Page 32 of Coping Skills

She backed away, out of his reach. “I can’t, Daniel. It’s not a good idea.”

He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Why isn’t it a good idea for my girlfriend to crawl into bed with me? I’m not contagious. I just like holding you. It makes me feel better.”

A sound like she was in pain came from her, and she pressed a hand to her chest. “You’re killing me, Daniel. Please just let me go. We’ll talk later.”

“No. What? I don’t get what the problem is.”

She shook her head, backing toward the door, her hand fumbling behind her for the handle. “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t—“ She looked all around, her lips clamped together like she was trying to hold back more words than the ones that had slipped out.

“Can’t what? Say it already.”

Whispering, her back pressed to the door, she finally spit it out. “I can’t be with someone who gets head injuries all the time. I’m sorry. I can’t do this anymore.”

“What? I don’t—“

But before he could finish, she’d slipped out the door, closing it behind her. By the time he kicked off the covers and got his bedroom door open, she was gone.

Coop stood in the living room, his head swiveling between the door and Daniel. “What was that?”

Running a hand over his face, Daniel started to shake his head, but stopped, leaning his shoulder against the wall. “I don’t know.”

Coop looked him over. “It sounded like she broke up with you.”

“Yeah.” He didn’t try to nod this time. He was learning.

Coop waited a beat, still eyeing him. “Sorry, man.”

“Yeah.” He stumbled back to bed, pulling the covers up to his shoulders. What the fuck had just happened? He didn’t know, and he didn’t have the energy to deal with it right now. He’d call her later, after he’d slept. Maybe she’d sleep too and see she was overreacting. Because he was still pretty sure she’d said she loved him. And breaking up with him didn’t make any sense if that was true.

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