For the Game

by Amber Garza

  I stiffened, not having heard Justin come in.

  When I spun around, I saw that he wasn’t alone.

  Charlotte’s eyebrows shot up. “You okay?”

  Nodding, I ran a hand over my head. When Justin’s arm looped around Charlotte’s shoulders, jealousy filled me. If only London were here. I was convinced if she were, everything would be right in my world again. “Yeah,” I breathed out. “Fine.”

  “You don’t seem fine, bro,” Justin said. “You look like you’re ready to burst a blood vessel.”

  Yeah, right in the middle of Justin’s forehead. Looking at Justin’s smug expression, I thought I might just lose it if I stayed in here with him. “I just need some fresh air.” Snatching up my jacket, I headed out the front door.

  Once I was out in the hallway, I exhaled, allowing my breath to expand. After throwing on my jacket, I started heading toward the exit while simultaneously dialing London’s number. It was time to get to the bottom of this. Tonight I wouldn’t let her skirt my questions. Irritation bubbled inside of me with each ring. If I was back home, I’d just show up at her house and make her talk. That was the thing about London. Her expressions gave everything away, so there was no way she could lie when we were face to face.

  As I stepped outside, I recalled the first time I declared my feelings for London. I had a shitty practice that night too, and just like tonight, it had been London’s fault. Of course, the circumstances were completely different. I had been trying to deny my feelings for London. A lot of good it did. Once I’d looked into that girl’s eyes she’d cast a spell on me. I didn’t have a chance. She’d gotten a hold of my heart. It was hers.

  “Hey, Cooper,” London answered, interrupting my thoughts.

  “Hey.” My tone was softer than I had anticipated. Her voice alone had tempered my anger a bit. I left the cement walkway, my feet sinking into the newly-watered grass as I inhaled the scent of damp earth. “How’s it going?” Finding a nearby tree, I leaned against it, shoving my left hand deep into the pocket of my jeans. My hair was still a little wet from the shower I’d taken after practice, and a chill ran down my spine.

  “Good. What about you? How was practice tonight?”

  “Not great,” I answered honestly.

  “Why? Ace still being an ass?”

  “Yeah, but that wasn’t why.” I sucked in a breath. “I played poorly. My pitches were off, and I couldn’t stay focused.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry, Coop.”

  “Yeah, it really sucked. I can’t afford to have an off day. Not here. And especially not with Ace vying for my spot. You should’ve seen the smug look on the sick bastard’s face.” Anger boiled inside me at the memory.

  “It’s just one practice. I’m sure you’ll pull it together before the next one.”

  “I guess that all depends on you, London.”

  “What?” There was shock in her tone. “Why me?”

  “Tell me what’s going on,” I demanded, yanking my hand out of my pocket. The rough fabric chafed my skin.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I know you’re hiding something.”

  Silence filled the line, and for a second I worried that she’d hung up on me.

  “London?” A breeze kicked up, cool air brushing over me. I shivered.

  “Yeah, I’m here,” she spoke softly, slowly.

  “C’mon, baby, talk to me.”

  An exasperated sigh filled the line. “I’ve been sick.”

  Even though it was what I’d expected, it still bowled me over. My knees softened, and I had to use the tree as support to keep myself upright. “Oh, my god. Why did you keep this from me?”

  “This is exactly why. I knew you’d think the worst. I knew you’d jump to the wrong conclusion. But it’s not cancer. It’s nothing. Just a virus.”

  The relief I felt was palpable, so thick I could almost hold it in my hand, feel it against my flesh. However, it was quickly replaced with confusion. “I don’t get it. Why the secrecy then?”

  “I wasn’t sure what was wrong. I didn’t know until I got the results from my doctor today.”

  Confusion was ramping up to full-blown anger. “You went to the doctor without telling me?”

  “I didn’t want you to worry.”

  “Did you think the cancer was back? Is that why you went to the doctor?”

  “The symptoms were similar, but I wasn’t sure.”

