Chapter 7
COOPER
It’s Friday, and after today, I will have officially completed my second week of training at Nexlytic. There’s a lot to learn, which is a bit overwhelming, but I think the work will be interesting. I’ll be busy enough for the days to fly by, but the environment and the people are so laid-back that it makes the parts that would normally stress me out feel surprisingly manageable. So far, I’m liking it, but this thing with Ryan hovers over me every day—a stormy raincloud that’s gloomy as fuck.
I haven’t run into Ryan all week. I’ve caught glimpses of him from a distance, just enough to know he’s around, but it seems like we’re both purposely steering clear of any real encounter. I’m almost positive he thinks I cheated on Brad, and I don’t blame him. But I didn’t—did I? I don’t know why I haven’t had the nerve to just go talk to him, explain everything. Part of me feels justified in my actions, but that other part… well, it feels guilty.
I’m sitting in the conference room, waiting for Jason while my thoughts have their way with me. How did this even happen? Seriously. What are the odds? It feels like I’d have a better chance of being struck by lightning than meeting a stranger across the country, sleeping with him, and then—six months later—not only living in the same city, but working in the same space. It’s surreal. I can’t help but wonder why—what it all means. I’m not usually one to read into these kinds of things. I don’t believe in fate or that things happen for a reason.
But this —this feels like the universe perfectly aligned just to fuck with me. I can’t believe I didn’t think about my ring. And he noticed it while I was flirting with him—great timing. Good job me.
Still, part of me wants so badly to talk to him—to really get to know him on a deeper level. I think about that night way more than I should—especially for someone who’s engaged. But the other part of me? That part says I’d be perfectly fine avoiding him forever. Except… I think that part of me is lying.
Jason pops his head into the room, pulling me from my thoughts. “Hey, Cooper, I’ve got a situation I’m dealing with. Can you meet me back here in thirty? Feel free to take a coffee break.”
“Okay.”
He’s out the door before I can say more. Feel free to take a coffee break? Now that’s what I’m talking about. This place has such a European vibe—no stress, take time for yourself, sip your coffee, maybe even lie down, get comfy while you work. Whoever came up with this concept deserves a medal.
I take his suggestion and head for coffee. As I walk into the café, I spot Ryan standing in line. My instinct is to turn around and make a quick escape before he notices me, but before I can, Rebecca—a young twenty-something from my team—passes by with a smile.
“Hey, Cooper!” she calls out, her voice ringing through the café.
Shit. Ryan turns at the sound of my name, raising his brows and giving me a pointed look. I wince. My heart skips a beat as I lock eyes with him. Dammit. There’s no backing out now. Looks like I’m getting in line.
I reluctantly step behind him, feeling his eyes on me. “Hey,” I mutter, keeping my gaze fixed forward.
“Hey.” Ryan turns around, but after ten seconds, he turns back, his expression shifting slightly, like something’s bothering him. “So… do you and your fiancé have any fun plans this weekend?” he asks, folding his arms across his chest.
I take a deep breath. “Yeah, actually, we do.” I glance at the barista before meeting Ryan’s eyes again. “We’re trying out a new restaurant tomorrow night.”
He scoffs. “And do you two actually date each other, or is it more of an open relationship where you sleep with other people? You know, like back in Newport ?”
I glare at him as we inch forward in line. The audacity . “I wasn’t engaged in Newport, Ryan. Not that it’s any of your business.”
“Not my business?” he murmurs. “I’d say it’s definitely someone’s business to know if the person they’re about to sleep with is in a relationship. Engaged or not, you never said you were involved with someone. Would’ve been nice to know before I decided to sleep with you.”
“Why are you so hung up on this, Ryan? It’s not like you were complaining when you were in between my legs.” The words are out before I can stop myself, and I feel a jolt of satisfaction with a tinge of regret.
“Jesus Christ, you’re something,” he mutters, turning to the barista just in time for his order. “Can I get a sixteen-ounce latte?” Then, before scanning his phone over the reader, he turns back to me. “What are you getting?” he asks, his voice deceptively casual, like he didn’t just call me out a moment ago.
“You’re not buying my drink.”
“Why not? You didn’t have a problem with it in Newport.” He turns back to the barista and pays for his drink. Without another word, he steps aside, waiting for me to place my order.
I feel my face flush with irritation. “Can I get a twelve-ounce latte?” I ask, hyper-aware of his gaze on me. I pay and follow him to the other side of the counter to wait for my drink. “I didn’t ask for you to buy me drinks in Newport. It’s not my fault you were so desperate to get laid.”
“Oh, God . That’s rich. Because I distinctly remember asking you on a date. You, however, couldn’t get your clothes off fast enough. Does your fiancé know about our little rendezvous?”
I stare him down. “Again… I wasn’t engaged.”
His eyes narrow. “Oh. Sorry. So, your boyfriend was cool with you hooking up with random guys?”
My jaw clenches, a hint of nausea rising to my throat. But I keep my voice steady. “I wasn’t sleeping around. It was a one-time thing.”
“Sure it was.”
