“What happened to you guys as kids?” She stroked his arm, but her touch didn’t comfort him like it usually did.
“Nothing happened,” he said tersely as he ground his jaw together and wished she’d just shut up and stop asking questions.
“Don’t lie to me.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Cooper gripped the steering wheel and stared straight ahead. He felt that tell-tale muscle jerking in his jaw.
“Cooper, this is about trust. You need to trust me, if we’re going to have a future.”
“That subject is off limits.” He shot her an angry glare. “Don’t bring it up again.”
“That’s why you hate Seattle, isn’t it?”
“I fucking said, drop it, and I mean it,” he raised his voice, almost yelling and immediately regretting his outburst of temper.
Izzy stared at him as if he were a stranger. She crossed her arms over her chest and looked out the side window. He heard her sniffle and knew he’d screwed up bigtime, but he couldn’t talk about that summer.
He couldn’t ever talk about that summer.
And why he couldn’t stay in Seattle.
Chapter 18—Iced
Maybe Cooper wouldn’t talk about his past, but Izzy sure as hell would get him to talk about Riley and what his plans were for the boy. She planned to do just that after the game Thursday night, but Cooper played like a wet-behind-the-ears rookie. He was in such a foul mood afterward that Izzy kept her mouth shut.
Still, they needed to tell Riley they’d met with his mother a couple nights ago, and neither of them were looking forward to that. Friday night, Izzy cooked lasagna, while Riley and Cooper played a video game together. The laughter coming from the family room made her smile. Despite Cooper’s unwillingness to open up to her about whatever happened all those years ago, this evening almost made her believe the three of them could be a family.
Families weren’t perfect. They were often messy and irritating, but she loved this odd little family they’d become, just as much as she loved her sisters.
Her sisters.
Avery.
Did you see all those trophies? She’s good.
Out of the mouths of babes. Riley’s words rang in her ears. Ashamed, Izzy realized that she didn’t know how good Avery was when it came to horses. She’d always blown off her sister’s love of horses as nothing serious. Yet, Avery had picked horses over Izzy.
Or had Izzy forced her into making a choice?
Izzy jumped when Cooper wrapped his strong arms around her waist.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.” He rubbed his stubbled cheek against her smooth one.
“I didn’t know you were there.”
“We’re starving. How much longer?” Cooper asked then lowered his voice. “And I’m really hungry for your hot little body.”
She elbowed him in the stomach. “Be nice. Riley’s close by.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Izzy swung around and kissed Cooper on the lips. Before he could deepen the kiss and make her forget her name, she gave him a little push. “Put the salad on the table. We’re ready to eat.”
He grinned at her, desire shining in his eyes. “I’m definitely ready to eat. And the lasagna looks good, too.”
She swatted his ass. “Put that bowl on the table, please.”
“I’d like to put you on the table and eat off you.”
Izzy didn’t mind that idea at all, but now wasn’t the time or place. Cooper watched her with those blue eyes of his, then did as he was told.
Izzy followed with lasagna and rolls. Cooper and Riley already sat in their spots waiting. Riley grinned at her. He’d done a lot of that lately, and she loved seeing him so happy. But to Izzy, happiness had always been fleeting, and she spent most of her life waiting for the next bad thing to happen. Riley had to feel the same way with the life he’d had. Maybe that was why she had a connection with the kid.
As they ate dinner, Riley didn’t seem to notice Cooper and Izzy didn’t say much. He was too busy talking about the football team, school, and his friends.
Cooper smiled and nodded, like an indulgent father, even though Izzy sensed his nervousness. Riley asked for tickets to Saturday’s game for him and his buddies, and Cooper promised he’d get them if Izzy was the chaperone. Fall wasn’t the best time for parties, so Izzy had Saturday night off.
During a lull in the conversation, Cooper cleared his throat. Riley glanced up from the lasagna he’d been shoveling in his mouth at an alarming rate. He seemed to read Cooper’s expression and put down his fork, waiting with a worried frown.
“What is it?” The poor kid swallowed hard and looked from Cooper to Izzy and back to Cooper, his eyes full of dread.
Cooper glanced at Izzy. She gave him a small smile and squeezed his hand under the table. He took a deep breath.
“Riley, we found your mother.” Cooper’s voice came across as steady and calm, but Izzy watched that muscle jerk in his jaw.
Riley’s face paled, and Cooper gripped Izzy’s hand tighter.
“Is she okay?” Riley asked. His hands started shaking, so he hid them in his lap.
“Yes, she’s living in Tacoma.”
Hurt and betrayal put lines in Riley’s forehead. “Why didn’t she call me?”
“She thought you would be fine. She assumed you were with me.” Cooper covered for his sister, and Izzy silently applauded him.
“But she didn’t know that. She couldn’t know that. She never bothered to find out.” Riley pushed his plate away, and stared at a point on the wall. Izzy’s heart broke for the poor kid.
“I’m sorry, Riley.” Cooper shrugged as if he didn’t know what else to say. Izzy squeezed his hand in encouragement.
“Is she coming for me?” Riley didn’t sound as if he wanted that to happen.
“Uh, no.” Cooper reached across the table and patted Riley’s arm, but his nephew jerked away from him.
“She doesn’t want me. No one wants me.” Riley lashed out like a wounded animal, tears starting to form in his eyes.