Page 25 of Covet (The Red #3)

Chapter Twenty-Five

Elle

Listen to Don’t Give Up on Us

by Nick Jonas

“ W hat do you mean you can’t go?”

I stared in shock at Coop. He was doing that thing when he was uncomfortable and trying to calm me down. Rocking back and forth on his heels, his gaze slightly up and to the left, refusing to meet head on. I tried to tamp down the anger at his complete disregard for not being there on my big night.

“Elle, I feel shitty about it, okay? It’s my father’s birthday and they decided to have a party last minute. Mom called and begged me to come. My sister’s going to be back from Boston. I can’t tell them no.”

I wasn’t mad about him needing to be with his family. I actually loved that part of Coop—the closeness he felt with them was sweet. But knowing he hadn’t thought to invite me, and sprung the announcement last moment hinted at a darker truth I didn’t like.

He hadn’t wanted to bring me.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? Maybe I could’ve changed the date!”

More rocking. He tunneled his fingers through his hair and blew out a breath. “I’m sorry! I forgot—things have been crazy with the gym stuff and you being gone all the time working on the music.”

My gaze narrowed. I wanted to push and get to the truth.

We’d grown more distant in these past few weeks, even though we were both loving what we were doing.

Instead of sharing in each other’s happiness, we seemed to be stepping away from one another and I hated it.

Knowing he hadn’t even wanted to bring me as his date scraped raw. What were we really doing here?

“Coop, I would’ve gone with you,” I said softly.

He groaned. “I know, baby. I feel terrible, but this performance for you is important. If you really want me to blow it off, I’ll cancel with Mom. Okay?”

His offer only made me more pissed because then I’d be the bad guy. “No, I’m not doing that to your family. I just wish you hadn’t suddenly remembered you’re leaving for the weekend. Convenient.”

His lips turned sulky. I knew the switch meant Coop decided he was on the defensive and I was being a bitch.

He’d shut down and I’d be alone in this fight.

It was how he handled any conflict. “Well, then think I’m a liar.

I can’t seem to make you happy with anything I do lately, so add it to my list of villainous qualities. ”

My jaw dropped. “Are you kidding me? Did you get that line from AI by asking it what to say to be the biggest asshole on the planet?”

“I said I’m sorry. I said I’d cancel. I’m doing the best I can.”

We glared at each other. In our past, the fight would turn to a sexual spark, and we’d end up banging each other’s brains out to clear the air. I always thought it was sexy as hell. I loved the intensity of our connection and the way we couldn’t take our hands off each other.

Now? I wanted nothing to do with him. If he tried to touch me, I’d slap him away and walk out.

Coop seemed to catch the vibe because he took a step back to get out of my space.

“I don’t want to fight, Elle. I’m excited for your performance and I’ll ask Max to video it for me.

Hell, maybe I can hear it live on Facetime. ”

Suddenly, I didn’t want to fight either.

The lack of any type of response toward Coop was a warning sign and if we didn’t fix it, I doubted we’d make it to the end of the year.

My heart squeezed in anguish at the thought of letting this relationship wither and die.

I tried to untangle my thoughts and let him know how I was feeling, but my voice still sounded accusatory.

“Is something else going on with you, Coop? Because I can’t seem to figure out why you’re acting distant all the time. ”

He snapped his head back and forth. “Here we go. I’m not cheating on you, Elle. I don’t have time for anything but if I knew missing one night to see my family would cause this much shit, I would’ve told my Mom I can’t go because you don’t trust me.”

“I didn’t say you were cheating! I simply asked if something else was going on.”

“It’s not. I’m busy and you’re busy and we’re out of sync. It happens in all relationships.”

“Fine. Forget it.”

“Fine.”

The silence crackled with tension. “Can you send me the hotel reservation where we were staying?” His response made me practically shriek. “Please tell me you booked the hotel near the club like I asked?”

His features tightened. “I forgot. I’ll do it now.”

I laughed without humor. “Great, I may get stuck riding the subway in the middle of the night. Thanks so much.”

“You can crash with Noah and Daisy! Or Gabby. Don’t be so damn dramatic all the time.”

That set me off, and we ended up doing another round. Suddenly, I teared up and spun on my heel. “I want you to go now. I don’t want to do this again.”

I waited for the door to slam but there was only stillness. I heard his ragged sigh and then the gentle touch of his hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry, Elle. Can we talk?”

I bit my lip and nodded. He turned me around, tipping up my face, then groaned. “God, please don’t cry. I hate when you cry.”

“I’m not.”

He tugged me into his arms and held me. Slowly, I relaxed.

It was rare Coop just held me without any plan to have sex.

Even his so-called massages for my relaxation had a purpose.

But now he simply stroked my hair and let me cuddle against his hard body.

“What’s happening with us, Coop?” I mumbled against his shirt.

“I’m not accusing you of cheating. And I know you just forgot and didn’t plan to leave this weekend on purpose.

I’m not even mad about it. But—why didn’t you want to bring me? ”

His arms tightened. “Baby, of course I want to bring you! Honestly? Mom called and said she only wanted immediate family. Even asked my sister to leave Jackson behind, and they’ve been dating longer than us.

It’s weird, I know, but she’s been really protective of my dad lately.

I think he’s been having health problems.”

I tipped my head up to study his worried face. “I didn’t know.”

“I’m hoping I’ll get more info when I see them.”

Coop’s family was important to him. I’d met them several times, and felt like his parents liked me, but I wasn’t invited to big gatherings or holidays yet.

It was as if they kept their distance. Made me wonder if they assumed Coop would soon move on.

When I asked Coop about it, he waved off my question and mentioned he’d never brought girls home before so they weren’t used to it.