I can feel my composure starting to crack. My blood is boiling—a cocktail of anger, frustration, and the maddening fact that, despite everything, I still find him attractive.
Both of us have our arms crossed.
“You can judge me all you want. You don’t know me.” My voice is laced with irritation.
“Oh, I know enough.”
“You know I could report you to HR for this, right? This conversation is completely inappropriate for work. And honestly, I’m feeling a little harassed.”
Ryan scoffs, shaking his head, his tone edged with bitterness. “Yeah, I guess you could. But then what? You’d have to explain why you slept with me when you were in a relationship. And I’m pretty sure you don’t want that out there.” He takes a step back, his eyes flicking away for a moment. “Look, I’m not here to make your life hell. But damn, Cooper, you could’ve been honest. It’s not like I would’ve pushed for anything if I knew you were involved. You were the one who pushed for it.”
We glare at each other. What was once pure sexual tension is now layered with sheer hostility, and I’m not backing down.
He grabs his latte, his voice softening just a touch. “I get it—you probably have your reasons. But I’m not the bad guy here. I never was.” With that, he turns to leave, pausing only to add, “See you around.”
He walks past me, and exits the café, leaving me standing there, flustered and furious, heat rising in my chest with every breath. My hands tremble as I grab my coffee cup.
The nerve. Fuck him. He must think pretty highly of himself to treat people like that—especially at work.
Any attraction I once had is completely gone. He’s not that good-looking. Jesus, who am I kidding? No matter how much of a smug ass he is, the way he affects me is unnerving. I hate that I even care what he thinks, but I do. Maybe it’s because he saw me at my most vulnerable, or because I had more fun that night than I have in a long time. Or perhaps it’s because a part of me knows that what he’s accusing me of is partially true. I’d broken up with Brad—but had I really?
I take a deep breath and, with coffee in hand, I head back to the conference room to meet Jason. He’s planning to have me go over some tasks on the company software before we prep for a meeting that I’m helping lead.
I’ll just have to steer clear of Ryan. That’s not impossible, is it?
* * * * * ? * * * * *
“What the hell is his problem? Such a dick, right?” I say to Casey. I’m FaceTiming her, having just finished venting about my encounter with Ryan yesterday. I’m out on the balcony, keeping my voice low. I don’t want Brad to hear—he’s inside, working.
“Yeah, that’s pretty dick of him. It’s one thing to ask you about it, but accusing you? And at work?” Casey shakes her head.
“I know. It’s so awkward… Let’s just hope I don’t ever have to work too closely with him. I’m able to avoid him most of the time right now.” I press my forehead into the palm of my hand. “Ugh. Why did this have to happen? I love this new job, and he’s ruining it for me.”
“I’m so sorry, Coop. That really sucks,” Casey says sympathetically.
“Want to know the worst part?”
“Yeah, what is it?”
“It’s that when I first saw him in the office, I was actually excited. It felt like the universe had aligned. Like, my heart skipped a beat.” I cringe admitting it out loud.
“Well, that makes sense. I mean, I remember you saying the sex was mind-blowing. ‘Mind-blowing’ was the phrase you used. And yeah, he’s hot as hell, right? You also had a great time and thought he was really nice… but that was back then.”
I let out a frustrated sigh. “Yeah, he was all those things. I was so nervous after you left me with him, but he was sweet and made jokes. We laughed a lot, and… I was just so comfortable with him.” I lower my voice to a near whisper. “The chemistry was insane, Case. I’ve never had that kind of instant connection with someone.” I glance around, making sure Brad can’t hear.
“Really? Even in college? What about that one guy you hooked up with right before you started dating Brad? What was his name? The foreign exchange student?” Suddenly, she shouts. “No, Mason! Don’t touch that!”
Her screen shifts, showing the ceiling. “Sorry, Coop. My face will be right back—keep talking, I’m listening.”
“Oh my God, how could I forget about Marco? He was ridiculously hot—the accent, the body, all of it. That was the best sex of my life… until Ryan.”
“Okay, okay, so Ryan was even better than Marco?” Casey presses, clearly intrigued.
“God, yes. But let’s be honest—while it was great with Marco, we were only twenty-two. Not exactly a fair comparison.”
“Well, you’ve only been with Brad and Ryan since then, right?” she asks as her face comes back into view, slightly breathless from chasing Mason around.
“Yeah.”
“Well, what about Brad?” Casey asks, her tone shifting slightly.
“What do you mean—what about him?”
“How’s your relationship… in the bedroom?”
I don’t hesitate. “Well, that’s where our relationship is the best,” I say confidently. It’s the truth. “It’s always been great with Brad in that area. Sure, the excitement has worn off a little, but I’m easily turned on by Brad, and he always makes a point to get me off first. It’s the one part of our relationship where he’s very selfless.” I pause for a second, my thoughts lingering. “That’s normal, though, right? The excitement wearing off after this many years?”
“Yeah, I guess,” Casey replies thoughtfully. “I don’t know if it’s the excitement that wears off, or maybe just that anticipation of something new. You know, those butterflies you get when you first start seeing someone? Those definitely fade, but I still look forward to having sex with Greg.”
