17. Cooper
17
Cooper
“ T heodore!” I scream as I run down the stairs.
Gripping the railing to skip two, three at a time.
Pushing off the entry wall I see him and Luna standing in the kitchen eating dessert from a restaurant off the harbor.
“Whoa, what’s up bro?” He asks nonchalantly, shoving a bite of chocolate mouse cheesecake into his fucking traitorous mouth.
“I’m going to fucking kill you.” I storm towards him and he backs away from Luna.
“ Coop .” He draws out my name as he raises his hands.
“Cooper!” Trinia calls from behind me but I ignore her.
“Oh fuck.” Theo grumbles and I seethe, as I watch the realization cross his face and the panic sets in. “Go upstairs amor.”
“Theo come on.” Luna looks between us, confused.
“Now, amor! Take Trinia with you.” His tone turns demanding. Something new for Luna as she stares at him wearing a shocked expression.
I can see her not moving out of the corner of my eye as my vision burns red honing in on Theo.
“You fucking knew this entire time!” I scream. “You visited her! You knew where she was, where she lived! You wrote to her! You two hung out during the holidays!” I lunge for him and Luna scurries away into the corner with Trinia.
“She told me not to tell! You couldn’t stand to talk about her! To even hear her name! I figured you were over it so I stopped bringing it up.” The man who used to be my brother tries and fails to defend himself.
“Is she who you met up with on Thanksgiving five years ago when you left mom’s early? You said you went to meet up with a girl! Were you with her!?” I demand, through gritted teeth as rage scorches my veins. My hands trembling in fists at my sides.
“Cooper, stop it!” I hear Trinia crying out from the corner.
Theo takes a deep breath before he admits, “Yes.”
I jump the island and tackle him to the ground. Holding his throat my fist cracks against his face.
“Cooper!” Luna screams, but I can’t stop.
“Did you fucking touch her?” I roar, even though I would cut my own heart out at a betrayal like that.
“No.” He spits and blood flies out of his mouth. “Never!”
“Why didn’t you tell me! I would have gone to her.” I drive my fist into his face again before he really starts fighting back.
We slip and slide against the polished tile floors but that doesn’t stop Theo from landing an elbow across my jaw.
“You hurt her! She’s my friend too Coop. What was I supposed to do! You were a dead man walking after the Army.” Theo screams as his knee comes up into my back.
Suddenly the doorbell rings and there’s a pound on the door.
“Township Police! Open up!”
“Fuck! Come on man!” Theo groans, shoving me off him as he gets up. Blood gushes from his nose, covering his shirt and the floor.
He reaches out a hand and I take it. Once I’m on my feet I slam him into the fridge, denting it, before I walk over to the front door.
Opening the door I flash them a bloody smile and say, “Hello gentleman. What can I do for you this fine evening?”
I hear Luna sigh and mumble, “oh my god”, under her breath.
“We got called for a disturbance.” One of the officers says with a hand on his weapon.
“Come on in.” I wave them in and head for the freezer to pull out an ice pack.
“What happened here?” The officer asks.
“My brother is a fucking jackass.” I grumble, holding ice to my surely dislocated jaw.
“Fuck you, Coop. She could have asked anytime and she never did.” Theo slams the freezer door as he places a bag of peas on his eye.
“I didn’t know you kept that secret forever.” Trinia chimes in and both of the cops turn to look at her and I’m suddenly hit with a new type of rage.
“You told me not to tell him. You never said the secret was canceled so I kept my mouth shut.” Theo shrugs, I shove his head and huff as he stumbles before he pushes me back.
A moment later two police men are pulling us apart and Luna is shaking her head in her hands.
“I’m not hauling you down to the station so you two can kill each other in a cell. So what do you want to do here gentleman?” The officer states.
This is a small town and unless they transfer us out to the county there is only a large single cell at the township station. Mostly for those who drink a little too much, tourists or the few punk ass kids staying out too late causing trouble.
“I’ll take him to the hospital, sir. They will cool off, right boys?” Luna looks from the officer to us and I lower my head.
“Si, mi amor.” Theo sighs and the officer lets him go.
The police being here doesn’t stop Luna from smacking him upside the head on their way upstairs.
Once they’re out of sight the officer holding me back releases my wrists and I walk over to Trinia who is holding a sheet tightly around her bare body.
“Go get dressed. I’ll warm up the car.” She nods before taking off upstairs.
“This was all just a brotherly misunderstanding, fellas. I promise it won’t happen again.” I assure them, raising my hands and the cop laughs.
“I don’t know if that’s something you can really promise, son. I have a brother too and we ended up on the front lawn over the fourth of July.” He jokes and the other cop nods his head.
“Keep it down. If we get another call we will bring both of you in.” He warns as he walks out the front door.
I follow, shutting the door behind them and falling back against it. Sliding down, I rest my elbows on my knees and push back my disheveled hair.
I let out a long breath as Trinia makes her way slowly down the stairs.
“Why didn’t you reach out to me? All those years. I was right here. Theo knew how to get in touch with me. Why didn’t you try, Trin?” I raise my head when she doesn’t say anything and the look on her face breaks me.
I crawl over to her and she sits down on the stairs.
“I didn’t think you really wanted me.” Her voice breaks and it’s like claws rip my heart right out of my chest. “I didn’t know Theo kept it a secret this whole time. I only told him once after he came to get me from the hospital that I didn’t want to talk to you.” She shakes as her body is wracked with sobs. I pull her down into my lap and we sit on the floor at the base of the stairs.
“Oh dorogoy. Is that what you’ve thought all this time? That I didn’t want you?” She nods against my chest and I glide my hand over her long dark hair.
“I’m fucking loyal as shit! You can count on me to keep a secret. These lips are sealed!” Theo sings his own praises as he jaunts down the stairs.
“Oh for Christ sakes Theo. Read the room.” Luna frustrated, sure is a sight to see.
“Seal those lips up now and shut the fuck up.” I threaten as Trinia peels her tear soaked face off my chest.
I reach up and grab my keys out of the bowl on the entryway table and hand them to her.
“Are you ready to go, baby?” She looks at the keys for a little while before she nods once.
Fuck ! I curse myself internally. I forgot she hates driving.
Theo snatches the keys from her hand and tosses them back into the bowl.
“She’s terrified of driving, you idiot.” Theo glares at me and it makes me want to slam his face into the wall all over again.
“You guys can ride with us. We are all heading to the same place after all.” Luna grumbles as she reaches for her coat.
“OK.” I agree and Trinia nods as she stands up and reaches for her coat.