Damaged and the Beast (Damaged #1)

The moment we entered the theater and I smelled popcorn, I was in a state of euphoria. For so many years, Tawny and I talked about movies we wanted to see. First as kids then as teens, we would dream of saving up enough to go. Yet, our money always went into our parents’ pockets until I talked my dad into letting me keep my tips. Then, everything went into my nest egg. Plenty of times, I thought to take out a little money to splurge on my sister. Instead, I panicked at how I might waste too much and lose my chance at college. Now, I wished I had used the money to give Tawny more joy in her otherwise crap life.

Cooper kept smiling at me and I finally realized I was grinning like a mad woman. I remembered how big and amazing everything felt when my grandma took me and Tawny. We had even gotten snacks and Tawny drowned our popcorn in butter. Giddy about how great this day was and at remembering the one with Tawny, I drowned a huge bucket of popcorn in the runny butter. When someone complained I was taking too long, Cooper gave the guy a look that shut him up. Soon, I finished and walked with Cooper to the theater showing an action film.

Based on the time we arrived, our choices were a depressing drama or an action film with no plot and lots of explosions. It was a no brainer. Waiting for the film to begin, I kept laughing. Seeing me smiling so much, Cooper laughed too.

“My girl is so fucking hot when she’s happy.”

“Then, I must be super fucking hot right now.”

“Hell yeah,” he said, kissing me so the buttery flavor in my mouth mixed with his Milk Duds.

“Yum,” I mumbled when he let go.

“You’re like a little kid.”

“You can’t know how much this means to me.”

“I’m getting a pretty good idea from the look on your face.”

Leaning my head against his shoulder, I smiled at Cooper who watched me like I was amazing and could do no wrong. I felt the same way about him.

The movie was stupid, yet really great. I was startled by how loud and bright everything seemed compared to when I was a kid. By the end, I would have been sad to leave except I could enjoy this kind of thing now. I was no longer under the thumb of my parents who always had other uses for our money. Even if I didn’t have the money, Cooper clearly planned to make the movie thing a habit. He was even talking about what to see the next weekend as we walked out of the theater.

After a quick stop at Whiskey Kirk’s to pick up my notes from Tucker, we drove to my apartment. Amy was inside with Tex and they were clearly fooling around when we entered. Like two kids caught by their parents, they played it cool, but kept giggling.

Amy had made it obvious over the last few weeks how she wasn’t interested in knowing me. She certainly didn’t want me asking questions about her life. Questions like why was there always beer in the refrigerator if she in AA? Or where did she stay until late at night, only to stagger in for a few hours of sleep before stumbling to work the next day? Those were questions for her life and I wasn’t part of it. I was simply the reason she had a nicer apartment. Oh, and I might be the reason she was drinking again because as she told Tex one night while I was trying to sleep, “Kids make life harder.”

While Cooper waited in the living room, I packed up more clothes and necessities. I thought I heard his voice, but when I returned, everyone was silent. Yet, I knew he’d said something.

“Your boyfriend is a real prize,” Amy muttered, disappearing into her bedroom with Tex following close behind.

Tex didn’t even glance at me and I suspected he would never get caught looking at me. Not unless he wanted Cooper’s fist colliding with his face. With the drama kept to a minimum, I took Cooper’s hand and left the apartment.

When we arrived at the steakhouse, neither of us was really hungry after pigging out at the theater. Instead, we sat quietly in a nice booth by a window for decent lighting. For nearly an hour, we both focused on our required reading while people ate and talked around us. I loved how oblivious we were to everyone else. Yet, when a few rough looking men arrived, Cooper switched positions with me without speaking. Soon, I was snuggly in the corner of the booth with him blocking me. Smiling, I kissed him softly then returned to my reading.

After an amazing steak dinner where we ate so much that I was afraid to see the bill, Cooper watched me with a grin.

“It’s been a great day, right?”

“The best. I’m starting to get used to have amazing days with you.”

“The fair is here. The whole family is going and we’re meeting Skye.”

“I’ve never been to a fair.”

“Fuck,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure you’ve checked off a list of fun shit to do.”

“I really do love you, Coop. It’s not fake or because you chase me or any of that. It’s real and I never want to let you go.”

Cooper smiled wider. “That was hard to admit, wasn’t it, baby?”

“Yep. What if you suddenly changed your mind and ditched me?”

“Still here and I always will be.”

Cuddling against him, I wanted to go back to his apartment. The one bedroom tiny space felt like home now. A place where Cooper and I belonged and no one could interfere, not even bad memories.