  “And you didn’t think I had a right to know?” I pushed off the tree and started pacing. A couple walked past me, glancing over curiously. But I was too amped up to care if I was making a scene.

  “I didn’t think there was any point in telling you until I knew something concrete.”

  “So that’s how it’s going to be, huh? You’re going to pick and choose the things you think are important enough to tell me? What other things have you kept from me?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Funny, I don’t believe you,” I said through gritted teeth. Frustrated, I ran a hand through my hair. It was dry now, but the strands were still icy. However, I no longer felt cold. The adrenaline pumping through my veins had warmed me up.

  “This is the only thing I haven’t told you. I promise.”

  “You promise, huh?” I snorted. “I seem to remember another promise you made me. Remember that, London? When you promised to always keep me in the loop when it came to your health?”

  “Coop,” she whispered my name so sweetly that some of the fight in me withered like a deflated balloon. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I should have told you.”

  “I still don’t understand why you didn’t.”

  “You have enough on your plate with college classes, roommate issues and baseball. I didn’t want to add to that. I would have told you if the results were different, Coop. But I didn’t see a reason to get you all worked up if it ended up being nothing.” She paused. “And it did end up being nothing. I’m perfectly healthy. No harm, no foul.”

  She did have a point, but she was also missing mine. “I get that, London. I do. But it’s still not fair. Not to you or me,” I said. “Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to be so far away from you?”

  “Of course, because it’s equally hard on me.”

  “Right. Now imagine if you found out I was keeping something really important from you. Wouldn’t it make you feel even more disconnected from me?”

  “You did keep something from me, Coop.” Her words pierced my heart. “You’re mad at me, but you did the exact same thing when you kept the whole Ace thing from me.”

  I wanted to argue, to tell her that this was completely different. But it wasn’t, was it? They were both secrets. Both of us had hidden things in an attempt to shield the other. “God, baby, I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay. This is difficult for both of us.”

  “You can say that again,” I said miserably.

  “But we’re gonna get through it, right?”

  “Of course.” The alternative was too difficult for me to even entertain. “But for the record, there’s always room on my plate for you. It doesn’t matter what else is going on in my life, you come first. You got that?”

  “Yeah, I get it.”

  “How are you feeling now?”

  “A lot better, actually.”

  “So you’re all ready for my visit then?”

  “I’m counting down the days.”

  “Me too, baby. Me too.”

  CHAPTER 9

  London

  It was easy to spot him in the crowd.

  I’d recognize his easy swagger anywhere, the way he moved effortlessly through the sea of people. There was no way he could blend in, not even in a stuffy airport. Also, it helped that he was wearing one of his A’s baseball caps. The dark green and bright yellow colors were like an arrow pointing me in Cooper’s direction. Reaching up, I pulled down on the bill of my own cap. Cooper had asked me to wear my A’s hat too. He said it would help us locate each other. I did it
to humor him, but I knew it was unnecessary. We’d find each other no matter what. When his gaze met mine, the smile that swept across his face caused my heart to skip a beat. His familiar dimple appeared on his cheek, and I could no longer contain myself. I raced toward him with abandon. Using my elbows, I fought my way through the crowd to reach him. He was wearing faded jeans and a grey t-shirt that melded to the taut muscles in his chest, and I noted that his arms were more defined than when he left. I was surprised that his skin was even more tanned than over the summer. It was almost impossible to get color on my pale skin, but Cooper browned so easily. His blue eyes pierced mine as I neared him, and my stomach flipped.

  “Cooper.” His name came out in a sigh, relief at finally seeing him face to face cascading over me.

