42. Cope
42
COPE
Fury washed through me as I settled Sutton in her tiny office in the back hallway. There was just enough room for a small desk and two chairs opposite it. As she sat in one, I scooted the second closer, my hands looping around her thighs. “Talk to me.”
Sutton stared straight at me, but her gaze was unfocused as if she were somewhere else entirely. “I knew it would happen eventually, that someone would put two and two together. I just thought I’d have more time.”
A fresh wave of anger slid through me. These gossipmongers never thought about how their actions affected the people they wrote about. It only made me more furious because Sutton hadn’t asked to be in the public eye; I was the one who’d forced her into it.
And there was more I had to tell her.
My fingers tightened on Sutton’s thighs, trying to bring her focus to me. “Roman gave an interview.”
Sutton jerked as if she’d been shot. “What?”
“With one of the worst gossip sites. Probably because they pay cash for those kinds of things. He played the aggrieved ex and said he had a problem but was better now. That you left him when he needed you the most.” As if it wasn’t bad enough that several sites had picked up the story, sharing those photos of Sutton’s brutalized face. One just had to take it to the next level by giving her ex a platform for his lies.
I expected hurt, maybe even tears. Instead, Sutton shoved to her feet and stalked across the tiny space. “When he needed me the most? How about when I needed him ? When his associates beat me so badly, I didn’t think I would survive. When I was lying in the hospital, and it hurt to even breathe. When I had to beg a friend to stay with Luca so he didn’t go into the system while I recovered.”
Each statement was worse than any blow I’d taken on or off the ice. The reality of what Sutton had endured was more than I could take.
She stilled her pacing halfway across the room and took in my face. She let loose a creative curse and crossed to me, dropping into my lap. “I’m sorry.”
I held her to me, trying to assure myself she was okay. Safe. “I should be the one comforting you.”
“I know it’s hard to hear,” Sutton said, her voice dropping.
“It is. But it was a hell of a lot harder to go through.” My hand slid along her jaw as my thumb traced the faint scar bisecting her lip, the one so similar to mine. “I hate that they hurt you. Would do anything to take away the pain, the memories.”
“Cope,” Sutton whispered. “I’m okay. I got out. I survived. And now I know I have the ability to stand on my own two feet. To take care of myself and Luca. That’s a gift. But it also means it was that much sweeter when you came along just when I needed you most.”
Her fingers lifted to my face, tracing my mirroring scar. “You gave us a safe place to land. A harbor in the storm.”
“Warrior,” I croaked.
“I—”
The door opened, cutting off Sutton’s words. “Are things getting frisky back here?” Lolli asked. “I was just bringing Sutton some tea, but it looks like that might not be necessary.”
Sutton flushed. “All clothes are firmly in place, Lolli. ”
“Could still be getting up to some dry humping. I’m kinda partial to that myself.”
“Lolli!” I clipped.
She just glared at me. “I thought I could count on you not to be a stick in the mud.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Someone save me from this nightmare.”
Sutton giggled softly, and the sound wrapped around me, bringing relief. She was okay. We’d make it through whatever came our way.
Sutton pushed off my lap. “I need to get back to work.”
“You will do no such thing,” Lolli snapped. “I am going to help Walter finish up. We’ll have Hottie Holt teach us the security system, and he said he’d send a video tutorial to your phone, as well. Cope is going to take you home.”
Sutton’s brows lifted. “Who knew Lolli could be bossy about more than the medicinal effects of pot?”
“Damn straight, my darling.” Lolli crossed to Sutton and wrapped her in a tight hug. “You matter, and I’ll do whatever I need to do to make sure you’re taking care of yourself.”
Sutton’s gaze connected with mine over Lolli’s shoulder, her eyes filling. But I knew it wasn’t sadness spurring the tears; it was the force of Lolli’s love. I knew Sutton had been closest with her grandmother and that she’d lost her right after college. I could kiss Lolli for stepping in to fill a little of that void.
As Lolli released her, I stood. “Come on. We can pick up Luca on the way home. Kenner’s keeping a close eye on him. Arnie, too.”
