5. Miles

Chapter 5

Miles

" M r. Hayes, we need to discuss the financial aspects of your uncle's and brother's stays," the doctor began, his voice calm and measured. "Let's start with your uncle, Ben. He's recovering well, but we'll need to continue monitoring him a little longer."

I nodded, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach. "I understand. What about my brother?"

The nurse, a kind-looking woman with warm eyes, stepped forward.

"Sawyer will need physical therapy for his leg. To proceed with the treatment, we'll need you to sign the consent forms. We also need to ensure that payments or insurance coverage are sorted out before we can start," she said.

"How long do I have to decide?" I asked, trying to keep the anxiety out of my voice.

The doctor exchanged a glance with the nurse before answering.

"Ideally, we'd like to begin his physical therapy as soon as possible to ensure the best recovery. He'll be discharged soon, so we need to have the financial arrangements in place before then," he said.

The nurse handed me a stack of papers. "Here are the forms you'll need to sign. You can take a moment to review them."

I took the papers, my hands trembling slightly. When they left, I looked up to find Cooper standing in the corner, his arms crossed and a concerned expression on his face.

"I guess you heard everything," I said.

"Didn't mean to eavesdrop," Cooper said, stepping closer.

He looked uncertain, as if he'd walked into a conversation he wasn't supposed to overhear.

"It's alright," I replied, nodding toward Sawyer's room.

We began walking in silence, the weight of the conversation still hanging in the air.

After a few moments, Cooper finally spoke up. "Is everything okay?"

I glanced at him, wanting to say everything was fine, but there was something in his look that made me want to open up.

I took a deep breath and decided to lay it all out. "It's... the bookstore. I lied the other day. Things aren't fine at all. We're barely staying afloat. I can manage the essentials, but there's not much left for renovations or any future plans I had in mind."

Cooper listened intently, his expression serious. His comforting presence made me feel like I could keep talking, like it was okay to let everything out.

"I've been thinking about setting up a café in the bookstore, but that'll have to wait," I continued, "I'm just so tired of things staying the same, of nothing changing."

With everything going on—the weight of the hospital bills, the uncertainty of the future—it all felt like too much to handle.

Each new worry seemed to pile on top of the last. I felt like I was buried under an avalanche of stress and anxiety.

Cooper nodded slowly, processing everything I said. "I had no idea things were this bad," he said.

"Yeah, it's been rough," I admitted. "Sorry. I didn't want to dump all this on you."

I was grateful that Cooper didn't rush to offer solutions or tell me what I should do.

Instead, he just listened, allowing me to vent without judgment. It was exactly what I needed.

I wasn't one to easily share my problems; I usually put on a brave face and claimed everything would be fine, even when I didn't believe it myself.

Eventually, we stopped in front of Sawyer's room. For a moment, we looked at each other. Maybe Cooper noticed something in my face—worry or exhaustion, I didn't know.

"Why don't you take a break? Eat some real food for a change. I can stay with Sawyer for a bit," Cooper said.

I appreciated the suggestion, and the shower he had insisted on the other day had been more than just about washing off the grime from nearly two days in the hospital. It had been about taking a moment to breathe and clear my head.

But the thought of leaving Sawyer and Uncle Ben alone kept me in a state of constant panic. I had spent every waking moment running back and forth between their rooms, surviving on coffee and vending machine snacks.

Even when Noah or Griffin offered to take over and told me to go home, I couldn't bring myself to leave their sides.

It was like a mental block—I was too scared, too obsessed with needing to be there with them, not wanting to let them out of my sight.

Yet when Cooper told me to take a break, somehow it felt okay.

"I'll think about it," I said, though my voice wavered slightly.

Cooper looked like he wanted to say more, concern still in his eyes. But before he could speak, I turned the door handle and stepped inside Sawyer's room.

"Hah! I win again!" Sawyer exclaimed triumphantly. Noah threw his cards on the table in defeat. It looked like they were playing for candy bars.

Both of them looked up as we entered. I noticed Noah's disappointed look and suspected it wasn't just because he'd lost the game.

I always knew Noah had a crush on my brother but sadly, Sawyer didn't feel the same way.

Before I could say anything, Cooper jumped in. "Hey, Sawyer, mind if I take Miles out for dinner? He hasn't been eating well for days."

I opened my mouth to object, but Sawyer was quicker. "Sure, go ahead. Noah's here to keep me company anyway," Sawyer said.

I knew that tone. My brother was clearly trying to get me out of the room because he hated eating hospital food.

I raised an eyebrow, trying to ignore Noah's pleased expression at the suggestion.

"No. I need to make sure you eat everything on your plate," I insisted, pointing to the untouched hospital dinner on the tray. "You barely touched your meal yesterday."