  Without a word his hand curved around my neck, and he drew me to him. We tilted our heads so our caps wouldn’t get in the way before Cooper’s lips claimed mine, clamping down firmly. I melted into him, savoring the softness of his lips, the heat of his mouth. My hands slid up his chest, and I gripped his shirt, fisting it in my palms tightly as if I’d never let go. His tongue teased my lips open and explored my mouth while his fingers caressed my neck. The pads of fingers were smooth against my flesh, causing chills to skitter down my spine. God, I’d missed his touch. His other hand found my waist, his fingers catching on the belt loop of my jeans and tugging me forward. Our tongues melded together, tasting each other as if we couldn’t get enough. And I guess we couldn’t. I knew I never wanted the kiss to end. My fingers played with the collar of his shirt and then moved upward, skimming the light stubble on his chin. As his lips continued to move over mine, I lost myself in him. I tuned out everything around us, focusing in on the way his lips felt against mine, the way his tongue tasted, the way his fingers felt on my skin. And I realized that this was the first time I’d felt one hundred percent content and whole in months.

  “God, I’ve missed you,” he breathed against my mouth.

  “Me too.”

  He drew back, his gaze lowering, taking in my whole body. Suddenly I wished I’d worn something more exciting than a pair of jeans and a navy blue shirt. “You are so beautiful.” The sincerity in his voice caused my misgivings to disappear. Hell, I probably could’ve worn a tablecloth and he would have thought I looked good. The intensity in his gaze betrayed how much he wanted me, and it caused heat to rise to my cheeks.

  “The computer doesn’t do you justice, baby.” He reached up, fingering the hair that was tucked behind my ear. “Your hair is getting longer.”

  I nodded, his thumb grazing my ear.

  “And those eyes.” He groaned. “Man, I’ve missed those gorgeous eyes of yours.”

  Biting my lip, I grinned.

  “Now that I’ve seen you again, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to go back. It was hard enough to say goodbye the first time.” His face lowered, his lips connecting to mine. This time we kissed softly, not nearly as desperate as the first time. We took our time, a gentle push and pull.

  “Luckily, this is hello, not goodbye.” I reminded him when we separated. It was the first time I’d seen him in months. There was no way I was ruining it by talking about when he left again.

  “You’re right, and we have an entire week together.” He smiled. There was that damn dimple. Man, I’d missed seeing it in person. Without thinking, I lifted my hand and touched it. When an amused expression cloaked his face, embarrassment filled me. I drew my hand back, but Cooper captured it in his. “It’s okay. You can touch me. I’ll let you.”

  “Yeah, I bet.” I giggled, casting my gaze downward. “It’s just so much better in person, you know?”

  “Yeah, I do. I’ve been dying to touch you for months, London. It’s been hell to only see you through a screen.” His lips brushed my ear as he whispered, “You’re actually lucky we’re in public. You don’t even want to know the things running through my mind right now.”

  My face flamed, my toes curling in my tennis shoes. Clearing my throat, I fought my heart to slow down. “I’m sure I don’t,” I teased.

  His fingers threaded mine, linking us together. “Let’s go grab my bag so I can get you alone.” He winked, and my lips curled at the edges. Hand in hand we walked toward the baggage claim. A lady whisked past, her high heels clacking on the sleek floor. Behind her a family chattered loudly as they walked beside us. Sighing, I nestled closer to Cooper, clutching tightly to his hand. It seemed unreal that he was here. I’d been fantasizing about it for months, and a part of me felt like I was still dreaming. He squeezed my hand as if to confirm his existence, and I gazed up at him with a cheesy grin on my face.

  “You’re gonna have to stop looking at me like that,” Cooper said, eyebrows raised.

  “Looking at you like what?”

  “Like you want to eat me,” he said.

  Stunned, I reeled back. “I was not looking at you like that.”

  “Relax.” He stopped walking and faced me. “I like it. I like knowing that you missed me as much as I missed you. God, London, I was in agony on the flight wondering if things would be the same between us. Wondering if we’d have that same spark. When you came running to me, I can’t even describe how happy it made me; how relieved I felt. And I realized that we aren’t the same as we were before. We’re even better. Being away from each other didn’t tear us apart. It’s made us closer.” He stepped toward me until our chests bumped. His face was so close our breath mingled together, a mixture of mint toothpaste and cherry lip gloss. “I can honestly say I’ve never loved you more than I do in this moment.”

  “That’s how I feel too,” I told him honestly.

