32. Cooper

32

Cooper

T he ice rink buzzed with the sound of blades scraping against the ice. A group of students stumbled and wobbled as they tried to keep their balance. I skated past them, correcting their form, barking out instructions.

"Keep your knees bent! You're not going to balance if you're stiff as a board," I called out to a lanky kid who looked like he was about to faceplant.

I felt Everly's eyes on me, like a warm current cutting through the chill of the rink. She stood on the edge, watching, her gaze sharp and disapproving every time I pushed one of the students too hard. When our eyes met, she glared at me, her lips pressing into a thin line.

I didn't back down. I glared right back, challenging her silently. Her eyes flashed with something—annoyance, maybe?—but it did something to me. It ignited a fire in my chest that spread through my entire body.

Sometimes, I did it on purpose. When I felt her glare on me, I'd find a reason to be harsher than necessary, just to see that spark in her eyes.

"Push off harder with your right foot! You'll never get anywhere if you're half-assing it," I yelled at another student who looked ready to give up.

Everly's glare intensified. I felt my pulse quicken and the corners of my mouth tugged upward in a smirk. It was a twisted game we played—her disapproval fueling my intensity.

"All right, that's enough for today," I announced, skating back towards the center of the rink. "Get out of here."

The students sighed in relief and began to shuffle off the ice. Everly stayed where she was, her eyes locked onto mine like a hawk zeroing in on its prey.

As they filed out, one kid lingered behind, still struggling to get his skates off. I skated over and helped him with the laces.

"Thanks, Coach," he mumbled before heading off to join his friends.

The rink emptied out slowly until it was just us left in the icy expanse. She crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head slightly, clearly unimpressed by my methods.

Either way, she wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

I skated over to the skate counter where Everly stood, her arms still crossed. The air between us felt charged, electric. I placed my hands on either side of her, boxing her in. Her eyes widened, but she didn't back down.

"Is there something you want to say about my teaching methods, sweetheart?" My voice was low, challenging. "You think you know better than me how to do it?"

Her lips parted as she inhaled sharply. "You could be less rude," she started, but I leaned down and cut her off with a kiss.

Our lips collided with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. Her initial surprise melted into something more— something that mirrored the fire burning inside me. I pressed closer, deepening the kiss, my hands sliding from the counter to grip her waist.

Her fingers found their way into my hair, tugging gently as if she needed to hold onto something solid. The taste of her consumed me, each movement of our mouths fanning the flames higher. The world around us vanished; there was only Everly and this raw, undeniable connection.

My hand slid up her back, pulling her even closer until there was no space left between us. Her breath hitched, and I could feel the rapid beat of her heart against my chest. It was intoxicating, this blend of desire and need.

I was tempted to take things further—to explore every inch of her right here and now—but a small voice in the back of my mind reminded me where we were. Reluctantly, I pulled back just enough to break the kiss, resting my forehead against hers.

She looked up at me through half-lidded eyes, lips swollen from our passionate encounter. For a moment, we just stood there, breathing each other in.

"Less rude?" I murmured against her lips, a smirk playing at the corners of my mouth.

Her laugh was breathless but genuine. "Maybe just a little."

I couldn't help myself. Her laughter was a drug, and I needed another hit. I leaned in and captured her lips again, my hand slipping into her hair. The world outside ceased to exist. All that mattered was the way she responded to me, the way her body fit perfectly against mine.

Our kiss deepened, becoming more urgent, more consuming. I could feel the heat between us rising, the ice beneath our feet a distant memory. She moaned softly into my mouth, and it was like gasoline on a fire.

Then, a sound intruded—a throat clearing loudly from behind me. I knew I should have acknowledged it, but I couldn't bring myself to care.

Not yet.

My hand cupped her face as I continued to kiss her, refusing to let go until I was good and ready.

Only when I felt I'd had my fill—at least for now—did I pull back, breathing heavily. Her eyes fluttered open, glazed with desire, and it took every ounce of willpower not to dive back in.

Finally, I turned around, still feeling the imprint of her body against mine.

Standing there with a stern expression was my father.

For a moment, I just stared at him. I hated this man. Hated how he represented everything wrong with my family. Hated how he reminded me of every time I'd failed to live up to expectations. He stood there, his presence an unwelcome shadow on an otherwise perfect moment.

"Aren't you going to introduce us?" he asked, his voice laced with that condescending tone I knew all too well.

"No," I replied, the word coming out sharper than I intended.

"No?" His eyebrows shot up in mock surprise. "This is the girl you went to jail for, isn't it? What? You didn't think I was going to find out?"

I clenched my jaw, refusing to let him get under my skin. "I didn't care one way or the other. You certainly didn't."

His eyes shifted from me to Everly, and I instinctively stepped in front of her, blocking his view. The last thing I wanted was him anywhere near her.

"You've got your father's eyes," he said, trying to peer around me.

Everly's voice wavered with confusion. "My father? You knew him?"

"I'm Cooper's father," he announced, as if it were a badge of honor instead of a mark of shame.

Her eyes widened in shock. Without warning, she walked around me, her movements purposeful and swift. Before I could react, she stood in front of him and slapped him across the face.

The sound echoed through the empty rink, a harsh punctuation to the tension in the air.

"I know violence is never the answer," she said, her voice trembling but strong. "But after what you did to Cooper, even I can admit you deserved that."

My eyes widened in disbelief. Everly, the biggest Pacifist I knew, had just struck my father. For me.

I looked at her in awe. My little killer was fiercer than I ever realized. My chest tightened with an emotion I couldn't quite name.

I still didn't know what I did to deserve her.

"Having said that…" Everly cleared her throat, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I wasn't sure I'd ever meet you, sir. But now that I have, I just wanted to apologize for my father's behavior?—"

"Don't do that, sugar," I cut in, keeping my eyes locked on my father. "Don't apologize. It's not your fault your father was unfaithful."