Sawyer rolled his eyes and turned to Cooper. "Coop, will you take him out to dinner, please?"

I started to protest, looking to Noah for support, but instead?—

"Griffin's coming over soon, right after he finishes work. You guys go ahead. We've got this," Noah chimed in.

I was stunned. "W-wait, what?"

Noah's grin widened. I could tell he was loving this. I was still trying to wrap my head around how my plans had changed so suddenly.

I couldn't believe I'd been outsmarted by both my brother and my best friend, and not only that, my best friend was siding with my brother.

Although, I shouldn't be surprised. Noah had liked Sawyer for as long as I could remember, but I had no idea why.

They would never work out. Not in a million years because Sawyer only see him as his ‘other younger brother'.

Sawyer seemed to be enjoying this too, though for a completely different reason. He was probably getting back at me for constantly hovering over him this past week.

I shot a glance at Cooper, who raised an eyebrow and barely managed to hide a smile. I sighed, realizing I was outnumbered.

"Alright, fine," I conceded, giving Sawyer a pointed look. "But you better eat everything on that tray, no excuses."

Sawyer smirked. "Yes, Mom," he teased, earning a chuckle from Cooper.

Cooper gently pushed me out the door before I could do anything else. Just as the door was closing, I overheard Sawyer telling Noah to call Griffin and bring him a burger.

I felt a flash of irritation and almost turned back to make sure Sawyer ate the hospital meal he was supposed to, but Cooper stopped me with a firm grip on my arm.

"Come on, I'm sure everything will be fine," he said, his voice calm and reassuring.

I hesitated for a moment but then nodded reluctantly. Cooper was right.

I needed to trust that Sawyer and Noah could handle things without me for a bit.

Cooper led me down the corridor, his hand warm and steady on my arm. As we walked, I couldn't shake the mix of frustration and gratitude.

I was annoyed that my brother and best friend had teamed up against me. Yet, I was grateful that Cooper was here, looking out for me. Maybe this dinner wouldn't be so bad after all.

Cooper led me on a longer route through the hospital, steering us past the oncology building and several other departments. I muttered under my breath about the detour.

"Why are we taking the long way?" I asked.

Cooper just shrugged. "We're already in a hospital—hardly the most exciting place. Might as well make the most of it and take the scenic route. Trust me, it'll be better than those vending machine snacks you've been surviving on," he said.

"Hey, they weren't that bad!" I defended.

"Yeah, yeah, keep telling yourself that," Cooper teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

As we walked, I couldn't help but wonder where Cooper was taking me. After spending almost a week here, I thought I had explored every corner of the hospital.

"Where exactly are we going?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. "I thought I'd seen every inch of this place."

"It's just that you've been sticking to the same few places. Maybe it's time to explore a bit more and try new things," Cooper said, his smile hinting at something more.

It felt like he was nudging me not just to explore the hospital but to think about trying new things in other areas of my life as well.

I wasn't exactly comfortable with change and preferred sticking to what I knew. It felt foolproof. Safe.

After all, I'd been the responsible one since I was a kid, taking care of Sawyer and the bookstore after our dad passed away.

Staying in my comfort zone was easier, and I usually avoided stepping out of it because I felt like I needed to keep things under control. But maybe Cooper was right.

As we walked through the hospital, it felt odd to be so at ease during such a stressful time. The past week had been overwhelming, but with Cooper by my side, I could finally breathe.

The anxiety about Ryder's wolves and the mounting bills was still there, but Cooper's presence made it easier to manage.

This small adventure—just walking through the hospital—helped me realize how much I'd been missing by sticking to my usual routines. Even though stepping out of my comfort zone scared me, it also excited me in a way I hadn't felt in a long time.

It was clear that getting out of that hospital room wasn't just about taking a break. Even though Sawyer had joked about it, I knew deep down that it was good for me to get out and not hover over him all the time.

After what felt like a long walk, we finally reached the café Cooper had mentioned. I looked around, noticing that this part of the hospital was completely new to me.

Cooper led me to a table by the window. The cozy atmosphere was a refreshing change from the hospital's sterile, monochrome walls.

"Is it okay if I order for you?" Cooper asked.

"Yeah," I replied, relieved. I was tired of making decisions where every choice felt heavy. Letting someone else take the lead felt nice for a change.

Cooper soon returned with a tray holding two sandwiches and two cups of coffee that smelled incredible. He set the tray down and took a seat across from me.

I took a sip of the coffee, savoring the rich flavor. "This is really good," I said, surprised. "Way better than the vending machine coffee."

Cooper chuckled. "Told you it'd be worth it."

As Cooper started eating, I watched him for a moment, then took a deep breath. "Cooper, I need your help," I admitted, feeling a mix of relief and vulnerability.

It felt strangely comforting to ask him for help because I knew I could trust him.

