She reached over and patted his shoulder as they pulled into Cooper’s garage. “Riley, don’t get your hopes up. Cooper’s set on leaving Seattle, and I’m not.”
Riley’s heart sank. “I can’t leave either. I can’t leave my mother.”
“Then I guess you’ll need to get those crazy thoughts out of your head.”
Riley got out of the car and trudged into Cooper’s house, feeling more lost and alone than he had in weeks. If Uncle Cooper moved, then every hope and dream he’d had these past couple months moved with him.
Nothing ever worked out for Riley Black.
Nothing.
Thank God for roommates who were man whores and partiers. Cooper could count on at least an hour or two alone in his room every night. Cedric was so hyped up after a game he’d either find a willing female or party with the boys. Cooper jacked off while having video phone sex with Izzy.
It didn’t make up for the real thing, but it was close.
Yet, it wasn’t just the sex. They talked. Actually talked. He couldn’t recall when he’d spent as much time talking to a woman as he did having sex with her. He loved talking to Izzy, loved that she didn’t cater to him, but was honest and straightforward. They talked about anything and everything. Her family. His family. Riley. Their dreams. Their hopes. She even gave him tips on his game.
Cooper talked to Riley a few times, too. The kid had a girlfriend and sounded so happy. Riley’s happiness gave Cooper a warm feeling inside, like he’d done something truly good and meaningful for the kid.
The team won two out of three on the road with two more games to go on Sunday and Tuesday night. Cooper couldn’t wait to get home.
It was Saturday night, and Izzy happened to be working. Cooper didn’t feel like going to the room and sitting by himself so he headed for the hotel bar. Across the room sat a table full of his teammates, as usual. Near the door sat Ethan and Coach. Cooper fast-tracked it to his guys and was almost home free when Ethan called to him.
Reluctantly, he turned and walked back to their table. “Yeah?” he asked as he looked down at them.
Ethan nudged a chair with his foot. “Have a seat, Coop.”
Cooper dropped his big body into the chair, while Ethan signaled for a waitress to bring Cooper a beer. They made small talk until she’d delivered another round of drinks and left.
“So,” Cooper cut to the chase, “you didn’t call me over here to chat. What’s up?”
A smile tugged at the corner of Ethan’s mouth. “Cooper, I know I should be talking with your agent, but I wanted to approach you directly first because that’s how I do business.”
Cooper shrugged non-committedly, but he had a good idea what was coming. Less than a month ago, he knew what his answer would be, now he wasn’t so sure. There were so many variables. Riley and Izzy, to name a few.
Cooper raised a brow. “What do you want, Ethan?”
Ethan’s slow smile seemed almost predatory; at the least it was calculating. “I want what’s best for the team, and that happens to be you. You’re the heart and soul of this team. The cornerstone. The piece that makes all the other pieces fit together.”
Cooper glanced at Coach, who was rubbing his chin and saying nothing.
“We’d like to wrap you up before you enter unrestricted free agency, and we’ll make you the richest man in the NHL.”
“It’s not about the money. It never has been.”
“Okay, what is it about?” Ethan pushed.
“Stuff you can’t change.” Cooper stared at a point on the wall. A nerve ticked in his jaw and his head pounded.
“I can’t change the weather, if that’s your complaint,” Ethan said quietly. “But anything I can change, I will. The Sockeyes’ organization is committed to putting championship teams on the ice year after year. We need you to do that. You’re irreplaceable.”
“Cooper,” Coach finally spoke. “This is one of the best organizations in the NHL, even though it’s in its infancy.”
Cooper nodded slowly. “I know. It’s not that. Not anymore. It’s Seattle. I can’t stay there.”
Both men stared at him like he was nuts. Maybe he was, but the gray clouds hanging over Seattle had nothing to do with the weather, and the only way to exorcise the demons from his past was to leave Seattle and never look back.
Cooper stood and shook both men’s hands. “Thanks, but I’m not interested.”
“That won’t stop me from trying,” Ethan promised.
Cooper shrugged and headed for his teammates, but his phone vibrated. It was Russ. Cooper took a detour to a quiet table and sat down. “Russ, you have news for me?”
“Yeah, I do. I found her.”
“Is she in jail?” That was the only plausible explanation Cooper could imagine for his sister abandoning her son and not bothering to look for him.
“No. She’s in Tacoma with a guy. Some biker dude who works as a bouncer at a strip joint. They’re living in a trailer park.”
“Seriously? Is he holding her against her will?”
“No, she’s been coming and going.”
Cooper sat back in his chair and absorbed this information. “Are they doing drugs?”
“Meth, at least.”
Anger vibrated through Cooper. “I want to talk to her. Can you keep her in your sights until I get back next week?”
“Sure, as long as you keep those checks coming.”
“You know I will. Thanks. I appreciate all your help.”
“Just part of the job,” Russ said. Being a man of few words, Russ ended the call. Cooper wrapped his hands around the cold glass of beer and stared at the painting on the wall of a tranquil farm with rolling green meadows. Only he didn’t feel so tranquil right about now. He was pissed at his irresponsible sister. She’d walked away from Riley without a word, not even bothering to make sure he was okay or dropping him off somewhere so he’d be safe.
God, he wanted to throttle her. He didn’t give a shit about what she did with her life, but Riley didn’t deserve her neglect.
Shit. Cooper buried his face in his hands.
Riley didn’t deserve his neglect either.