Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
“I can’t. I let you go once.”
“You did. You let me go. Now—” I’m cut off by the sound of screeching tires. I whip my head around to see Van’s Jeep pull in behind us. He’s out of his vehicle almost before it comes to a stop. Oh crap. Things are about to get real interesting now. This is not how I would have ever wanted to tell him about Cooper.
“Hey!” Big Ed shouts at him.
“It’s my son!” I shout.
“Well, shit. He does look like you,” Ed mutters to Cooper.
“Where is my mom?” I quickly wipe my cheeks, trying to hide that I was crying. I don’t want Van to see me upset. Nor do I want his first interaction with Cooper to be on a negative note.
“Let me out.” Cooper’s arm doesn’t move. “Please. Don’t meet him this way,” I beg. Finally, he lets go. “I’m fine.” I step out, reassuring Van that there’s nothing to worry about.
“Fine? Sadie said someone kidnapped you.”
“It was a joke. He’s an old friend.” My laugh is forced. I hate myself for it.
“Mom—”
“Did you leave school? You can’t walk out of school. You’ll get in trouble.”
“What’s going on?”
“We’ll talk about it later.” I can tell he doesn’t want to leave. “I took Sadie to school, but you’re taking her home,” I remind him.
“I know, Mom.”
“Okay, then I’ll see you tonight.”
He gives me another skeptical look but gets back in his Jeep. Probably because there is a cop here so he thinks I must be fine. I let out a breath of relief when his Jeep turns around and heads back toward the school. I drop my ass back down into the passenger seat sideways with my feet still outside.
“I have a son,” Cooper whispers. I thought we already established that, but it might be sinking in for him finally.
“You have two.” I glance over my shoulder at him. My eyes drop to his hands but don’t see a ring.
“And you have a daughter with your husband?” He glares at me.
“I do have a daughter.” What I don’t have is a husband. Sebastian and I are only engaged technically. We still haven’t made it official.
“Wait, did you have twins?”
“No.” I roll my eyes at him. Why does he almost sound hopeful?
“So you had another kid with another man?”
“I’ll leave you two to talk.” Big Ed steps back and heads to his patrol car but doesn’t go anywhere.
“Sadie is Sebastian’s daughter. She and Van are a few days apart. They’re not twins, but they might as well be.”
“Van.” He repeats the name. I take another breath before I turn to face Cooper.
“You were young. I get it. You weren’t ready for a kid.” It’s hard to force those words out of my throat because he clearly went and had one with someone else. Did he choose her over me?
“I got you pregnant.” He runs a hand down his face.
“We weren’t careful,” I remind him. A small smile pulls at his lips like he’s remembering our time together.
“I wasn’t careful. Whenever I touched you—”
“Don’t.” I cut him off. “Neither of us had done it before. We both had a part in it. It was stupid, but I don’t regret it. I got Van, Sadie, and Sebastian.”
“Sebastian, the fuck kind of name is that?”
“Sebastian has been there for Van and me. I would have been on the streets without him.” My anger starts to return.
“You think I would have let you and my son live on the streets!” We’re both getting heated again. This is pointless.
“We don’t need to rehash this. I’ll talk to Van about you. I won’t keep him from you, and I won’t hold it against you for signing away your rights to him. You were younger. I’m sure you might see things differently now that you have your own kid.”
“What are you talking about? I didn’t sign fucking anything. I only found out today you had my son.” I close my eyes. His words hit me like a brick wall.
“She lied,” I whisper. Why did I ever believe her?
“Your mother.” Cooper grits his teeth. He hated my mother too.
“This is a lot, Cooper. I’m sorry. I need some time.”
“You’ve had enough time.” He reaches over me and shuts the door. His arms brush against my breast. Memories flash through my mind. My body is growing hot. This is so not the time for this.
“Are you married?” I ask, wondering about the mother of his other son.
“No.” He throws his car into drive. “You’re not going to be much longer either.”
CHAPTER 9
COOPER
Fischl’s screaming, and Big Ed’s following me without his lights on. I think he might be afraid I’m going to do something to her. I’m half afraid of that myself, but not for the same reason. Just the small brush of my arm against her breast and I’m burning up. Back in the day, the truck was our spot. I’d take my Ford to the quarry where there wasn’t anything but sand piles and us. We’d roll down the windows and put on some blues. While the saxophone wailed in the background, we’d explored each other’s bodies along that bench seat. I’d taken her virginity and—crazily enough—given her a baby. It shouldn’t surprise me. I couldn’t get my condom on half the time because I was in such a hurry to be inside her. And she was as hungry for me, pushing my fumbling hands away, throwing the condom out the window, lowering herself onto my cock and riding me like I was a wild horse she wanted to tame. I was hers in every way, though. I would’ve done anything for her. I loved Fischl. I would’ve welcomed our child.