Page 27 of September's Bad Boy: Cooper
He blows out a breath and glances at the growing crowd. "I think so."
He steps onto the small platform we set by the front of the gym, tapping the mic that Huck borrowed from the town hall.
People quiet.
Cooper clears his throat, scanning the faces before him.
"I don’t do speeches," he starts, gruff and dry. Laughter bubbles through the room.
"But I do believe in second chances. This gym is proof of that. Not just for me, but for every kid who walks through these doors thinking they’re only ever going to be who they were yesterday. This place is for moving forward. For learning how to fight, not just with your fists, but with your heart."
Then he glances toward me, and I swear the entire room disappears.
"I wouldn’t be standing here without the people in this town. Without the woman who reminded me I wasn’t beyond saving. Who looked at me and saw more than my mistakes."
My breath catches.
He holds my gaze as he says, "This gym is a new start. For all of us. And I’m damn grateful for it."
Applause rises around us, loud and genuine. Ruby dabs at her eyes with a tissue, her mouth trembling with a smile. Huck lets out a loud cheer and claps so hard it echoes off the walls. Kinley leans in to whisper something to Miles, her hand over her heart. He nods, grinning, pride clear on his face. A few townsfolk exchange glances and nods, like something long held in tension has finally settled.
He steps down but doesn’t head back to the clipboard. He comes straight to me.
As he walks toward me, everything else—the noise, the crowd, the celebration—melts into a hush. My heart is pounding so loud it drowns out the applause. And all I can think is how terrified I used to be to let someone this close again. But Cooper didn’t just knock the walls down. He walked through them with quiet hands and steady eyes and reminded me what it feels like to hope. To love.
"You meant every word of that?" I ask.
"Every one," he says.
"Good. Because I love you. And I want everyone to know."
His eyes darken with emotion. "I love you too."
He cups my face in his hands and kisses me in front of everyone. No hesitation, no fear, just us.
When he pulls back, his voice lowers just for me. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Riley. Whenever you’re ready."
My heart races, and I lean my forehead against his. "I’m already halfway there."
Jason pauses next to us, trading a quick fist bump with Cullen. "You back on shift soon?"
"Couple more hours," Cullen replies. "But with this weather, I’ve got a bad feeling."
Cullen’s words hang in the air, as Jason turns to us with his hands shoved awkwardly into his pockets.
"You know," Jason says, glancing around the gym, "it finally smells better in here than your truck."
Cooper snorts. "High praise."
Jason's expression softens. "I’m proud of you. For this. For everything."
Cooper’s eyes shine for a second before he claps Jason on the shoulder. "Thanks, son. That means everything."
Jason nods and steps back into the crowd, a quiet smile tugging at his lips.
The celebration continues. Kids try the punching bags. Parents tour the rooms. Ruby jokes with Huck about hosting self-defense classes for women. Music plays from a portable speaker. It feels easy and joyful. We earned it.
Then Cullen’s radio crackles from near the refreshment table. He lifts it quickly, listens, and his face tightens.
