20. Miles

Chapter 20

Miles

2 Months Later

" Y ou think he's okay?" I frowned, staring at the ceiling while resting my head on Cooper's bare chest.

"Hmm? Who is?" Cooper tilted his head, his fingers gently playing with my hair.

I could feel his hungry gaze trailing down my body, making it clear he wasn't too concerned about the subject at hand.

I sat up, propping my arm on his torso. "Sawyer," I said, looking at him intently, trying to catch his attention.

Cooper's fingers moved to trace up and down my arm. His feathery touch was sending a shiver through me.

I pressed my hand against his chest firmly, hoping to get his attention. Although I wasn't sure if it was the right decision on my part.

The warmth of his skin, still faintly sticky from what we had been doing earlier, sent a rush of heat spreading within me.

Cooper hummed in response, though I couldn't tell if it was because he was finally paying attention or if my touch distracted him.

I really should have put my shirt back on before this conversation.

As I continued to glare at him, Cooper finally paused his wandering hands.

"He does seem a little different lately," he admitted.

I pursed my lips, relieved that Cooper noticed the change in Sawyer too. "Do you think we should do something?" I asked.

Cooper's hand slid from my shoulder up to my nape, gently caressing his mark on me.

He hummed softly, seeming lost in thought. I wanted to urge him to focus, but I could see the gears turning in his eyes.

"Maybe he needs something," I wondered.

Cooper raised an eyebrow. "Like a pet or something? Didn't you guys used to have a dog?" He asked.

I snapped my fingers, a sudden idea sparking in my mind.

"Exactly! He loved that dog." I sat up quickly, moving over Cooper's body and straddling him. "Maybe a new pet could cheer him up, give him something to focus on."

Cooper chuckled, his hands resting on my hips. "Are you suggesting we surprise him with a puppy? That could be interesting," he mused.

I nodded, my mind racing with possibilities. "Yeah, or maybe we could take him to a shelter, let him pick out an animal himself. It could be a good distraction, something to care for."

Cooper smiled. "That's actually a pretty good idea. But enough about him," he said, pulling me in for a kiss.

His hands moved grip my waist and ass, grinding our lower bodies together, sending a jolt of pleasure straight to my core.

"I need to leave for the bookstore soon," I murmured, biting my lip to suppress a moan.

"Doesn't it only take ten minutes to get there from here?" he whispered in my ear, his breath warm against my skin.

I felt the tips of my ears heat up. It was true—walking would take ten minutes, and driving would take less than five.

But I didn't say anything; if I opened my mouth, I wasn't sure what kind of sound I'd let out.

Cooper's voice was low and teasing as he continued, "Or we could just skip breakfast. That way, you can still make it on time." He licked my earlobe, sending shivers down my spine.

My cheeks flushed with warmth as I buried my face in the crook of his neck. I gripped his shoulders and started rolling my hips against him.

The sensation was intoxicating, and I could feel Cooper smirk against my skin as he trailed kisses from my shoulder to my nape.

"Guess we're skipping breakfast then," he murmured.

When I finally arrived at the bookstore, it was well past lunchtime.

Feeling a bit embarrassed about being late, I brought food for everyone and placed it on the new counter table by the storefront window.

It was part of our newly added café section, not yet open to the public, but Mrs. Jenkins was here, helping put some finishing touches on the area.

We had offered her a job since she was always here every day. Although she initially declined, she agreed to provide baked goods for the café.

"Sorry I'm late," I said, glancing around.

Mrs. Jenkins waved off my apology with a smile. "No worries, dear. Sawyer's in the office, catching up on some admin work."

It wasn't unusual to find Sawyer in the office nowadays. In the past, he only showed up when necessary, but things had changed after the incident with Ryder.

Now, Sawyer was here almost every day. I didn't mind it. In fact, I found myself missing him ever since I moved out of our house.

But I couldn't help noticing other changes in him. He seemed his usual self around us. Yet sometimes, I would catch him staring off into the distance or suddenly becoming quiet.

I wanted to talk to him, to ask if he was okay, but I knew Sawyer too well. He was the type to deny it, maybe even get defensive.

So, I decided to wait, to be there when he was ready to talk.

I took a moment to look around the store. The small café was a new addition, and we were still making repairs from when the place was trashed a few months ago.

We now planned to install shatterproof glass for the rare books we used to keep in locked bookshelves—a practical decision given our recent experience.

I also thought about how Cooper was still making regular trips to Winter Valley to see his old lead alpha, working on building a friendly relationship with his former pack.

It wasn't easy, but it was important, and I respected his dedication.

As I watched Mrs. Jenkins work and thinking about the changes we'd made, I felt a mix of pride and unease.

I was always someone who liked having a plan and knowing what was coming next. But life had a way of defying those plans, and I'd learned that the hard way.

I knew there were still uncertainties ahead—Cooper's transition to lead alpha in Pecan Pines, Sawyer's lingering struggles—but for the first time in a long while, I felt okay with not having all the answers.

In this moment, surrounded by the comforting scent of books and the quiet hum of life in the store, I knew that everything was going to be okay.

THE END