by Nia Arthurs
Business must be doing well.
“Hello!” A chirpy older woman jumped in front of them. “Are you two together?”
“No. Definitely not,” Erin said.
“Yes, we are.” Cooper spread his fingers. “Table for two.” He bent low and whispered in her ear, “Relax, Erin. She was asking if we’re sitting together.”
“I knew that.”
“Right…”
“I did!”
Cooper laughed and walked ahead of her, following the woman to a booth at the back. A few minutes later, a waiter appeared and slid laminated menus in front of them.
Erin held the booklet up. “What did you have when you came here with your mom?”
Cooper quietly reflected.
Erin glanced up when he said nothing. “Well?”
“I—” He blinked. “I don’t remember.”
“You were going off about the food and you don’t remember what you had?” Erin grumbled.
He shook his head and turned the tables on her. “I thought you said you weren’t hungry and you didn’t want to eat with me?”
“I’m here. I might as well.” She flipped through the pages.
“Order anything. If the food wasn’t good, they wouldn’t have so many customers.”
“I’ll have the ranch burger.” Erin placed her menu down and stared at him. “We’re splitting the bill. This is not a date.”
He leaned back, studying her determined face. “We’ll see.”
“Cooper.” There was a warning in her tone. Thankfully, the waiter arrived to take their orders and Erin was forced to be polite to him.
When the server left, Erin planted her elbows on the table and rested her hands beneath her cheeks like a child preparing for an entrancing story.
Cooper shifted uneasily. “What?”
“How is it that you look so different, but you annoy me in exactly the same way?”
“It’s a gift.”
She grinned and stirred her drink. “Did your mom work in Cayo or something? How did she find this place?”
“It was by accident,” he said softly, recalling the fuzzy details of that stormy night when his mother tossed him in the backseat of her car and started driving. “We ran out of gas.” He jerked his chin toward the street. “It was raining hard. We were both hungry. Thankfully, we didn’t have to walk far to get here.”
“How old were you?”
“I was seven.”
“Seven?” She calculated. “Then that was before we met. I transferred to BPS when I was eight.”
“Yeah.” Cooper clearly remembered the day he saw her at school. Erin was beautiful with her cocoa-brown skin and her thick hair in tiny braids down her back with the little beads on the end. She would sit quietly in class, reading or coloring in her book.
He used to watch her during break time, entranced. There was something in her eyes—a strength, a hope, that made Cooper take notice.
She was so quiet, but her personality was anything but. Erin ran into challenging situations head-first, whether it was dealing with him or with a teacher. She wasn’t afraid. And even if she was, she didn’t let it show.
“Gosh, I hated you back then,” she said.
His eyes flickered. “I guess I deserved that.”
“You used to pull my hair so hard.” Erin’s fingers dipped into her curls. Her bottom lip plumped out at the memory. “And it was always when I’d just gotten my hair braided and the scalp was sensitive. It hurt so bad.”
Remorse flooded him. “I apologize for that.”
“You used to push me out of the slide house. You tossed paper balls at me.”
“I’m sorry for that too.”
“You were so good at torturing me,” Erin mused.
“I was pretty immature,” he agreed. “But I didn’t pull your hair to get on your nerves. Not at first. I was just… curious.”
“Curious?” She tilted her head. “About my hair?”
“Most of the kids had straight hair. You were the first person with braids. And those beads at the end made it worse. You always had a different hairstyle. I wanted to touch it.”
“You could have just asked.”
“You would have said no.”
“That’s true.”
Cooper sipped his drink and looked at her over the rim. “Don’t play like you were innocent. You got me back all the time.”
“Moi?” Erin put a hand to her chest, feigning innocence.
“You threw water on me and told everyone I peed myself.”
She squirmed. “Well…”
“You also stuck a piece of paper on my back that said, pinch me. I had those marks on my skin for days.”
She laughed. “Oh yeah. That was a good one.” At his scolding look, Erin sobered. “I mean… that was a horrible thing to do.” Despite her apology, her eyes sparkled with amusement. “Don’t look at me like that. I was just defending myself.”
“Everyone would think I harassed you on my own, but you gave as good as you got,” Cooper mumbled.
“That was a million years ago. How about we call it even?”
“I’ll think about it.”
Their food arrived and Erin nibbled on the edge of the bun. As soon as she swallowed, her eyes widened. “This is so good.”
He had to agree.
They remained silent as they tucked into their burgers. Cooper enjoyed watching Erin eat. She chewed enthusiastically, moaning her approval every few minutes. He’d taken women out before, but they always picked at their food and barely ate a fraction of the plate.
If anything, Erin wanted to eat the plate too.
She kept twisting her head, struggling to keep her curls from falling in her face without touching it with her hands.
Her hair, as stubborn as she, kept sliding back.
Tired of seeing her struggle, Cooper reached over and slid a curl behind her ear. His fingertips brushed against her soft cheek. Erin froze, her jaw slackening as she stared at him.
He glanced away. “That should stay.”
