Page 104 of The Love Lie
“Bullshit.”
“Excuse me?”
He stares her in the eye and says it again, nice and slow. “Bull. Shit.”
“Look, you might not like the explanation, but—”
“It’s not the explanation.”
“Then why don’t you enlightenme, Cooper? You seem to know everything.”
“I don’t, Sam. I don’t know a fucking thing, because you won’t tell me. But I talked to Emily enough to know this isn’t about her. That’s an excuse. Your sister was prepared to leave the show without a proposal. She didn’t care what America thought. She wanted to be true to herself. I mean, for Christ’s sake, she’s moving in with one of the producers two days after the live finale. She clearly gives fuck all for what the gossip rags might say. So if you called her up right now and told her what’s been going on between us, I know what she’d say.”
“It’s not about what she’d say,” Sam cuts in. “It’s about not putting her in the position where she has to say anything at all. Do you think I don’t know that she would do anything for me?Iwon’t do that toher. I know she would choose me over her career. That’s why I refuse to give her the chance. It’s not about her choosing me, Cooper. It’s about me choosing her. After all these years, it’s about me finally choosing her.”
“I hear what you’re saying. But I don’t believe you.”
“Too bad.”
“You’re making the easy choice again.”
She scoffs. “You think this is easy?”
“Easier than staying and fighting.”
She tugs on the handle, but the door doesn’t open. All she needs to do is pull the knob to release the lock, but he’s not about to remind her of the workaround.
“You’re running,” he presses.
She keeps yanking, the need to flee seemingly compulsive, like a caged animal longing for the wilds.
“You’re running to New York the same way you did back then.”
She smacks the window with her palm and practically snarls with frustration. “Let me out of the car, Cooper.”
“You’re afraid.”
“Let me out of the fucking car!”
“Tell me what you’re so afraid of, and I will.”
She digs through her purse and pulls out her phone. “I’m calling the cops. You can’t hold me hostage like this.”
“Go ahead.” He crosses his arms over his chest and readjusts in his seat as if hunkering down for the wait. “It’ll take them ten minutes to get here and this conversation is worth going to jail over. What are you so afraid of?”
She shoves the phone away and looks around in desperation.
“Just tell me, Sam. What are you so—”
“WHY AREN’T YOU AFRAID?” she finally screams.
He reaches for her hand but she snatches it away.
“NO!” She takes a deep breath to recenter herself and runs her palms over her thighs. Her fingers tremble. She finally whispers, “Why aren’t you afraid, Cooper? I didn’t even lose Emily and I’m scared absolutely shitless. But you, you…”
“You’re right. I know exactly what it’s like to lose someone I love.” He reaches across the center console and takes her hand. “That’s why I’m not letting you go.”
She looks away with a wince. “Don’t say that.”