Keeping his family separate from our life was another barrier between us that worried me.

“I’m sorry. Family comes first. I’ll be fine alone—the gang will all be there, so I’ll crash with one of them.”

“Thanks for understanding.”

We smiled at each other. The tension eased between us.

Underneath all those muscles, Coop could be a teddy bear.

Yes, he had a terrible temper, but his heart was good.

We simply had different priorities right now.

“Can we try harder?” I suggested. “The album is almost done, and I’ll have more time to spend with you.

Maybe we can begin doing more things together? ”

“Sounds great.” He pressed a kiss to my lips. “I have to meet Max. We’re looking at some properties.”

Disappointment hit. It would’ve been nice to continue on a high and spend some quality time, but I understood. “Okay. Want to come back tonight? Stay over?”

“Definitely.” His kiss deepened, but the usual sexual spark wasn’t there. I broke the kiss and hugged him instead, pressing my lips into the crook of his neck. His words rumbled in my ear. “I love you, Elle. We’re going to be okay.”

I clung to the words and nodded. “Love you, too.”

He left with a smile, obviously happy we were back on good terms. I spent a few minutes walking around my apartment, scrolling my phone. My insides felt jagged, and I needed to talk to someone who’d understand. I dialed Landon and she answered immediately. She looked fresh and beautiful and…happy.

Really happy.

“Hey girlfriend. How are you?”

Suddenly, tears stung my eyes. “I don’t know.”

Landon’s smile disappeared and she nodded. “Let me get to someplace quiet. Hold on.”

She carried the phone down a long hallway, stepped into a room that looked like a closet, and sat down.

Her blonde hair spilled in waves over her shoulders, and she was wearing a black Unison t-shirt.

Besides her signature red lipstick, her face looked softer and more peaceful.

“Okay, I can hear you here. I’m at rehearsal so it’s a bit chaotic. What did that asshole do?”

I gave a small laugh. “We had another fight, but we made up. I don’t know, Landon. Things have been so different with us lately.”

“Tell me everything.”

I did. I dumped all my worries about our relationship and Landon listened. When I finished, I felt lighter, but I knew I’d been holding back on the most important development.

My growing feelings for Noah.

“Babe, I don’t want to tell you what to do. I agree with forgiving him about the family thing, but I think your problems are bigger than that. You don’t seem very happy.”

I winced at Landon’s naked truth, but she was always good at both giving it to me straight and supporting any of my decisions.

She never judged. It’s what I loved about her.

“I know. Sometimes, we are? But I say something that gets twisted and then we’re off fighting again.

I just wish he’d talk to me more. He likes to ignore any type of emotion and pretend he’s fine, but I know it’s bullshit. ”

“Yeah, guys are good at that. They are masters in gaslighting. Coop is like Max in that department.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of. I’m not sure what I even want from him anymore.”

“I know you don’t want to hear this. I don’t even want to say it because I hate for you to think I’m suddenly advising shit because of what I went through with Max. But maybe Coop isn’t meant to be long term. There may be a good reason you never moved in together.”

I bit my lip. “I know. I just don’t think I’m ready to make that type of decision.”

Landon nodded. “Don’t blame you. I’m thinking you focus on Friday night and your performance, finish the album, and then figure out where you want your relationship to go. Coop’s main priority is the gym, and yours is music, so maybe you’re both not ready to put in the effort.”

“Yeah, that’s a good point.” I paused, wanting to share my secret but terrified to put it into actual words.

I suddenly knew exactly how Landon must’ve felt trying to hide her emotions for Adam.

No wonder she hadn’t told me. It wasn’t real until we told the other.

Landon kept up an upbeat dialogue until I relaxed.

“Thanks. I needed a dose of you before I lost my mind.”

Her laugh was robust. “Girlfriend, you’re my boo. I’ll always be there.”

We chatted for a while, catching up. She was loving being on tour with Adam, and had been doing some serious writing.

A friend had called about subletting her apartment for the next month so she had some money coming in.

I’d never seen Landon so free, as if she didn’t give a fuck what anyone thought.

Her videos with Adam on tour were racking in the views, and starting to go viral, especially after her sudden exit from Dumped.

The bad reviews leaking from the show and high drama was fodder for gossip hounds.

It seemed the world adored a good love story, and had made Landon and Adam the new favorite couple.

We wrapped up, and I couldn’t help spilling my next question. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“When was the actual moment you decided to go for it with Adam? I know you were technically broken up with Max, but both of you knew it would be messy. What made you believe it was worth the risk?”

“You mean how did I know it wasn’t about just sex?”

“Exactly. You could’ve slept together, satisfied the itch, and not told anyone.”

Landon sighed, but it was the type of sigh from a woman in love, remembering secrets.

“I always felt a pull with him. I never wanted to admit it because Max was safe. Max made sense. With Adam, I knew I’d be more vulnerable and I’d share other parts of myself I’d always ignored.

Parts that were vulnerable. All I can say is once you cross that boundary, you never want to go back. It was worth everything.”

I sifted through her words. I knew I’d think about it later and wonder if I felt the same about Noah, or it was simply the collaboration and our friendship blurring the lines. “Yeah, that makes sense. Thanks, babe. Love you.”

“Love you more! I’m here if you need me.”

We clicked off and I felt more settled. Landon was right.

I needed to focus on the song and my performance.

I had two long nights at Red, a rehearsal with Noah, and then I’d be finally on stage, debuting my solo.

Figuring out my relationship with Coop was better tackled later, when we were both clear-headed.

I hated that the future looked blurry, but couldn’t deny the curl of anticipation to see what happened next.

I had no idea I was about to find out too soon.