Sutton nodded, turning to Lolli and taking her hand to give it a squeeze. “I wish you could know how much that meant. Thank you.”
It was Lolli’s turn to get a little misty. “Don’t you dare make me cry, young lady. I won’t have Walter thinking he has a chance to swoop in and comfort me.”
Sutton chuckled. “Throw that man a bone.”
Lolli simply huffed. “He hasn’t earned me yet.” And with that, she flounced out of the office .
Sutton turned to me, a smile playing on her lips. “I admire the hell out of her.”
I wrapped an arm around Sutton’s shoulders. “Just don’t tell Lolli that.”
The ride to the rink was mostly quiet, and I didn’t push Sutton for more. I knew there were countless things she needed to think through, and I could give her all the time in the world for that. But just as I pulled into a parking spot, she spoke.
“Have other outlets picked up the interview with Roman? Ones outside that gossip site?”
I winced. I’d hoped we wouldn’t have to go there, but there was no getting around it now. “They have. It’s not huge, but there are more than a few.”
The original interview had been posted last night. More mainstream media had picked it up early this morning. And even more by this afternoon. I would’ve been oblivious if I hadn’t gotten a text from Angie letting me know. I just hoped like hell the photographers and reporters didn’t make their way to Sparrow Falls.
Sutton let out a long breath, slumping against the seat. “We’ll deal. Right?”
Turning off the engine, I took her hand and pressed her knuckles to my lips. “It’s you and me, remember? We’re in this together.”
She worried the corner of her lip. “I’m sorry you have to deal with it because of me.”
I gripped her fingers tighter. “Don’t even think like that. I’d walk through fire for you any day of the week.”
“But you shouldn’t have to,” Sutton whispered.
“Life isn’t perfect. It’s not always sunshine and rainbows. It’s about finding people who will weather the storm with you. Who will find ways to dance in the rain. ”
One corner of her mouth kicked up. “You want to dance in the rain with me?”
I leaned across the console, taking her mouth in a long, slow kiss. “Always. Now, let’s go get our boy.”
“Okay,” she murmured.
I released Sutton only long enough for us to get out of the SUV, then I held her hand again. By the time we made it into the rink, there was a crush of parents and kids getting ready to leave. I didn’t miss the dirty look Evelyn sent our way as she took in our joined hands or the huffy one that figure skater gave me before turning her sights on a more age-appropriate kid. But I didn’t have time to worry about their bullshit today.
Kenner waved us over. “Luca has his stuff all packed up.”
“Thanks for helping out,” Sutton said.
Kenner’s gaze softened on her. “Anytime. Luca had his best sprint time yet this afternoon.”
“That’s awesome, Speedy,” I said.
Luca barely glanced up. “I’m ready to go.”
Sutton and I shared a look. Something was off. I bent to grab Luca’s gear bag and hoisted it over my shoulder. “See you tomorrow, Kenner.”
“See ya, Colson,” he shot back, turning as a parent called his name.
Luca was quiet as we loaded into my SUV and completely silent on the way home. The longer he went without speaking, the more worry I saw settling into Sutton’s features. The moment I pulled up to the house, Luca unbuckled himself from the booster seat and jumped out of the vehicle.
“Luca,” Sutton admonished, quickly climbing down from the SUV. “You know you have to wait until I say it’s okay to get out.”
“Whatever,” he muttered.
“Not whatever. That’s a rule to keep you safe,” she said.
I grabbed Luca’s bag and mine from the back, eyeing him and Sutton.
“I’m not a baby!” Luca shouted. “I know what’s safe. ”
“Hey,” I said quietly. “Don’t yell at your mom.”
He glared at me. “Why do you care?”
That had me reeling back. “Because I love her and you. That means I always want people to treat her and you with respect and kindness. And I’m always going to step in when they don’t.”
Luca’s lower lip began to tremble, and tears filled his eyes. His gaze shot back to Sutton. “Did Dad hurt you?”
Oh, hell.