“Yeah, that’s a better way of explaining it,” I agree. “I still look forward to having sex with Brad. Last night was amazing. He went down on me for so long. It was glorious.”
Casey laughs. “Ah, that’s the best. How are things with you guys otherwise?”
I pause for a moment, wanting to be honest. “It’s actually been good lately. Brad’s been super supportive with the new job, and we’ve got a date planned for tonight. He’s been really attentive and present when he’s home. And when he gets home late, he makes a point to connect with me physically. Things have actually been better than they’ve been in a long time.” I stop to think about the last time I could say that truthfully—it’s been a while.
“That’s great. That makes me really happy…” Casey’s voice trails off.
“What?” I ask, immediately sensing there’s more she’s not saying.
“It’s nothing. I don’t want to put a damper on your happiness right now.”
“Well, now you have to say it,” I reply, concern creeping into my voice.
“It’s just that… you know, most of the other times you’ve said things were going well with Brad… he was cheating on you. He’d always get extra nice and attentive at home, like he was trying to cover up his guilt.”
I’m stunned into silence. This is what she thinks? My best friend, my sister, my greatest confidant in the world believes that Brad being nice to me must mean he’s cheating? I don’t even know how to respond—don’t know what to think. Is she right? Is this a pattern I’ve been ignoring?
A flutter of panic tightens in my chest, that constricted feeling you get when you’re scared of something.
“So, you think Brad’s cheating on me?” I finally ask, hoping she’ll tell me I’m wrong, that I’m just overreacting.
“I’m sure that’s not the case, Coop. I’m sorry I said that. I shouldn’t have. Brad’s been great… and he proposed. You two are getting married, and I’m really happy for you.”
“Do you not like Brad… like, at all?” I ask, needing some kind of validation.
She lets out a long sigh. “It’s not that I don’t like him… it’s just that he’s been the source of some of the greatest pain in your life. It’s hard for me to forgive him for that, and even harder to look past it. I don’t know him like you do, but I do know and love you… I just want you to be truly happy, you know?”
Her words settle like shards of glass in an open wound. She’s right—he’s hurt me, over and over. No matter how good things seem now or how supportive he’s been lately, the doubts creep in like shadows. I hate that she’s planted them there.
“Um, okay…” I pinch the bridge of my nose, squeezing my eyes shut, trying not to cry. “God, I don’t know what to do with that, Case. Your opinion means more to me than anyone’s. Brad’s going to be your brother-in-law someday—my husband —and you don’t like him. You think he’s still cheating?” But even as I say the words brother-in-law and husband , a knot tightens in my stomach. The words feel hollow, like I’m repeating a mantra. It’s like deep down, I know it’s never going to happen. And worse, I don’t know if it’s something I even want anymore.
Suddenly, Mason starts crying in the background. “Oh, shit! Shoot.” Casey cries out as she drops the phone, and my screen shifts to show a blur of carpet. “I’ve got to go, Coop. Mason just bumped his head on the table. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
She’s gone before I can even say goodbye. Great. This is just fucking fantastic . What am I supposed to do with that conversation? My mind immediately spirals. Is he cheating on me again? How would I even know?
No . I shake my head, forcing myself to stop. I’m not going to go there. If I suspect something, then I’ll deal with it. But right now, I have no reason to believe Brad is cheating. We’ve been getting along, connecting… I’m not going to assume it’s just him covering up guilt. I refuse to believe that.
I head to the kitchen to grab a snack before leaving for tennis. I play in a women’s league on Saturday afternoons—something I’ve done my whole adult life, and I love it.
“Hey, Coop?” Brad calls from the office.
I cross the living room and pop my head into his office. “Hey, what’s up?”
“Who were you on the phone with?”
“Casey,” I reply casually.
“Oh. And how is she?” he asks, glancing up from his computer.
“She’s good. Had to cut the call short—Mason bumped his head and was screaming in the background. But she’s fine.”
“That’s good. Have you had lunch?” he asks.
“No, I was just about to grab a small snack before heading out for tennis. Want me to bring you something?”
“That’d be great, if you don’t mind.” He looks up at me with a soft smile. “Come here,” he says, his tone soft.
I walk over to him, and he spins his office chair to face me, pulling me between his legs. His arms wrap around my waist, drawing me closer as he presses his head into my chest, his hands gripping my ass. “You’re so sexy,” he murmurs, lifting his head to meet my gaze. I lean down to kiss him.
“Mmm,” he grunts softly. “Do you have time for a little fun?”
I smile, playing along. “Hmm. Let me think…” I tease him, letting the moment linger, kissing him slowly. “I guess I could spare a few minutes,” I finally say with a grin.
Without hesitation, he knocks my knees out from under me as he stands, scooping me up in the process. He carries me into our bedroom, lays me down gently on the bed, and pulls his shirt off.
His mouth meets mine, and the kiss is so good that I melt into it, losing myself as his hands roam over me, touching me in all the ways I crave. I push away the lingering echo of Casey’s voice in the back of my mind. This is real. We’re good. There’s no way he’s cheating on me again. Not when we’re this good together.