Bliss by Kaylee Ryan Page 0,38
the motions. Just like Cassie. This is her third time being pulled from her home. Third time. I know we want to keep families together, but is that really what’s best for her if that’s the kind of environment she’s living in? I’m conflicted and disappointed in our system.
I’m unlocking my car when my phone rings. Stopping, I dig it out of my purse and see Cooper’s face smiling at me. “Hey,” I greet him, unlocking the car and tossing my purse into the passenger seat.
“How’s your day going?”
“Don’t ask.”
“That bad?” he asks.
“Unfortunately.” Not like it’s news to him. He’s texted me a few times today, checking on me, asking me if I needed him to bring me anything. “Just one of those days,” I say, starting the car and blasting the air conditioning. It’s hot as hell for May.
“I’ve got dinner covered, just text me when you’re on your way home so I can put it in the oven.”
“I just got in my car.”
“Perfect. I’ll put it in now. Drive safe. I’ll see you when you get home.”
“Yeah,” I agree. “I’m on my way.”
“Reese?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you,” he says, and the line goes dead.
He didn’t give me a chance to say it back. Not that I was going to. Sure, I want to. It’s getting harder and harder to not tell him, but I don’t want to do it like this. On a day that’s been complete shit. That’s not how I want to remember it. He knows I never stopped loving him. I told him that. However, I’ve yet to say the words. I’ve been holding back when it comes to declaring that I love him. Saying I never stopped and saying the three words I know he longs to hear are two completely different things. I feel as though after all this time, it needs to be the right moment. A small blip of time in our universe he will never forget. He deserves that, after all my waiting and uncertainty.
Things have been good between us. He’s been staying with me for over a month now and he’s kept to his promise about sleeping in the spare room, now that we have a bed in there. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t take any and all opportunities to touch me. When we’re making dinner, which we seem to do together more often than not, he finds subtle ways when we’re sitting on the couch after dinner, rubbing my feet or playing with my hair, while I rest with my head in his lap. If there is a way, Cooper has found it.
Most nights, I rush to my room to keep from begging him to sleep with me. Our night in the hotel room constantly plays on my mind. It was explosive and intense. I can’t help but wonder if that’s us… how we will always be, or if it was the tension and the fear taking hold of us. I admit I’ve been tempted to find out, but I’m holding strong.
Last weekend when he came to the home and spent the day with me and the kids, his support meant everything to me. I admit I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, but nothing’s happening. Cooper has proven to be certain in his feelings for me, and I him. I’ve always known I was in love with him. The issue is finding the courage to speak those words aloud. To finally give voice to what my heart has always known.
Fifteen minutes later, I’m walking into my apartment, and something smells delicious. “Coop, I don’t know what that is, but I’m about to eat all of it,” I say, tossing my keys on the small entry table and letting my purse fall to the floor. Kicking off my heels, I go in search of my roommate.
“In here!” he calls out from the kitchen.
“What smells so good?”
“Tuna noodle casserole.” He grins.
“Since when do you know how to make tuna noodle casserole?” I ask.
“Since today. I know you love my mom’s, so I called her for the ingredients. We FaceTimed while I put it all together.”
I don’t really know what to say to that. His actions don’t scream “I can’t wait to run away from you.” They tell another story. One that tells me he’s in this with me this time. He’s all in, and after the day I had today, the emotions of that conclusion are almost too much to bear. I can’t speak, so instead, I walk to