Chapter 10 - Cooper
Cooper
“Where is he?!”
I startle at the screech coming from down the hall and grimace. Thankfully, I manage to fix my face just as Maxine storms into my room. She stands at the end of my bed, glaring daggers.
Despite traveling across the country to reach me, Max looks as beautiful as ever.
She rarely dresses up but somehow still manages to look like she should be on the cover of a magazine.
Her glossy blonde hair trails over her shoulder.
Her simple white long-sleeve shirt and dark-wash jean ensemble is completed by her favorite pair of beat-up Vans.
When her hands land on her hips and her foot starts to tap, I know I’m in for it.
“Cooper Gray Sorenson, what the actual fuck were you thinking?! I’m so angry that I can’t even be appropriately thankful that you’re still here! I could straight up just murder you right now.”
As her words register with both of us, she releases a strangled giggle.
This triggers my own, and soon we’re filling the room with the sound of our inappropriate laughter.
A minute passes before her face falls and a sob rips from her chest. Sobering instantly, I open my arms as she flies at me.
She crashes into me and buries her face in my neck, sobbing as I rub her back.
“Seriously, Coop. What happened? We spoke. You know I would have left if I had known you needed me. Why? Why didn’t you tell me? I was right there. I was right there, and I blew you off. I’m so, so sorry, Cooper. I promis–”
“Stop, Max.” Her words cause an avalanche of guilt to slam into me, but I won’t let her blame herself.
“You know this isn’t your fault. How many times have you answered that call before?
How many times have you dropped everything to come running when I needed you?
How many jobs have you turned down because you couldn’t move away from me?
How many of your relationships have ended because your best friend is ‘too needy’? ”
“How many times have you made me laugh?” she retorts.
“How many living room sleepovers have we had? How many pints of breakup ice cream have you bought me? Who saved my life in that alleyway eight years ago? Who is the one that makes sure all of my milestones get celebrated? Who is the only one that always makes sure I have cake on my birthday?”
“But you know it’s more than that, Max. I’m so tired.
Tired of hurting. Tired of being the storm cloud that darkens your life.
I can’t make the memories go away. He’s in my head.
Right here.” I tap my temple. “The good gets lost, but there’s always a reel of black memories playing on a loop in my mind.
Make it stop. Please just MAKE. IT. STOP. ”
I don’t realize what I’m doing until Max reaches up with shaking hands and tries to pull mine away from my hair that I’ve been tugging on. “Coop! Let go, babe. Please.” I release my vise grip and crumple into her hold, sobbing. She just holds me, making soothing noises.
A soft knock on the door pulls me out of the past and back into my body.
I lift my head from her chest and swipe clumsily at my face, trying to remove as much snot as I can.
The first thing I notice is how tall the man standing in the doorway is.
The next is his shaggy, red hair. Then, honing in on the finer details, my eyes widen far enough to sting.
“I know you might not recognize me.” He runs his hand over the back of his neck.
“Teddy?!” I breathe out. “I… I thought you were just a dream. You’re really here?”
Max’s head swivels back and forth between us.
A Cheshire grin spreads across her face, but I can’t focus on her right now.
Everett freaking Davenport is standing right in front of me.
His navy scrubs are pristine, but his eyes are red-rimmed.
He approaches the bed slowly, like he’s scared that if he moves too fast, this moment will disappear.
“Yeah, LB. It’s me.” Warmth spreads through my chest at the familiar nickname. “Jesus, I never thought I’d see you again after you moved, and then last night…” He trails off.
Max stands up, pulling my attention away from Teddy.
“It sounds like you two have a lot to discuss, so I’ll just head home and get cleaned up.
Long flight and all that. I’ll be back in a few hours, Coop.
” Bless her. She knows that I would never want a witness to my reunion with this man who was once my whole world.
She does, however, give me a look, letting me know that she’ll be expecting a full rundown when she returns. I just roll my eyes at her.
Stepping up to him, she holds out her hand to shake. “Nice to finally put a face to the infamous Teddy,” she practically purrs.
“His name is Everett!” I snap.
She turns towards me, face serious. “I’m sorry, Coop. You’re right. I was out of line.”
Shocked by my own outburst, I can’t meet her eyes. “I shouldn’t have yelled. I’m sorry,” The words are mumbled as I pick at the blanket in my lap.
“Already forgiven,” Max starts.
“Already forgotten.” I finish.
She gives me a soft smile before turning back to Teddy. “It’s nice to know Cooper wasn’t exaggerating about how good-looking you are.” She winks at him and sticks her tongue out at me before sweeping out of the room. Hurricane Maxine strikes again.
Bitch.