Page 5 of Retaking the Shot
“It was a lot of fun. Definitely different from watching it on TV.” I dropped my gaze and looked at the suit he was wearing. “Did you come straight to my place from the arena?”
“Uh … yeah.”
My forehead wrinkled in confusion. “Why?”
“I was worried about you.” He looked at me as though he didn’t understand why I even had to ask.
The curtain that closed off my area was suddenly pushed back, interrupting our conversation, and the nurse from earlier walked to the other side of my bed.
“Looks like you get to go home,” she said.
“Really?”
“Yes, sir.” She began to disconnect me from the various monitors. “But first, I must confirm you have a ride home.” Her gaze flicked between me and Coop.
“I can order a ride,” I responded.
“Don’t be silly. I can drive you home,” Coop stated. “Hayden should be back with my truck any minute.”
It felt as though I had stopped breathing. “Hayden’s here?”
Coop ran a hand over his hair. “Uh ... he was. He called me when I was on my way over. He stayed with me for a bit while I waited.”
“Are you serious?” I groaned.
“He’s my friend, and he could tell I was upset,” he explained.
“Did you tell him why I was here?”
He shook his head. “I mentioned why I went to your apartment, but didn’t tell him why you were upset.”
“Jesus, Coop. He already thinks I’m an asshole. Now he probably thinks I’m pathetic too.” Hayden knew I had almost died? He would tell Tyler—or already had—and the thought made me want to vomit even though I was certain nothing was left in my stomach.
He reached his hand toward me, but I pulled away. “He doesn’t think you’re pathetic. He actually seemed concerned.”
“Well, I’m sure that was all for you. He doesn’t care what happens to me.” I knew I sounded like a petulant child, but it was hard enough knowing Coop had seen me at my lowest. And now Hayden and Tyler knew about it too.
“Maybe we can talk about it later,” Coop suggested, looking at the nurse who seemed uncomfortable. “I’ll wait outside and text you once he comes back with my truck.”
“Whatever,” I muttered.
Twenty minutes later, Coop had his truck, and I was wheeled down to meet him in the pickup zone. When we approached his F-150, he rushed over and opened the passenger door for me, and I reluctantly climbed in.
Once I was buckled in, he rounded the front of his vehicle and got into the driver’s seat. The tension between us was obvious, and the only sound filling the cab was the soft hum of his engine. When we finally arrived at my apartment complex, I sighed in relief.
“Coop.” I broke the silence.
He turned toward me. “Yeah?”
“Thank you for coming tonight. And I’m sorry for freaking out about Hayden.”
“You don’t need to apologize. If I’d been thinking clearly, I wouldn’t have agreed to let him come. I understand why that would make you uncomfortable.”
I gave him a small smile. “I appreciate that. I really shouldn’t have made a big deal about it. You were there for me when I needed you tonight, and that means a lot.”
He reached out his hand again as he had in the hospital room, but instead of pulling away this time, I let him squeeze mine. “I have practice tomorrow, but I can stay with you tonight, so you don’t have to be alone.”
A huge part of me wanted to take him up on his offer, but I knew that wouldn’t be a good idea. There was too much history between us, and after everything that had happened in the last several hours, I had no more energy to deal with the emotions Emmett Cooper brought out in me. The words of the mental health clinician ran through my head.“It’s important to take care of yourself.”
