Riley seemed at a loss for words, as if he hadn’t expected Cooper’s response. “You do?”
“Yes, I do. Now, let’s eat.” Cooper started carrying food to the dining room table. Izzy couldn’t recall ever eating in this large room with its formal table. She’d rather keep it casual and sit at the round oak table in the breakfast nook area. It’d be more comfortable for all three of them, especially Riley, but now wasn’t the time to argue.
They ate in strained silence, but that didn’t dampen Riley’s appetite one bit, even though it did Izzy’s. Cooper caught her staring at him and winked. He ran his foot up and down her leg, and she shoved a chicken leg in her mouth to muffle her moan.
Riley glanced up, finished chewing, and actually smiled at her. “This is awesome fried chicken.”
“Oh, yeah, it is,” Cooper grinned, knowing exactly why she was moaning. “I especially like the legs and breasts.”
Izzy kicked him under the table, and Riley actually laughed. Cooper laughed, too, and a second later, Izzy joined in. It was juvenile, but it broke the ice.
“I have tickets for the game tomorrow night,” Cooper announced. Both Izzy and Riley stopped laughing to look up at him. “We’re all going together.”
Now, wait a minute—Cooper was taking this family thing too far, and Izzy hadn’t agreed to attend anything tomorrow night. She bristled slightly, as did Riley.
“Coach invited us over to watch the U-Dub-USC game tomorrow night.” U-Dub was what Seattleites called the University of Washington.
A muscle ticked in Cooper’s jaw, a sure sign he was upset, but instead of being mad, Izzy caught the sadness in his eyes, the same sadness she’d seen earlier.
Riley hesitated, as if debating whether to make Cooper pay for his neglect or to cut him some slack. “I really want to watch the Huskies,” Riley finally said.
“Okay, that’s fine.” Cooper’s voice was tight and his expression closed off.
“Thanks,” Riley pushed his chair away from the table. When he saw Cooper’s narrowed eyes, he paused. “Can I go now?”
“Yeah, sure.”
Riley ran from the room as if he couldn’t wait to get away from the adults.
Izzy reached across the table and held Cooper’s hand. “Don’t take it personally. He’s a teenager.”
“I do take it personally. I’ve been a shit to him, so he’s paying me back. I deserve it.”
“You’re a good man, Cooper Black, even if you forget to be one sometimes.” Izzy squeezed his hand, her heart going out to him.
Their eyes met and locked. Something shifted sideways inside her, throwing her emotions off their foundation and leaving her disoriented. Her heart pounded with knowledge, and her head spun, as her entire world whirled off its axis.
She loved this man.
She’d known for a long time Cooper was special, even though she fought it with everything she had. She loved him, and she’d probably loved him since the night they first met, and she’d pretended to be his girlfriend, despite his protests. He loved her, too. Even if he hadn’t said the words, she saw it in his eyes.
Yet, with love came a certain dependency on the other half of the couple, and Izzy wasn’t ready to be dependent on Cooper or anyone, if she ever would be. Independence, the freedom to make your own decisions, and living with those decisions was paramount to her. Loving Cooper would strip away her independence, and she couldn’t allow it.
They could not have a forever love, just a right-now love.
Chapter 16—Goal Tending
The Sockeyes lost their home game that Saturday and left Monday on their road trip with a one and one record. Cooper played a decent game, but not enough to carry the team to victory, despite one last-minute goal.
In his early twenties, Cooper had lived for road trips. He loved the different cities and different women in each city. Since he’d be leaving town, he never worried about some crazy female stalking him later or expecting more than a one-night stand.
That was then.
Izzy had ruined him for any other woman. It was funny how she’d essentially moved into his house even though neither of them officially acknowledged it. Yet more and more of her stuff appeared in his walk-in closet. In fact, she had more clothes hanging in there than he did. He didn’t say a word, for fear she’d get scared and bolt. Nor did she mention getting another nanny for Riley. She’d quit her barista job and taken on the role. Once a week, Cooper left cash for her wages in an envelope on the counter, and neither of them talked about that either.
Tomorrow night the Sockeyes played their first game of the road trip. They’d flown to New Jersey earlier today, had a skate and a team meeting, and eaten dinner as a group in the hotel. It was only eight-thirty, and Cooper was restless. He texted Izzy a few times and received no response. He’d even texted Riley, a first for him. No response there either.
He was worried. What if they’d been in a car wreck? What if one of them was in the hospital? What if they needed him? He’d never been much of fretter. He was a man of action. Just do it, don’t worry about it.
Jesus. He was making himself crazy. Two hours later and nothing—not a word from either of them. They didn’t have to account for every minute of their lives to him, and he knew he needed to get a grip on himself. Izzy wouldn’t appreciate him hounding her, and Riley wouldn’t either.
He finally grabbed his wallet and headed for the hotel bar. Since the hotel mostly catered to businessmen, he doubted he’d be bothered by fans or puck bunnies, but he hadn’t counted on being bothered by his own team.
Cooper blew out a breath when he saw them. They’d pushed a few tables together in the back of the room and were sharing pitchers of beer. Brick, wearing a Hawaiian shirt, shorts, and flip-flops despite the chilly weather outside, entertained the troops with one of his many stories. The guy was certifiably nuts, but then all goalies were, at least the good ones.