Chapter 34

Branna

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We finally get clean and dried off, but by then we’re starving again.  

“Let’s get some pizza,” Cooper suggests, as we lie on his bed, his arm around me and my head on his chest.

“Bennie’s?” I ask, cautiously. Pizza does sound really good right now and I haven’t had a decent slice since I saw Liliya there. I’ve avoided the place like the plague since then.

“Yeah, it’s the best pizza place on this side of town,” Cooper says matter-of-factly.

“I’m not really feeling pizza right now,” I lie. “Besides, then we have to get dressed. Wouldn’t you rather stay like this?” He’s wearing a sexy pair of light blue, silk boxers and I’m wearing a matching bra and panty set in black lace.

“Mmmhmm,” he nods, looking me up and down appreciatively. “You make a strong argument.”

“I’ll make lunch, too,” I say, and bounce up from the bed. My energy is back up after our energizing endorphins session in the shower and I would much rather make lunch for us, something I actually enjoy, than risk an unwanted encounter with my past at Bennie’s Pizza. The chance that Liliya—or any of the Irish or Russians, for that matter—would be at Bennie’s again is incredibly slim. It was probably just some odd fluke that she was over here in the first place, but whatever it was, the risk isn’t worth taking.

I chide myself for going too far with that train of thought and instead focus on the present moment, instead. I’m basking in the afterglow of mind-blowing sex with this sexy and wonderful man who is currently sprawled on the bed, looking at me like I’m the yummiest piece of candy in the store and he has a raging sweet tooth. I flounce out of the room with a little extra swish in my hips, knowing that he’s enjoying the view.

I’m so glad that I bothered to take the time to cook. I quickly whip up some pizza-style omelets, folded over a red sauce, meats and veggies, and mixed-cheese filling, make some toast and call Cooper over to eat.

“Wow,” he says, walking into the room. “That looks amazing.”

“Thanks,” I say, handing him a plate.

“So what’s on your agenda for the rest of the day?” I ask. He’s already tearing into his meal. This is a man who burns a lot of calories every day. I’m glad I’m used to that and knew to make a lot of food from my experience with Finn. Having a big brother is good for something, after all, even if he ignores you.

Cooper takes a big glug of orange juice, then looks up from his food for a moment. “This is incredible, babe. Thanks,” he says, “And I have the first official qualifying match of the tournament today. Will you come?” 

“I would love to,” I say, “So that decides if you advance in the tournament or not?”

Cooper laughs a little, shaking his head. “Babe, I don’t want this to come off the wrong way. But, frankly, I’m in the tournament. I’ve won all of the last few tournaments, so there’s really no way that I wouldn’t be in the tournament. Nah, this just decides what seed I am in. If I win this match, which I will, I get into the top seed. That means that I get better sponsorships for the tournament and that, in turn, means that I get more money. I also don’t have to fight as many of the small matches to get to fight the best people, so there’s less waste of my fucking time. I’m not interested in smashing some little punk’s skull in just because I can. There’s no sport in that. I like fighting an opponent. I want a challenge. The fighter I’m up against tonight, Carl Crusher, gave his last four opponents concussions and rarely ends a match without knocking a guy out cold or crushing a few bones. It’s how he got his name.”

“That sounds terrifying!” I can tell that my mouth is hanging open, but I can’t contain my horror. I don’t want Cooper to be beaten to a pulp.

“If you’re not good, yeah, you’re gonna get killed,” Cooper shrugs. “But your ass shouldn’t have been in the cage in the first place if you’re not training like your life depends on it. Every idiot knows that and if some twerp thinks he’s going to get up there and throw a few wussy punches, then he’s already dumb enough that getting his brain rattled can’t do too much damage. And maybe the broken bones and missing teeth will remind the idiot to stay away from the big boys if he can’t handle himself.”

It’s a whole different side of Cooper. I mean, I could always tell that he’s a man’s man and a tough guy. But he’s in lover mode—I mean romance, not love—with me and is sweet with me. But right now, talking about tonight’s fight, I can tell that he can clearly be dangerous. And instead of scaring me away, that fact turns me on. Not only does it turn me on, but it also comforts me.

Knowing just how dangerous Cooper really is, and reminding myself that the brutal fighting in the cage last night was all real and not at all theatrical or performed, makes me feel a little better about letting him get involved with me. Not that he needs my permission for anything or would accept it if I said he should stay away for his safety. But I come from a dangerous world, and getting involved with me puts any man in a potentially deadly situation. Knowing that Cooper is so used to, and comfortable, with mortal danger helps. And knowing that he can hold his own in these kinds of situations also really helps.

“Sounds like a pretty crucial match,” I say.

“It is,” Cooper nods. “But having my girl there to cheer me on, there’s no way that I won’t win.” He picks up my hand across the table, just like a true Prince Charming, and kisses the back of it before smiling at me and returning to his lunch. 

“I’m sure you would have won, anyway,” I say. But it still felt pretty great to hear him say that and I can’t keep the smile off of my face. “But I’ll be there, rooting for you.”

“I appreciate that, babe,” he murmurs, kissing me deep. Finally, I make myself pull away. We clean up breakfast and I gather my courage. I’m running out of time, so I just have to say it. Staring down at the sudsy pan I’m scrubbing in the sink, I blurt it out.

“Cooper, I have to tell you something,” I say. The sooner I get it over with, the better. The sooner he knows the truth, the sooner I’m free of this secret and will know if he still wants me to be his. I can’t believe I do, but I dare to have hope. “I didn’t grow up in a normal way. My dad is the boss of the O’Sullivan syndicate.” I did it. I told him.

But there’s no response. I turn around to look at him, but he isn’t there. A second later, he comes back into the kitchen, whistling and carrying a new trash bag to replace the one he just brought out.

He didn’t hear any of it.

I breathe in deep, getting ready to start all over when his phone, lying on the kitchen table next to me, lights up. I glance over and feel my heart skip a beat. Hey bb. There’s no contact name, just a number above the short text, but the photo underneath makes it clear that there’s some familiarity there. A busty redhead, buttnaked, stares up at me from the screen of Cooper’s phone, her back arched and bright red lips pursed.

He’s seeing someone. He slept with me, but I’m not the only one. I was naive to think I meant something to him. I turn away from the table as he walks over, pretending I didn’t see anything. My heart pounds painfully in my chest.

I watch out of the corner of my eye as Cooper picks up his phone, checks the message, and slides the phone into his pocket. When I look at him, he smiles at me. No look of surprise, no explanation, just as though nothing had changed. For him, it didn’t. For me, I realize I’m just a notch on his bedpost. I’m just another girl, to use and discard, and here I was, about to confide everything in him.

“What’s that look?” Cooper asks, tilting my chin up with his finger. I turn my face, brushing him off.

“She’s pretty,” I say, trying to keep the hurt out of my voice. I’m sure as hell not going to let him know that I was dumb enough to think that I — that we — meant something.

“She’s no one,” Cooper says. “I blocked her. I want you.” He wraps his strong arms around me and pulls me against his body. I want to believe him and when he kisses me, I kiss him back. I let my body respond as it wants to his touch, melting against him, but real trust isn’t so easy. The moment is gone and I can’t tell him my secret now.

It’s like the world is telling me that I’d be making the wrong choice.