Erin swallowed and sat straight up, her gaze sliding to the window. Her expression shifted in an instant, from slightly awkward to fierce. He glanced outside to see what she was staring at and found a couple fighting on the sidewalk.
The woman wore a bright red dress. Her brown hair boasted red streaks. One pale foot was bare while a skinny white shoe was strapped around the other.
To his logical mind, they were one of two things: lovers or a prostitute and her client. Either way, it wasn’t any of his business.
“Is she okay?” Erin mumbled.
Cooper’s gaze shot to Erin and then back to the woman outside. She struggled against the larger man, yanking her arm in an obvious effort to break free of his grasp.
The guy was broad with dark hair and a goatee lined with grey. His skin was brown and wrinkle-free. Cooper guessed his age could be anywhere from thirty to sixty-five.
“It’s none of our concern,” he said, returning his gaze to his burger.
Erin gasped and shot up.
He looked over at her. “Erin?”
“He slapped her.”
Cooper felt a pang of alarm. “Then we’ll call the police.”
She slid out of the booth and ran for the door.
Cooper’s heart thudded. “Erin!”
Her hair flailed as she sailed outside. Cooper abandoned his meal and followed. They sprinted into the dusk. The sky swam with shades of purple, pink and gold. The wind charged through the leaves of the towering trees.
He spotted Erin helping the girl up from the ground. The bruise on the woman’s face was large, throbbing. Cooper felt sorry for her, but not sorry enough that he wanted Erin involved.
“Why did you hit her?” Erin yelled.
“Move!” Goatee Guy shoved Erin. She landed hard on the ground.
Cooper stalked over and knelt by her side. “Erin, are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She scrambled to her feet. He helped h
er up.
“Who the hell are you two?” Goatee yelled. “Mind your own damn business.”
“Please.” The battered woman crawled to Erin and hooked her arm around her leg. Tears streamed down her face. She was beautiful, but in a hardened way that said she’d seen the worse life had to over.
Erin’s head whipped up and she pinned the abuser with a searing look. “What is wrong with you?”
“She’s a gold-digger,” the guy spit. “Good for nothing sketel.”
“Don’t call her that,” Erin snapped. The woman at her feet began to wail as the man charged toward them, his fisted hands and thunderous expression blaring his intent.
Cooper stepped into his way before he could put a hand on either of the girls. Anger licked at his skin. Sweat dripped down his temple. “I suggest you get into your car and drive away.”
“Or what?” Goatee pushed Cooper’s shoulder. “What’ll you do, white boy?”
Cooper calmly grabbed the man by his shoulder and rammed his knee into his stomach. Without missing a beat, he slammed his head against the car door, leaving a dent. The guy slumped to the ground, unmoving.
He dusted his hand off and glanced over his shoulder at Erin. Her brown eyes were wide, fearful.
Cooper arched an eyebrow. “Well… who’s calling the cops?”
13 Erin
“Are you sure you’ll be okay on your own?” She held Natasha’s shaking hand. “I don’t mind going to the station with you.”
“It’s fine,” Natasha said. “Thank you so much for what you did today. I thought William would kill me in front of everyone.”
“Were you having a fight?”
“I was trying to break up with him, but he didn’t take it too well. As you and the rest of Belize saw.”
Erin frowned. “I can’t believe people didn’t notice.”
“Of course they did. But they didn’t stop. They just gave me funny looks and kind of walked on the other side of the road. It was terrifying. I felt so alone.”
“They probably figured you deserved it,” Erin mumbled darkly.
“Oh.” Natasha ran her hands down her red dress. “I guess it is a little revealing.”
“No! That wasn’t a dig at you. It doesn’t matter what a woman is wearing. If someone is in danger, we should do something.”
“You’re different, Erin Marshall.”
She shook her head. “I’m just a regular person. The world’s too harsh. We all need to help each other.”
“Ms. Howard,” an officer trotted toward them, “we’re ready to leave now.”
“I guess this is it.” Natasha pierced her with big, vulnerable eyes.
Erin squeezed Natasha’s fingers. “You have my number. Call me if you need me. Anytime.”
“Thank you.” Natasha wiped a stray tear that fell from her eye. “Tell your boyfriend thanks too.”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” Erin said.
“Then what is he?”
“I… don’t know.”
“Whoever he is,” Natasha gave her a warbly smile, “he cares a lot about you. The way he looks at you… like you’re his entire world. That’s a rare type of guy. Good luck with him.”
“Uh… thanks.” Erin watched Natasha walk away. The police vehicles wailed in the night. Red and blue lights flashed over the broken, grey concrete. A light rain began to fall. Water soaked into her shirt.
Ten minutes ago, a crowd had gathered to watch as Cooper fought William Broker, Natasha’s good-for-nothing boyfriend. Now they stepped back to let the vehicles pass, whispering among themselves.
One by one they left, returning to their warm homes and their families, armed with an exciting story about someone else’s misfortunes.
Erin watched the police cars turn the corner and shoot out of sight, their sirens wailing like banshees.