  “So don’t be embarrassed at the way you were staring at me.” He smiled. “Because, trust me, I liked it. And for the record, I was looking at you the same way.” Bending toward me, he stole a kiss on my lips. Just a quick one, a barely there kiss, but it still made my heart stutter in my chest. Everything Cooper did had that effect on me. “I was only warning you that I may not be able to control myself if you keep giving me that look.”

  I chuckled, glad that he’d put me at ease. For a moment I worried that I was coming on too strong. That I was acting too immature or something. But I couldn’t temper the giddiness I felt about having Cooper home. I was grateful that he felt the same level of giddiness about being here. It made everything feel right. The truth was that I had been worried too. I had no idea what to expect when I saw Cooper again. It had been months since I’d seen him, and I wasn’t sure if he’d changed at all or if his feelings for me would be the same. But I should have known better. Cooper and I were connected.

  Cooper folded his hand over mine and yanked me forward. There was a large crowd at the baggage claim, so we had to clamor to find an empty spot to stand. Pushing up on my tiptoes, I peered at the suitcases, varying shades of grey, black, and blue as they were carried along the conveyer belt.

  “Do you see yours?” I asked, anxious to get out of the airport. If we only had a week to spend together, I didn’t want to waste a minute.

  “Not yet.” Cooper furrowed his brows, his gaze trained on the luggage in front of us. The way his nose wrinkled slightly and his forehead became a mess of squiggly lines was cute. It made me want to kiss him again. At the thought my gaze fell to his full lips. I licked mine just as Cooper turned in my direction. Wearing a mischievous grin, he wrapped his arms around my waist and hoisted me up. I gasped in surprise as my feet left the ground.

  “What are you doing?” I asked, breathless and heady. A part of me was appalled, the other part was honestly a little turned on.

  “I decided I don’t need my luggage after all. I have everything I need right here.”

  My heart melted at his words. As he lifted me up further, I circled my legs around his waist so I wouldn’t fall. My arms rested on his shoulders. A few bystanders glanced over curiously. Usually I didn’t like making a scene. I didn’t like attention. But today I couldn’t care less about any of that. All that matter
ed was that I was here with Cooper. All I wanted was to enjoy every second we had together. When his arms tightened around me, I couldn’t help but notice how strong he was. His muscles bulged from under his t-shirt.

  “You’ve been working out,” I mused.

  “You like?” He raised his brow.

  I nodded.

  “If you like that, there’s a lot more I could show you.” One corner of his mouth twitched as he started walking away from baggage claim with me in his arms.

  “Wait,” I stopped him. “We didn’t get your stuff.”

  “Yes, we did. It’s right here in my arms.”

  “But what will you wear?” I teased.

  “I’ll wear you.” He winked, nipping my bottom lip with his teeth.

  “I don’t think that’s going to go over so well with my dad or your grandparents,” I reminded him.

  He shook his head. “Wow, you sure know how to ruin the moment.”

  Chuckling, I tilted my face until our noses bumped. My hat got in the way a little bit, so I spun it around until the bill was in the back. Then I leaned in again. As my mouth skimmed Cooper’s, I darted out my tongue and licked his top lip. “Then I better redeem it.” His lips parted, and I swept my tongue inside, my hands clutching the back of his neck.

  “Oh, yeah, I think you did just that,” Cooper growled. “It’s time to get the hell outta here.” Depositing me on the ground, he swung around and frantically searched the conveyer belt for his luggage.

  “You seem pretty intent on finding your suitcase now,” I teased, my fingers curling around his arm. It flexed beneath my flesh, causing a fresh wave of desire to shoot through me. What the hell was going on? I was acting like a guy. I guess I had missed Cooper even more than I realized. His proximity had awakened feelings in me that I hadn’t experienced in months.

  “Ah, there it is.” Leaning forward, he snatched up the suitcase and set it on the floor next to us. “Now we can go.”

  “Where to?” I asked, assuming he’d want to head straight to his grandparents’. I knew he had missed them as well.