7. Katrinia
7
Katrinia
B right and early my alarm goes off. I roll over and stare up at my ceiling.
I couldn’t sleep.
I just watched my hello kitty clock tick away as I laid in bed cradling my pillow, wondering if I could really do it all over again.
Could I really go back there and pretend like I can do my job knowing Cooper is right on the other side of the wall.
I saw how that woman draped herself around him yesterday. I’m not stupid. I know how tattoo shops work. Women coming in and out getting marked by him all over their bodies.
Plus, I know how Cooper is.
The thought of him being with her or anyone else makes me nauseous but what is really disturbing is how my body called to him like a long lost friend. Like our souls remember each other even when our minds would rather not.
His hands on my skin blazed long forgotten trails as they explored. He remembers all the tiny spaces that make me melt beneath him. His scent, the feel of his hair, the taste of his mouth on mine, I could barely stand it.
It infuriated me how familiar he was, yet after all these years he is now basically a stranger. I don’t know this man and the man I knew before was nothing better than a lying, cheating boy.
Reluctantly, I fling back my covers and throw myself out of bed. Using my pain and stubbornness to push me forward with my day.
I can do this.
I can be professional.
I am competent , educated , determined , I recite the affirmations to myself in the mirror, almost believing them. Maybe if I say them enough they will manifest into some form of the truth.
After a long shower I run a blow dryer through my hair and get dressed. Lining my eyes like I always do and throwing on a little powder foundation in an attempt to cover my freckles.
Being as ready as I’ll ever be, which is not at all, I grab my bag and walk out the door.
When I get to the shop it looks like I’m the first one here. The shades are down and all the lights are off. Digging the key out from my bag that Luna gave me yesterday, I opened the door.
I lock the door behind me immediately because I’m a woman, who is alone, and you can never be too safe, before I turn my head towards the sound of a noise.
Cooper is passed out on the sofa in the clothes he was wearing yesterday. His face is caked with dried blood and covered in bruises. His battered knuckles are loosely wrapped around a bottle of Jameson, a sight I am all too familiar with.
I let out a sigh before setting my bag down and walking over to him. Pushing his long curls away from his frustratingly gorgeous face before lightly calling his name, “Coop. Cooper, wake up.” I say shaking him softly. “Coop. Krasivyy wake up.” He finally stirs and only one eye can open fully.
Jesus fucking Christ Coop .
“Dorogoy?” He whispers the pet name, calling me sweetheart in Russian. Bringing a hand up, he gently cradles my face. “You came back.” His words are slurred and I can tell he is still drunk.
“Yes, jackass I came back. Now come on, let’s get you up.” I coax, helping him sit up. “Come with me. You need to get cleaned up.” Grabbing both arms I pull him from the couch and he stumbles forward.
You think a big strong man is sexy until they are nothing but booze and dead weight. With his arm draped over my shoulders I try my best to guide him through the shop and to the bathroom in the back.
“You look so fucking pretty. God , I’ve missed you so much. The sea brought you back to me.”
His words are mumbled together, slurred into one big sentence as we fumble our way to the bathroom. I lean him against the counter and he manages to hold himself up, gripping the edge on either side of his hips.
Pulling a towel from the shelf I dampen it with warm water before I start doing what I can to clean up his face.
“What happened to you?” I mutter, curious how he ended up this way.
“You did, dorogoy. You happened to me. It’s always been you.” He rambles, as he grips my hips and pulls me between his legs.
“Cooper.” I drop the towel and look into his drunken eyes. He looks like he is drowning in more than just the alcohol. “Cooper, you’re drunk. You don’t know what you are saying.”
“I might be drunk but that doesn’t change the fact I’ve never for a single second stopped loving you.”
He holds me tighter like he is afraid I’m going to bolt and I can’t hide the shock on my face. His words crash into me like a ton of bricks rendering me speechless as I just stare at him. I search his eyes for a lie but I come up empty.
“Be friends with me.” He begs and I step back with surprise. “Let me get to know you again.” Cooper drops a hand from my hip and holds it out between us. “Kat was it?”
I smile, shaking my head as I take his hand. “Yes. What was your name again, sir?”
“Oh I like that. You can just keep calling me sir.” He jokes and I shove his chest as he lets out a loud rough laugh that turns into a cough. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard him laugh and it still sets loose a million butterflies in my stomach.
I blush as I look away but he brings my face back gripping my chin as he looks me in my eyes and says, “My name’s Cooper. It’s nice to meet you, Kat. Maybe we can get a coffee sometime.”
“Yeah maybe. Some time might be nice.” I nod and he grins.
I hear the bell above the front door chime as Luna calls my name from the front lobby.
“I gotta get to work. I’ll see you around.” I wink and he drops his other hand from my waist.
“I’ll catch ya later kitty Kat.” He teases, and I huff a breath, leaving him alone in the bathroom.
Walking out into the lobby I see Theo standing behind Luna looking just as rough as Cooper. I tilt my head and raise a brow placing both my hands on my hips as Theo looks everywhere but at me.
“Luckily you two already know each other so I don’t have to waste my time explaining this.” Luna waves a hand up and down in front of Theo, clearly frustrated as he crosses his arms across his big barrel chest. Still avoiding my gaze.
“You got into a fight with your brother again? Classic, Theo. Could you be any more cliche?” I scold, walking past him to grab my bag off the sofa before heading back towards the office.
Just then Cooper steps out of the bathroom and his eyes immediately land on Theo. He stops me on my way past him by wrapping an arm around my stomach. “Thank you.” Cooper whispers in my ear and the heat of his breath sends shivers down my spine.
“No problem, sir.” I pur, and his hand flexes before he lets me go on my way.
Luna meets me in the back and takes a visible deep breath as she places both hands on the desk. “Ready to get started?” She asks and honestly I have no idea.
How the hell am I going to make it through this day?
This week?
This month?
I don’t know how long I am going to be able to keep this up. I remind myself again that I need this job before pulling out my laptop.