“I gotta get out of here,” I muttered. “I don’t expect you guys to say anything right now, I just didn’t want you finding out through the media.” I stood up. “Look, it’s been a hell of a day. I’m just going to go home and get some rest. I’ll call you tomorrow. Love you, Nic.”
Nic turned to me, tears in her eyes. “I love you, too.”
Jake stood up. “I’ll walk you out,” he said.
He followed me outside, shutting the door behind him. “Did you get the name of the officer you were talking to?”
I handed him the card.
He nodded, shoving it in his pocket. “I’ll give them a call and see if I can find anything out for you.”
“Thanks,” I muttered.
“Coop? It’ll work out. Nic is just shocked. Give her a day or two to process what you’ve told her. Go home and get some rest. Call me if you need me.”
I nodded numbly and walked to my car.
I was surprised to find Mia on the sofa when I got home.
Last I’d heard, she was moving to a hotel. Had I known she was going to be there, I probably wouldn’t have come back. I couldn’t think straight around her.
She hadn’t even responded to my message, which left me feeling like a dickhead. But then, knowing that she did like me made me want her more than ever.
Shit. When did life get so confusing?
“Thought you were leaving,” I said bluntly.
She gawked at me, taken aback by my abrasiveness. “I . . . I thought about it and decided we were both adults, and we should talk about this.”
“Oh. You decided?”
“Hey,” she said, jumping to her feet. “If it’s that much of a problem having me here then all you had to do was say so,” she huffed, her eyes flashing with anger. “I’ll be out of your hair in ten minutes.” She stalked off to her room.
Fucking great.
Shaking my head, I went after her. I stood in the doorway and watched as she shoved things into her suitcase.
“I’m sorry, Mia. I had a hell of a day. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”
She shot me a look, her eyes still full of anger.
“I’d like you to stay. Please.”
She stopped packing, and walked around the bed until she stood in front of me. Her arms crossed over her chest and she eyed me, weighing up her response.
“Fine. I’ll stay. But dammit, Coop, don’t treat me like shit. I got enough of that from my ex. You think you’re confused about us—well, I’m ten times more confused.”
I doubted that.
“I’m sorry.” I grabbed her hand and nodded t
oward the living room. “Come on. After the day I’ve had, I need a drink.”
She let me lead her to the kitchen, where I grabbed two sodas from the fridge and then led her over to the sofa.
“That’s what you consider a drink?” She smirked.
I glanced at the can and shrugged. Wasn’t it?