Chapter Twenty-Nine #2
I still haven’t told Cooper about how Caleb thinks someone might’ve messed with my car. I’ve been trying to brush it off, pretend it’s nothing.
“The pole camera’s already recording,” Dave says. “Covers the stairs and most of the lot. If anyone comes near your car or those steps again, we’ll have it.”
Something in my chest settles hearing that.
“He came in here ready to break something,” Dave adds. “I’ve known the Rowdens my whole life. Known Coop since he was a kid. I’ve never seen him that worked up.”
I don’t know how to respond.
“He shouldn’t have had to be the one to tell me,” Dave says. “You deserve to feel safe here. This is your home and where you work.”
I nod. How do I tell him I’ve never felt safe anywhere I’ve lived?
Well, aside from the brief time I stayed on Cooper’s family farm. I knew it was only for a short time, so I didn’t even let myself get used to the feeling.
As Dave climbs back up the ladder to finish securing the siding unit, I glance across the lot again at the camera mounted on the pole, already watching.
“Hey… Dave,” I call, pausing by my car.
He looks over at me.
“Thanks,” I say, quieter now. “For doing this. I appreciate it.”
He nods once. “You just worry about yourself, all right?”
I give him a small nod before opening my door.
I glance down the alley one more time. Nothing looks different from the way it did yesterday. I slide into the driver’s seat and sit there for a few minutes, then pull out of the parking lot and head toward campus.
I’m still about thirty minutes early for class. I reach for my phone and type out a message to Cooper. He’s probably eating breakfast, with his game later tonight.
Me: You went to Dave?
It doesn’t take him long to answer.
Cooper: Does that surprise you?
I shake my head and type back.
Me: Why didn’t you tell me you talked to him about putting in cameras?
Cooper: I was going to.
Me: When?
Cooper: When I got back to town after my game. The next time I saw you.
I exhale a heavy breath. That’s still not an answer.
Cooper: I should’ve done it sooner, honestly. I’m not sorry about it either.
Me: You can’t just do things like that, Cooper.
Cooper: Like what?
Me: Go behind my back and get into things that have nothing to do with you.
There’s a longer pause this time.
Cooper: Maybe. I get why you don’t like me going behind your back.
Cooper: But if I can’t have you staying at the farm, I’m going to make sure you’re safe. Especially when I’m out of town.
I sit with that for a few minutes as I watch students start to arrive. They pull into the empty parking spaces next to me and start walking toward the building.
Me: Don’t you think you’re being a bit dramatic?
Cooper: Am I, though?
Me: Yes.
This is why I didn’t tell him about my car—about what Caleb said, how he thought something might’ve been messed with. It doesn’t make any sense why anyone would go out of their way like that. It’s not like I’ve done anything. What reason would anyone have to come after me?
It doesn’t make any sense. I’m not going to live my life scared over nothing.
Cooper: What would you have done if I wasn’t there that night?
Cooper: What if I was out of town for a game and someone approached you again?
Me: You can’t protect me from everything, Cooper.
Cooper: Maybe that’s true, but there’s nothing more important to me than knowing you’re safe. And happy.
I don’t know what to say to that, and I can’t exactly be mad at him for caring about me either.
Turning the engine off, I remove the keys and toss them into my backpack.
Me: All right, fine. Thank you.
Cooper: You’re welcome.
I roll my eyes.
Cooper: You’re cute when you’re mad.
Me: No, I’m not.
Cooper: We can agree to disagree on this one too.
Me: You’re impossible.
Cooper: Have a good day in class.
Cooper: Text me when you’re done. (kissing face)
A small smile tugs at my mouth as I climb out of my car. The campus is already buzzing around me.
As I head toward the lecture hall, I glance at my phone one more time before sliding it into my pocket.
Part of me wants to be annoyed that he went to Dave about the cameras. The other part of me wants to know who was behind what happened, and why anyone would want me out of town.
I cross the parking lot with my bag over my shoulder. The morning air is still cool enough that I’m glad I grabbed a sweater.
Campus looks the same as it always does. There are clusters of students moving around. Someone takes off in a jog past me with earbuds in.
I walk toward the building, and it creeps back in. I don’t have a better way to explain it, but it’s like someone’s watching me.
Scanning the area, I take in the people milling around and the cars pulling into the lot. Nothing appears unusual, although I have noticed a few people staring at me longer.
I keep walking. I tell myself it’s nothing, and maybe it’s just people recognizing me from the articles being written about my father.
I adjust the strap on my bag again and head up the sidewalk. My phone buzzes against my leg, and my heart jumps before I realize it’s probably just a notification. Which reminds me, I still need to call my mom back.
I’ll wait until later when I have a break between class and my shift at Broken Saddle.
By the time I reach my classroom, I’m annoyed with myself. This is what happens when I let stuff like this take up too much space in my mind. I start freaking myself out and making up stories in my head.
I slip into a seat near the back and set my bag down. As I pull out my notebook, I glance toward the door again.
Everything looks normal—no one is out of place. Still, I can’t shake this feeling.
I rest my chin on my hand and stare at the front of the room as the professor begins setting up for class.
Maybe Cooper isn’t being dramatic. Maybe I’m the one who’s brushing something off because I don’t want to admit the truth.
The thought sits on my mind throughout class.
I don’t text him, though. I don’t say anything.
But when I shift in my seat, I find myself glancing toward the window near the door one more time. Just to be sure.