"My son is right," my father said tightly, his jaw clenched. "The choices they made were their own. I don't hold you accountable. Though, I'd think twice about welcoming him back into your life."

"I think you're the last person to give her advice, Dad ," I drawled, a bitter edge to my voice.

"Now," my father said. "I'm not sure what you heard about what happened —"

"Oh, I'll tell her again," I said, a dark grin stretching across my face. "It's my favorite memory."

"Cooper," my father growled, his voice low and dangerous. He turned to Everly, attempting to soften his tone. "I'm sorry for my son. He's going through a lot right now. His ex-fiancée has come out with cheating and abuse allegations, and truth be told, I wouldn't be surprised if they're true. He has quite the tem?—"

"They're not," she interrupted, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade.

I stilled, every muscle in my body tensing as I processed her words.

"I'm sorry?" My father's voice was incredulous.

"They're not true," she repeated firmly. "I know your son. And he's none of those things. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if she recanted what she said about him." She took a step forward, her eyes never leaving his. "And of course he has a temper. His family fell apart, and when he was trying to help you, to tell you the truth, you punished him for it."

"Excuse me?" My father's tone grew sharper, more dangerous.

"Don't talk to her in that tone," I snapped, stepping closer to her as if to shield her from his venom.

"You're a bad father," she declared, her eyes widening in surprise at her own words but refusing to back down. She pressed on, determination hardening her voice. "I know I don't have experience with fathers, but what you did to Cooper is unfathomable."

"You don't know what you're talking about," he growled back.

"I don't know a lot of things," she agreed softly. "But now that I know what I don't know, it's my job to figure it out. And it's your job as his father to support him. To see the best in him."

"How do you want me to do that when he has this anger in him he can't control, huh?" My father's sneer cut through the air like ice. "Even now, I have to come here. He's dragging my good name through the mud, and he needs to stop."

"Where do you think he got that anger, sir?" Everly countered. "You punished him for something he didn't do. You might not blame me for your family falling apart, but you certainly blamed him, and he has to live with that for the rest of his life. You're supposed to protect him."

"What," he spat with disdain, "lock my son away from the world like your mother did to you?"

Everly flinched, and my hands curled into fists. The sight of her recoiling under his words stoked a fire in my chest.

"My mother was wrong too," she said, her voice wavering but steady. "I can't defend her actions. She wanted to protect me too much, and you didn't protect Cooper enough. Sir, your son is a talented hockey player, which I'm sure he got from you. But more than that, he's a good man. And the fact that you can't see that is you choosing to believe the worst in him."

"Oh, I see," my father said, sliding his eyes over to me. "This is how you get your revenge? You sleep with his daughter? Does that make you feel good? Taking advantage of her?"

"With all due respect, he didn't take advantage of me," Everly said firmly.

My father placed his hand on Everly's shoulder. "Maybe you didn't realize it," he said, his voice dripping with condescension, "but my son doesn't actually commit?—"

Before he could finish, I moved on instinct. My fist connected with his jaw in a swift, brutal motion. "Don't touch her," I growled.

He staggered back, shock flashing across his face.

"I wanted it," Everly said, her voice cutting through the tension.

"You don't know what you want," my father spat back. "How can you if you don't know things?"

"I know your son," she countered. "And he's not a monster. He's not a cheater. And he's not violent."

"He just hit me," my father pointed out.

"He's protecting me," she shot back. "Just like he protected his ex during his game. He's loyal. And that's why he told you about his own mother. He was trying to protect you. You just didn't appreciate everything he is."

"And you do?" my father asked, narrowing his eyes at her.

"I love him," Everly declared.

The words hit me like a freight train, my heart clenching painfully. It was the same every time I heard them.

"You don't know what love is," my father retorted dismissively.

"So I've been told," she replied coolly. "Good thing I know myself better than anyone else." She stepped closer to him, unyielding in her stance. "You owe him an apology."

"Everly," I interjected softly, trying to calm the escalating situation.

"No," she said firmly, not taking her eyes off my father. "You were a bad father to him."

"I'm not going to apologize," he said flatly. His gaze hardened as he looked between us.

"Then, I feel sorry for you," Everly said. "You're going to miss out on getting to know your son."

"You should leave," I muttered. "And do us all a favor and don't come back until you're ready to have a conversation about… about everything."

My father said nothing but took his leave, not looking back.

When he was gone, I took hold of her wrist. "Killer," I murmured, unable to mask the admiration in my voice.

She looked down at my fingers wrapped around her wrist, eyes softening.

Without warning, I dropped to my knees, pressing my head against her chest. I couldn't bring myself to say the words I needed to, but I had to let her know how sorry I was for all of it.

She ran her fingers through my hair, nails scraping my scalp in a way that soothed the turmoil inside me.

"Please," I murmured. I never begged. Never. But right now, I'd do anything for her.

She gave me a long look before leaning down and kissing me. My hands tangled in her hair as the kiss deepened. It was raw and consuming, filled with everything we couldn't put into words. Her lips were soft but insistent, moving against mine with a desperate urgency.

There was only Everly—her warmth, her scent, the way she fit perfectly against me. Each kiss seemed to draw us closer, pulling us into a whirlwind of emotions too intense to name.

Her fingers gripped my hair tighter, and I responded by holding her even closer. The kiss turned passionate, a mingling of need and relief that left us both breathless.

For a moment, nothing else mattered but this—us—wrapped up in a connection that felt unbreakable.

When we finally pulled apart, I stared up at her. The Zamboni hummed in the background and the fluorescent lights glowed behind her like she was a fucking angel, sent to this earth just for me. And before I could stop them, the words came out of my mouth like a prayer. "I love you too, killer."