Something So Right(64)

I walk arm in arm with her. I’m not going to let her fall, and if I’m honest, I need all the support to get me there.

By the time we make it downstairs to the bar it’s jam-packed. The team has made its way back, and the drinks are being passed around.

I start to look around to see if I spot Cooper. He is at the other end of the bar. Tom sits next to him with another older gentleman I’ve never seen, and fucking Barbie. I look at Meghan. “It’s a good thing I brought these pants.”

She squeezes my arm. “Let’s go see our men, yeah!”

I make my way to Cooper, but he doesn’t see me right away. When Meghan gets to Tom’s side, she slides her hands around his waist, leaning in, kissing his neck. He looks down and smiles at her. It’s a look I’ve seen many times before. It’s a look no one can fake. It’s the look that says I’m whole now that you’re here. It’s a look that says I’ve waited my whole life for you. I want that look. I miss that look. I think to myself, have I ever gotten that look?

When Cooper sees Meghan, he shoots his head in my direction and smiles. I walk to him and it’s like the parting of the sea. It really is funny. He takes in my outfit, making his jaw tick. I guess this outfit is a winner.

“Hey,” I say to him. “Good game out there, Stone!” I slap him on his chest, my hand lingering. Before he says anything, I get a bump in my back, sending me forward a little.

I turn around, ready to excuse myself or say something. I don’t know if I was in someone’s way. But before I say something, the guy has a huge grin on his face. I recognize him as the teammate that was on the ice with Cooper when he was talking to Allison.

“Oh my God, it’s you. You’re the hot mom from the game. I think it’s fate that we both ended up here together, don’t you?” He leans forward like he’s going to whisper something in my ear.

“Alex.” It’s more of a growl than an actual word. “This is my woman, Parker. Parker, this is Alex.”

I turn to throw my hand out to shake his when I’m jerked back to Cooper. His hand snakes around my stomach. I lay my hand with my clutch on his and stretch my other hand out again. “It’s very nice to meet you, Alex, and yes, I was there tonight.”

“Fuck me, why does it surprise me that the hottest woman here is not only taken, she’s Stone’s? I need a drink,” he says, shaking his head, and moves down the bar to get that drink he’s looking for.

I look up at Cooper, tilting my head to the side. “Hey, there.” I see him smile. “That wasn’t very nice of you.”

I hear someone clear their throat next to me and turn, facing the gentleman who was talking before. Cooper turns stiff behind me. “Parker, this is Charles, the owner of the team. Charles, this is my girlfriend and rehab coach Parker.”

Fuck. Barbie’s father. No wonder he was giving me the stink eye.

I don’t even try to reach out my hand to shake his since I see his stance hasn’t changed, his hands still in his pockets.

“Nice to meet you, Charles.”

He of course doesn’t say anything and just nods at me. Barbie is beside him.

After what feels like an eternity, but is really a couple of seconds, he asks, “So you are the famous Parker who got our Cooper back into shape?”

I don’t make a point to tell him there is no our Cooper but just my Cooper. “That would be me. Yes, sir.”

“Did you know that he was taken when you started chasing after him? I mean, obviously he told you about my daughter and himself.”

I hear a gasp come from Meghan and see Tom look at her and give her a look saying to calm down, at the same moment Cooper’s arm falls from my waist.

“I’d tread very lightly there, Charles. This is not the time nor the place, and for the record, I ran after her. I not only ran, I fucking sprinted.” He looks at Charles. “Come on, guys, let’s go grab a table. It’s time to celebrate.” He leans down and kisses me, grabbing my hand, and dragging me to the closest available table.

Three hours later, we are still here all sitting around. The tables have been shoved together. I’m sitting next to Cooper, his arm around my chair, my shoulder in the nook of his arm. Many conversations are flowing. His teammates and their wives are very nice and friendly. Well, some are at least. The others are huddled in the corner with Barbie. After we came to sit down, her father Charles left, but she stayed and hung around with some of the wives.

I would catch her watching us often. I mean, if I could die from a look I’d be dead a long time ago.

“Gotta say, babe, it’s a good thing you didn’t wear those pants to the game. I wouldn’t have been able to concentrate, let alone skate. My dick would have been hard the entire time.”