Damaged and the Beast (Damaged #1)

“Why can’t she move here?”


“My dad won’t let her. Mom doesn’t want her here either. I’m saving up though and I’ll get an apartment for us. Tawny can get a job and we’ll be together, but it probably can’t happen until she turns eighteen.”

“Where is she now?”

“I’m not sure. My dad is in trouble with some people and he’s laying low. They’re somewhere in Texas.”

“That’s bullshit,” Cooper said quietly as he tapped hard on the table. “Raising kids that way is crap. Some of my pop’s friends are assholes like that and their kids turn out to be shit. You and your sister shouldn’t have turned out great, but here you are.”

“I don’t like to think of my dad as an asshole.”

“But you know he is and that’s why you don’t like thinking about it.”

“He took care of me and Tawny. He has his good qualities.”

“So did Hitler. So does everyone. No one is pure shit. Everyone can be great in little ways. I’m sorry, Farah, but the way you are about stuff tells me that your dad didn’t do a great job.”

Frowning, I felt embarrassed like he just called me a loser. Cooper reached across the table again and this time took my hand.

“You want to fit in so much. I see this need in your eyes to be like everyone else and you can’t see how amazing you are just being you. Plus, there’s the way you freaked out on Sunday when the fight broke out. Baby, that wasn’t a normal chick move. You were terrified in a way few other girls would have been. I’ve had rich bitches around when a fight broke out. At the most, they scream and hide under a table. You took off like your life depended on it. You don’t get that kind of fear response by growing up feeling safe.”

“He did the best he could.”

“Protect your own,” he said, slowly pulling away his hand. “I get it. Look at Tucker. He’s a turd in every way, but he’s my little brother. I’d kill to protect him. Die too, but I know he’s a loser. Knocking up Maddy was ridiculous. Well, actually knocking her up was pretty ingenious for him, but then he told everyone he did it. That’s why he’s a turd. The douche made himself and Maddy look stupid. They are stupid, but he could have kept it quiet.”

“Ingenious?”

“Maddy is flaky and he thought she would ditch school and go home. He wanted her to stay and devised a plan. It was a stupid plan, but for him to think it out and put it in motion was pretty brilliant for Tuck. In reality, she would have stayed for the same reason she didn’t admit to knowing those weren’t her pills. She wants to keep him. Maddy’s like you in a lot of ways. Poor and struggling to get ahead. She saw a chance to be with a guy with money and jumped at the chance. The weirdest shit is how she actually loves him. I can’t imagine why anyone would love that idiot if they had a choice, but she thinks he’s the funniest sweetest guy ever. It’s pretty nauseating, but they’re happy and I have to be happy for them.”

“Did you have a good childhood?”

“Hell yeah,” he said, grinning in a way that made me believe him. “My parents are cool. My mom was young when she had me so when we’d go hiking and rock climbing, she was right there with us like one of the kids. She’s a badass too. It’s why I don’t move off the property. What’s the point? I have my privacy and my neighbors are cool and they do my laundry and cook for me.”

I smiled at him as our salads arrived. Cooper picked the tomatoes, croutons, and cucumbers out, but left the rest.

“When is Tawny’s birthday?” Cooper asked.

“In November.”

“And yours was in January?” Frowning at him, I didn’t answer. Cooper finally grinned at my irritation. “I did my homework on you. Hoped your birthday was coming up so I could do something big and romantic. You chicks love that crap.”

“Oh, we really do,” I said, smiling now as I ate my salad. “When’s your birthday?”

“Beginning of December. I’m a Sag,” he said, as if I should be impressed. “What will you give me for my birthday?”

“Probably something with me naked. Well, assuming I haven’t grown bored of you by then.”

Leaning back in his chair, Cooper smiled. “I like the way you say naked. Makes me think of you naked.”

“Big shock.”

“I really want to see that.”

“Well, let’s see how dinner goes first.”

Cooper laughed a little then adjusted in his seat like he was uncomfortable. I knew why he was uncomfortable, but there was no way I was acknowledging it. He grinned wider when I ignored his discomfort.

“Tell me about your childhood,” he said a little too forcefully then took a breath. “Please.”