Someone touched her elbow. Erin whirled around, but relaxed when she saw Cooper. The diner’s golden light painted his face yellow. His lips were pulled into a thin line and his brown hair was heavy with rain.
“I already paid for the food. Let’s get you home,” he said firmly.
She nodded and followed him to the parking lot.
They drove the first few minutes in stony silence. Erin tucked her fingernails into the hem of her shirt, sensing that Cooper was angry with her.
She wanted to ask why, but the reality of what could have happened was just dawning on her and it was impossible to speak. If Cooper hadn’t stepped in, she had no idea what William Broker would have done.
Erin replayed the moment Cooper knocked Broker out. One minute, Broker was standing. The next, he was slumped on the sidewalk. Dead to the world.
Then Cooper’s golden eyes had met hers, and her heart had fluttered.
It was still beating out of whack now.
“Cooper?”
“What?”
“Thank you for what you did back there. I—” She dug her fingernails into the seat cushion. “Thanks.”
Cooper ran a hand down his face. “What is wrong with you, Erin? Do you how much danger you put yourself in?”
“I wasn’t thinking about that.”
“Exactly,” Cooper seethed, “you weren’t thinking.”
“Look, I couldn’t ignore what was happening. She needed help.”
“You had tons of other options.”
“Like what?”
“Like calling the police.”
“They wouldn’t reach her in time.”
“That’s not your problem. What if you’d gotten hurt?”
“I didn’t.” Her temper ignited. “Why are you yelling at me?”
“Because you’re stupid!”
“I am not stupid.”
“Any sane person would run the other way. Why would you throw yourself into it? Why interfere?”
“I told you. Natasha needed me. There was no other option. Not in the moment.”
“What if William started punching you?”
“Then… I would have gotten out of it. Somehow.”
“You’re just a girl. You’re not infallible.” He licked his lips. Fingers tightening over the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. “What would you have done if I wasn’t there?”
“You were there so I won’t think about the alternatives.”
“Promise me you’ll never do that again.”
Erin folded her arms over her chest and said nothing.
“ERIN!”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”
Cooper’s nose flared. He stared at the windshield wipers clearing the rain from the glass. She felt something vibrate and dug her phone out of her pocket.
Ryan.
She ignored it and tossed the phone back into her bag. “I know you’re upset.”
“I’m not upset,” he yelled. “I’m pissed.”
“Usually, I’m not that impulsive. I agree that running at things without a plan is dangerous.”
“Then why did you—?”
“Because you were there,” she blurted.
He froze.
Erin rubbed the back of her neck. “Turn left.”
Cooper did. She saw her building in the distance but was too jittery to wait the few minutes it would take to get there.
She tapped the window. “Park here.”
“That’s a convenience store,” Cooper said, staring past the rain falling outside. The water pounded the top of the car, filling the silence with the sound of Mother Nature’s music.
“I just remember I need to buy something.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded.
Cooper parked and turned to her. Before he could say anything, she popped out of the car and waved. “Thanks for the ride.”
“Wait…”
She slammed the door on him and darted into the store. Erin browsed the shelves for a few minutes, giving Cooper enough time to drive away.
Impatient to get home, she glanced outside the store and scanned the street for his car.
It was gone.
She took in a fortifying breath and walked out, holding her bag over her head to keep her from getting drenched. It wasn’t much help.
Since she was pretty much soaked, Erin took her time walking through the rain and thinking. Cooper’s face appeared in her mind. Having dinner with him had revealed a side she didn’t know.
He’d seemed like a lost little boy when he spoke about eating burgers with his mother. Erin had been dying to ask more, but figured it was a sensitive subject and let Cooper share what he was comfortable with.
When he came to her and Natasha’s defense later, another wall fell. Cooper yelled at her for jumping into things thoughtlessly, but he was just as guilty.
What if William carried a knife? Or a gun?
Cooper put his life in danger recklessly. For her.
Her hand rose and landed on her chest. Her boots came to a halting stop. She stood in a shallow puddle as a terrifying thought dropped into her mind.
I don’t… like Cooper, do I?
At that moment, the rain stopped. Erin glanced up, surprised to find that grey mist still surrounded her. The rain was falling, but the droplets weren’t touching her body.
She lifted her head and found a large black umbrella where the sky used to be.
“Are you stupid?” a familiar voice said. “Why are you walking in the rain?”
“Cooper?” She turned fully around, falling into his golden eyes.
Cooper stared at her face, his gaze unwavering. She was beginning to grow accustomed to his intense looks. Cooper’s gaze was… piercing. Invasive. As if he was scanning her insides. Searching for something.
“Guess you didn’t find what you were looking for.”
“Huh?”
He pointed to her empty hands. “You needed something from the store.”
“Right.” She laughed awkwardly. “They were out.”
“I see.”
Erin noticed Cooper’s shirt. The material was plastered to his shoulders thanks to the rain that fell around him. He was tilting the umbrella to completely cover her instead of shading himself.
She wrapped her hand around his long fingers so she could adjust the umbrella. “You’re getting wet.”
“So?” He didn’t even blink.