Chapter 23 #2
Cooper didn’t know what he believed in. He’d thank God whenever he was forced to give a speech, but privately he told everyone he knew he didn’t believe.
It occurred to him that whenever anyone said someone was watching over them from heaven, it meant they could see everything.
So then, considering what Cooper did behind closed doors, it was better if there was no afterlife.
His grandparents would not be happy watching his extracurricular activities.
His father would look away no doubt, but he hoped he’d be proud of him.
It was Luke watching that worried him the most.
“It’s not fair that he and I should get to live the life you always wanted for us,” Cooper continued.
“Am I allowed to love two people at once? God knows you can’t give me permission and I don’t think I can give myself permission either.
So, I guess I’m just fucking stuck here.
I don’t know if I love him or if I miss the idea of love.
I know that I feel things when I’m with him, that the darkest days aren’t so dark.
But your love hangs over me like a constant cloud.
Most of the time, it brings me comfort. Other times, it suffocates me. ”
Cooper placed his hand on the top of the glass casing and whispered his goodbyes. “I don’t know when I’ll be back again, but know that I love you and miss you. Forever and always.”
As soon as Cooper closed the door behind him, he retrieved his phone from his pocket and leaned against the shelves of shoes.
NICO
It’s really not that bad.
NICO
Some people are being weird about it. Some fans are rather vocal in their disgust, but overall it hasn’t been as bad as I would expect. It gives me hope for both of us.
COOPER
You know this changes nothing for us.
november 2024 - hollywood
Nico slammed the door shut behind him, stealing the attention of head coach Daryl Anderson. The man looked up from his desk and closed his laptop.
“Why the fuck did you do that?” Nico demanded.
Anderson nodded with a flat expression. “I’m going to give you a moment to calm yourself and think about how you want to approach this because I don’t know who the fuck you think you’re talking to.”
“Matteo Reyes is our best receiver,” Nico screamed. “You know that.”
Anderson stood up from his desk, shaking his head.
“I appreciate that he’s your friend and you think you’re doing right by him by sticking up for him.
” He rounded the desk and leaned against it.
“Nobody in this organization gives a damn what Reyes does in his private life, but the very public nature of his transgressions has become an insurmountable distraction. Until things calm down and everyone can get their heads on straight, he’s benched. ”
Nico understood what a losing battle this was, but nobody could ever accuse him of being a quitter. “You’re a real piece of shit.”
february 2025 - tampa
Cooper searched the boisterous crowd for Nico.
Though he knew he was somewhere just beneath the suites, he couldn’t spot him.
Whether that was because Cooper’s vision was going bad or because Nico was just another face in a crowd of 70,000, it didn’t matter.
He fixed his attention on the center standing in front of him, eyes focused on the ball as it was snapped to him.
He caught it and retreated a good five yards.
New York’s defense was top-notch and they collapsed the pocket quickly.
Cooper launched the ball out of bounds, which was better than taking the sack but not ideal considering they were now fourth and nine, and down by six points with thirty seconds left on the clock.
Coach White called a timeout and Cooper had thirty seconds to clear his mind. A team assistant approached with a Gatorade bottle and squirted it into his mouth. He rushed back to the huddle with the rest of the offense as Milo shouted plays into his ear.
Cooper clapped his hands together, breaking the huddle.
The team scattered into their positions. The play was a slant pass to wide receiver Kaiden Lox, but Cooper reckoned it was the obvious play and the defense would be ready for it. As the play clock wound down, the defense made adjustments.
It appeared New York was ready to double-team the playmaker.
Cooper looked to his right, knowing he’d need to make another play if his instincts were right. Up in the booth, Milo calculated the same conclusion. He barked a new play into Cooper’s earpiece.
The ball snapped to Cooper, who violated orders from above. He was the quarterback, the captain, and ultimately the game fell on his shoulders. He was so damn close to winning, not just for his team and himself, but for Luke.
Cooper handed the ball off to Razer, who raced forward with the tight end blocking for him. Razer tore through an opening in New York’s defense. One missed tackle later, he was in the clear, crying out in frantic excitement as he ran straight into the end zone.
One extra point from the kicker and the game was over.
The Cobras were champions and Cooper stood on the field, swearing he felt Luke’s hand upon his shoulder. On the outside he smiled. Inside, his head was a hamster wheel of emotions.
It was well into the next morning by the time Cooper knocked on the penthouse suite of Zaltas.
He knocked again and checked his watch. It was a quarter till four in the morning and after a minute or so of silence, he figured he had missed his window.
He turned away but just as he was about to retreat to the elevator, the door swung open.
Cooper cocked a drunk smile as he turned back around to see Nico wiping the sleep from his eyes. “Hi.”
“How drunk are you?” Nico questioned, leaning against the doorframe. “If I were in your shoes, I’d be pretty damn drunk.”
Cooper stumbled forward. “I’m drunker than that.”
Nico nodded. “Do you want to come inside and sleep it off?”
“I don’t think I’ll be doing any sleeping.” Cooper pushed Nico backward gently into the penthouse. He closed the door behind him and pinned Nico to the wall. “Take off your clothes.”
Nico held his hands on Cooper’s shoulders and sighed. “That’s going to have to wait until the morning. Later in the morning.”
Cooper pouted his lips and slid a hand into Nico’s boxers. “It’s my special night though.”
Nico landed a gentle shove against Cooper’s chest. “And in the morning, when your head is throbbing and your stomach is turning, I’ll make you feel real good. Until then, it’s time for you to take a nap.”
Nico took Cooper’s hand and guided him to the bedroom with a wide-open view of the city skyline outside. Nico tugged his shirt over his head before helping Cooper undress out of his suit that was rumpled and wrinkled from a long night of partying.
Cooper fell sideways onto the bed and Nico climbed behind him, taking Cooper into his arms. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. It was Cooper who was supposed to be the big spoon for Nico, but this time it was different and Cooper couldn’t find the energy to complain.
Instead, he let the younger man hold him.
Nico whispered into Cooper’s ear, “What does it feel like to have all your dreams come true?”
Cooper meant to respond, but the words didn’t come.
His eyes grew heavy and the last thing he thought about before drifting off to sleep was the deal.
Cooper had met his end of the deal and it was Nico’s turn to hold up his end of the bargain.
Cooper wanted Nico to win. Wanted Nico to feel the way he felt, but he also wouldn’t have minded if it took Nico another few years.
Because this right here, this was Cooper’s safe place.
Just the two of them.
Alone.
He feared the noise of the outside world would burn it all to the ground.