally and torpedoed my chances at a partnership. They already make me feel like I’m never good enough. I just couldn’t give them more ammunition. Especially when I’m still not sure how I feel about it most of the time.”
“Come home with me for Christmas.”
I rocket up in the chair at Cooper’s unexpected statement. “I’m sorry, what?”
Cooper grins at me like this is the best idea he’s ever had. “Come home with me. Have Christmas with my family. It’s chaotic and loud, messy and not at all relaxing, but it’s really fucking fun. My mom forces all of us to come home Christmas Eve for a big sleepover, so make sure you pack an overnight bag. We can drive over to Newton together Friday afternoon.”
I swallow hard, trying to organize my thoughts. “You want me to come sleep over at your parents’ house and spend Christmas with your family?”
