Chapter 16 #2
He sighs before giving me a small smile.
“You were always so damn stubborn. I’m never gonna forget hearing my sister screaming bloody murder while you two were dirt biking when you guys were, what, twelve?
I come running out to see what happened, only to find you with your fucking shin bone sticking out of your leg. And your first question was—”
“‘Think a Band-Aid will fix it? I really wanna have this jump down by dinner,’” I finish for him, pulling another smile out of him.
Dirt bikes were my life until I had to quit, and I was pretty focused on mastering every skill I could. I was always more into riding them than Charlie, but she’d happily stay out there for hours every day after school with me because it made me happy.
Coop and I are silent as we get lost in our memories. I hope he’s reliving some of the happier ones, rather than the night everything fell apart.
After a little while, Hal clears his throat. “So, um, how do you guys know each other?”
I bite my lip and look up at Coop, unsure how much he wants to share.
Raking a bloody hand through his golden blond hair, he blows out a breath.
“Lark’s my fated mate’s younger sister. She’s also been my little sister’s best friend since they were in diapers, so she’s as much a sister to me as Charlie is. ”
Hal’s brows jump up in surprise, and his eyes shine with a relief I don’t really understand. “Oh, you’re her friend, Coop! She told me about you.” He turns to me and offers me a small smile. “I didn’t know you had another sister.”
I close my eyes and shake my head, hating having to say that she’s gone out loud. When I open them, I reluctantly meet Hal’s pale green gaze. “I don’t. I only had one.”
His face softens in sympathy at the probably obvious pain on mine before he realizes what that means for Coop. “Fuck, man,” Hal rasps. “I’m sorry.”
“Thanks,” Coop whispers before pushing to his feet. Because what else is there to say? He offers me a hand up, and I take it. “Let’s get you home, baby S. You need to rest and heal up.”
When I’m on my feet, I have to close my eyes for a moment as the world spins around me. When it stops feeling like I’m on a demented carnival ride, I open my eyes and pin Coop with a look. “I’m not going home. I promised Hal I’d have dinner with him. And don’t you need to finish work?”
Coop lets out a humorless laugh. “I doubt I still have a job after punching my boss. And I’m sure Halston understands that you need to rest, not go to dinner.”
Nodding, Hal gives me an understanding smile. “I do completely get it, wild girl. We can take a rain check on it. And you still have a job here if you want it, Finch. You’re one of our best mechanics, and we both know Az was goading you into because he has the emotional maturity of a crowbar.”
“While I appreciate it,” I interject before Coop can refuse for me again, “I’d still like to have dinner with you, if the offer still stands.”
After the craziness of this afternoon, I’d usually like nothing more than to chill out with Coop and Charlie and hide from the world for a while. Now, though, I feel weirdly disappointed about not getting to hang out with Hal and the other guys, excluding Azrael, obviously.
I’m not angry at him for mildly strangling me and giving me a concussion, but I am hurt by everything he said. I know a girl like me would never be what a guy like him is looking for, but I don’t really need him pointing it out for everyone to hear.
“Of course it does. I’d love nothing more than to hang out with you and take you to dinner, but I understand if you’d rather never see any of us again.
” Hal drops his gaze from mine and stares at the floor.
He scuffs the toe of his boot against the shiny gray concrete, like he can’t bear to look at me when I agree with him.
Which I’m not planning to.
I open my mouth to respond, but Coop beats me to it. “I really don’t think you should go, baby S. You just got hurt and need the rest.”
I sigh and put my hands on my hips while attempting to give him a stern look. “That’s part of living my life on my own terms, Coop. I’m going to do stuff you don’t like, and you’re going to have to sit back and let me. Otherwise, I’m just trading out gilded cages.”
Coop closes his eyes briefly before his shoulders slump in defeat. “You’re right. Just keep me updated, okay? I don’t know what your plans are, but if you don’t spend the night with Halston, then come over to our house. I don’t want you to be alone with a head injury.”
I turn bright red at the mention of staying overnight. “I’m not… we’re not…” I start, and Coop laughs at my stumbling while wiggling his eyebrows. I sigh in defeat and flip him off. “I’ll keep you updated.”
Hal’s grinning, watching our exchange. He offers Coop his hand to shake, and Coop reluctantly takes it. “You should take the rest of the day off, Finch. You’re pretty banged up yourself. You put up a hell of a fight against Azrael. Not many people would last as long as you did.”
“I probably should head home and sleep this off. And, yeah, well, anger issues are a hell of a drug, I guess.” Coop enfolds me into a hug, being careful not to squeeze me too tight. After a long moment, he rasps, “Love you, baby S.”
“Love you too, Coop,” I whisper into his chest before he reluctantly steps away.