"I've been trying to come up with ways to raise funds for the bookstore and keep things going, but I'm hitting a wall. Got any ideas?" I asked.

Cooper chewed on his sandwich, his brow furrowing in thought. "I've actually been thinking about that. You probably wouldn't take money if I offered it, would you?" Cooper asked.

"No, I won't," I replied firmly.

Cooper nodded, as if he had expected my answer. He took the paper placemat from the tray and flipped it over to the blank underside.

Then he called a staff member over and borrowed a pen from the counter. In bold letters, he wrote "IDEAS" at the top of the placemat.

"Okay, let's brainstorm," he said, tapping the pen thoughtfully. "We need to raise funds and increase the bookstore's popularity."

I nodded, grateful that Cooper was ready to jump in and help. His enthusiasm made tackling the problem feel a lot less daunting.

"What about a bake sale?" he suggested.

I laughed, shaking my head. "Yeah, no. Have you ever tried anything I've baked before?"

Cooper leaned back, a teasing smile on his face. "I haven't, but I'm sure I'd enjoy whatever you make, especially if it's something sweet."

I felt heat rise to my cheeks, caught off guard by the suggestive tone in his voice.

I coughed, trying to hide my embarrassment. "Anyway, that won't work. Next."

"Okay, okay," Cooper said with a mischievous grin, clearly enjoying my reaction.

We both took a moment to think. Then Cooper spoke up, "How about a car wash?"

I chewed the inside of my cheek, considering it. "A car wash... that could work."

"My dad's old enforcers own a hardware store," Cooper said. "They might have rental services for tools and equipment like a pressure washer."

I sat up straight, my interest piqued. "A pressure washer? Those things are amazing. I saw this video once where they used one to clean off years of grime from a patio, and it was so satisfying to watch. It's like all the dirt and buildup just disappears with one swipe. It would make cleaning the cars so much easier. Maybe we could even offer to do?—"

Cooper chuckled, clearly amused.

"What?" I asked, suddenly feeling self-conscious. Did I talk too much again?

"I haven't seen you this excited in a long time," Cooper said, his eyes warm.

I smiled, feeling a little embarrassed but also pleased. I hadn't meant to think about the bookstore right now, but it was something that had to be solved sooner or later.

Normally, I liked to have more time to plan things out, but maybe something spontaneous and quick like this could be good too. Besides, having Cooper here to help made it all seem more doable.

I kept telling myself that I was doing this for the bookstore, so Sawyer wouldn't have to worry. But the idea of spending more time with Cooper definitely made my heart beat faster.

"All we need is a venue," Cooper said, bringing me back to the moment.

I nodded, feeling excited. "Let's do it."

When we finished dinner, we stood up, and I watched as Cooper carefully grabbed the placemat with our ideas written on it. He folded it neatly and tucked it into his jacket pocket.

Noticing my curious gaze, he smiled reassuringly. "So we can show Sawyer," he explained.

As we walked back through the hospital, I felt a shift inside. My worries and stress seemed to fade with every step, replaced by a lightness I hadn't felt in a while.

Cooper's presence, his support, brought a calming, comforting feeling that I really needed.

When we reached Sawyer's room, I paused, taking a deep breath. Cooper turned to me, and there was a warmth in his eyes that made me feel drawn to him. Without thinking about it, I took a step closer.

"Cooper," I began, my voice barely above a whisper. Before I could second-guess myself, I leaned in and kissed him.

This kiss was different from before. It wasn't accidental or hurried like the other day. Back then, I wasn't sure if Cooper saw me in the same way I saw him.

But now, it was deliberate, filled with all the emotions I had been holding back.

In that moment, I didn't care about anything. I just wanted to see how Cooper would react.

Cooper's lips were warm and firm against mine. The kiss started gentle, exploring, then grew more intense. I felt the soft pressure of his lips, the tentative touch of his tongue.

His hands, which had been resting lightly on my shoulders, suddenly gripped me tight, pulling me closer until I could feel the delicious warmth of his body pressed against mine.

I pulled away first, my breath coming in short gasps. My heart was pounding, and I was pretty sure it wasn't just because of the seven cups of coffee I had today.

Cooper's eyes widened in surprise, as if he couldn't quite believe what had just happened. For a moment, he didn't say anything.

Oh crap.

Panic flared inside me, and I looked away, hoping I could just brush it off as another accident.

But then I saw Cooper's reaction—his eyes had darkened to a deep gold, his breathing was heavy and uneven. I could hear his heart beating wildly, just like mine.

I felt a thrill of satisfaction. I liked that I could have that effect on him.

I smiled and took his hand. "Come on, let's tell my brother," I said, my voice steady despite the rush of emotions.

Cooper blinked, then smiled back, his grip on my hand tightening as we headed inside Sawyer's room together.