Page 168 of Collateral Damage
I pretend to think on it. “Hmm… I guess I wouldn’t mind living in such proximity to Arden again.”
He laughs. “Remind me to thank her.”
“For what? Luring me into your clutches?”
“Pretty much.”
“Aw yes, nothing like a long-lost cousin-sister to shake things up.”
He winks. “Exactly.”
I laugh with joy, although joy is not a big enough word to hold what I’m experiencing. Tonight feels like the beginning of something new and special, like the best years of my life are starting right now.
Cooper - Two Months Later - Age 28
Carrying grocery bags in both hands, I hurry into the penthouse, the anticipation killing me. I can’t wait to spill the news. I’m pretty sure she’s going to be excited, but a little part of me worries she won’t. Guess there’s only one way to find out.
I push the door open with my shoulder, deposit the food on the counter, then find Sybil curled up in our bed watching reruns ofThe Office. Her hair is tied in a messy bun, and she’s wearing my sweatpants, complete with a ratty Nantucket hoodie she’s had for years.
“Honestly, you’ve never looked so beautiful,” I say, and she laughs.
“Hardy-har-har.”
“I mean it.” And I do.
“Well, I did say we were having a fat-dog night.”
A fat-dog night means staying home and eating so much junk food that we have to lie around like fat dogs until we eventually fall asleep.
It’s Valentine’s Day and her twenty-eighth birthday, so she gets to choose what we do tonight. We’ve both been pullingovertime at work, so I’m not surprised she wants to be lazy, which sounds perfect to me.
She points a socked foot in my direction. “What flavor of Doritos did you get? Because your answer could make or break our relationship.”
I snort. “Don’t worry, baby, I know you hate the cool ranch, which is crazy since it’s the best one, but I got you the salsa verde.”
“In the green bag?”
“And gummy candy and a pepperoni pizza and… your favorite cheesecake.”
Her grin is magnificent. “Taking the reins from Ethan, I see.”
I sit on the edge of the bed and begin massaging her socked feet. “Why would you say that?”
She shrugs. “He’s had my favorite cheesecakes flown in from Boston for years on my birthday.”
I shake my head. “Valentine… that was me.”
Her mouth falls open with an audible pop. “What the fuck? Why didn’t you tell me?”
I shrug. “As I recall, we didn’t talk for several of those years.”
She pouts, her eyes welling with happiness. “Good point. Thank you, Cooper. I wish I would’ve known.”
“I didn’t do it for recognition. I did it because I loved you, and I wanted my girl to have her favorite cake on her birthday.”
Even before she was my girl, she was my girl.
“Hey, there’s something kinda cool I have to tell you,” I say, dropping her foot. She senses the change in my tone and sits up straight.
