Agony (Entangled Hearts Duet 1)

There have been a lot of those moments this past week. She’s the first person I wanted to see at the end of each day. That’s nothing new, not really. We’ve always shared everything with each other. However, it does feel… different. I can’t explain it. I guess it’s just because of how weird things have felt between us lately.

“I’m glad I was there too. Just think, pretty soon, I can say I knew you when.” She laughs. “Hey, I should get you to sign something. Get your autograph now. I could be rich one day.”

“Turning into a cleat chaser, are you?” I tease.

“Hey, a girl’s gotta eat. I bet you once you’re drafted and make a name for yourself in the league, I could make more on one of your signatures than I could in a year as a social worker.”

“Social work is more fulfilling.”

“This is true. At least I hope it is. From all of my externships and job shadowing, I’m pretty confident. Sure, there are going to be bad days, but you have that with every job, right? I mean, look at you. You get taken down by tanks of men on the daily. I know that’s not fun.”

“It’s fun when we win.”

“It’s a rush for me, and I’m just a spectator. I can’t imagine the thrill or the high that it gives you. Especially with all those touchdowns you run in.”

“Go on.” I wave my hand at her. “Keep those compliments coming.”

“Stop.” She chuckles. “Truly, I’m so proud of you. You’re going to do great things, Cooper Reeves.”

The conversation lulls as she closes her eyes, resting her head against the seat. Now, I regret driving. I wish I could just watch her and take her in. It hit me this week that I’m leaving soon. After the draft, then graduation, I’ll have very little time before reporting to training camp, wherever that might be. I’ll have to find a place to live and get settled. My time with Reese is limited. I’ll go from seeing her every day to daily text messages and calls. More than anything, I wish that I could ask her to come with me. However, I know that’s not fair. I can’t ask her to drop the plans she has for her life, the job she has lined up, her apartment, just to follow me. Besides, I’ll be gone a lot. Between practice and games, and other team activities, I don’t know how much time I would have to devote to her. To our friendship.

So, yeah, I wish I wasn’t driving so I could soak up this time. I need to get it in while I can. I don’t know what the future holds. As far as my career goes, I hope to be drafted. I’ll be disappointed, but I have an education to fall back on. My degree as an athletic trainer will help keep me in the game that I love. As for Reese, that future scares me more than anything. I can’t imagine my life without her. I hope I never have to find out what that feels like.

About thirty minutes from the house, her cell phone rings. “Hello.” She pauses. “Hey, Hunter.” Another pause. “Yeah, we’re almost home.” She listens to whatever it is he’s saying. “Not tonight. I’m drained. Can I call you tomorrow?” Again, she listens.

I hate that I can’t hear what he’s saying.

“No. Coop can take me home.” She glances over at me, and I nod. “Okay. I’ll call you. Bye, Hunter.”

“Thanks for taking me home,” she says, sliding the phone back into her purse.

“You don’t have to thank me, Reese.”

“I know you’ve been driving all day.”

“Wouldn’t matter. You know that, right? That no matter what happens, if you need me, I’m there?”

“Are we there yet?” Hank asks, stretching his arms as far as they can go in the cramped space. He’s a tall guy, hence the reason I’m driving. I didn’t want to be cramped up in the back seat.

“Just about.” Reese turns to look at him.

“Reese?”

I pull up to the Stop sign and look at her. “Tell me you know that.”

“I know, Coop.” She nods, and that’s the end of it.

I wish it was just the two of us in this car so I could make her tell me like she believes it. I don’t need to air our dirty laundry in front of our friends. I need to make sure that before I leave to… wherever I’m headed, that she knows that no matter what, I’ll be there.Chapter 20Reese“I wasn’t sure you were going to make it,” Cooper says when I walk into the house, dragging my suitcase behind me.

“You mean the fifteen million text messages that you sent me, and that I replied to, saying I would be here didn’t convince you?” We’re flying to Vegas today for the professional football league draft. Cooper, Trey, and Nixon are all going. All hopeful to be drafted and reach their dreams of becoming professional football players. Cooper has waited his entire life for this. Hell, I’ve waited for it as well. I’ve been there with him on every step of this journey, I’m not backing out now.