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CHAPTER TWENTY

COOPER

A few weeks had passed since Myles’s injury and he’d made incredible progress, thanks to his friends. It was Thanksgiving Day, and they expected Myles to play next weekend. He didn’t need the crutches anymore, which was nice with my parents coming into town.

“Babe, so when are they going to be here?” Myles checked the turkey in the oven, a red apron covering his thin blue sweater. “I hope we did this right.”

“I’m sure it’s fine. How hard can it be?” I sauntered into the kitchen and poured an interesting red wine Jett had suggested into Myles’s almost empty wine glass, resting on the counter by the stove. I wanted to surprise my parents with how grown up I’d become. “Here.” I handed the glass to Myles.

He sipped it. “You know, this is great. I’m not normally a wine drinker.” Setting the glass down, he adjusted the brace hidden underneath his jeans. “I can’t wait to not have to wear this thing anymore. It’s itchy, eh.”

I poured some wine for myself. Since we didn’t have any good stemware in the house, I’d bought some fancy ones at the local Target last night.

Was Myles bringing out a domestic side I didn’t know I had?

Yes. I checked the time on the stove. It was a little after two p.m. “My parents should be here any minute.” I sipped the wine, the flavors of spice and cherry mixing in my mouth.

Damn, this was good. “My mom likes to be fashionably late. It drives my dad crazy, but?—”

The doorbell rang.

Myles shot straight up, his eyes widening. “Oh shit, they’re here.” He checked the gravy heating on the stovetop. “I hope they don’t figure out we bought gravy in a jar.”

“Don’t worry about it. My mom’s happy as hell to be here.” I kissed his cheek.

The doorbell chimed again.

“Coming.” I waltzed to the front door and swung it open. “Hi.” I beamed at them, warmth flickering through my insides.

Mom and Dad both smiled at me while Mom draped her arms around me for a tight hug. “Oh my God, Cooper. Look at you.” She released me and held me out, grabbing my shoulders. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so happy.”

“You look great, son.” Dad patted me on the back as he stepped inside, his enormous frame filling the doorway. “Now, where is your hockey playing boyfriend?”

Myles dried his hands on a dishrag and tossed the apron over his head, setting them both on the counter. Adjusting his sweater, he smiled widely and stretched a hand out to Dad. “Hello, Jim. It’s so nice to see you in person.”

Grabbing Myles’s hand in both of his, he gave it a vigorous shake. “The pleasure is all mine, son.” Freeing his hand, he looked Myles over. “How’s the knee?”

“It’s getting better every day.” Myles bent his leg and straightened it.

“Oh, honey, have you been icing it? What sort of physical therapy are they doing for you?” Mom wrapped her arm around Myles’s waist.

“Your son makes sure I ice it.” Myles gave me a pointed look. “And I’ve got some of the best trainers in the NHL working with my team trainer, so I think I’m set, eh. ”

She released Myles. “Can I see?—”

“No, Mom, he’s not in your trauma unit.” I huffed. You could take the nurse out of the ER, but not the ER out of the nurse.

“It’s fine, really, Caroline.” Myles brushed his palm over the back of his hair, chuckling.

Mom’s gaze snapped to Myles’s glass of wine on the counter. “Fine, then pour me a glass of wine, please. It’s a holiday and I’m on vacation.” With a smug grin, she sauntered into our kitchen. “Smells good in here, boys.”

Jogging in behind her, I snatched a wineglass from the cupboard and poured her wine. “Thanks, Mom. We got recipes for everything from our roommate, Ace.” I handed her the wine. “Dad, do you want wine or beer?” I was pretty sure he’d go for the?—

“Beer, please.” Turning in a circle, Dad scanned the room. “Pretty nice place you boys have here. Hard to believe a bunch of college athletes are living in it.”

Grabbing a beer from the refrigerator, I said, “One of them isn’t in college anymore.” I snicked the can open and brought it to Dad.

Mom peeked into the gravy pot and then headed for the couch, taking a seat at one end.

Myles opened the oven and checked the turkey. “And Cooper cleaned the place before you came over.” He snickered.

“Yeah, but we’re generally clean.” I strode to the coffee table. “Have a seat. I’ll put the game on.” Mom loved football, too. How could she not?

The Giants versus the Cowboys game filled the screen.

“The Bears are next. When is dinner, Myles? We should eat before that game comes on.” Dad dropped into the corner of the sectional, setting his big hands on his thighs. “The Bears are going to wreck the Lions and I’m not missing a second of it.”

“Don’t you worry, Jim. I’ll have it ready within the hour.” Myles pulled the turkey out of the oven and set the roasting pan on the stovetop .

“Babe, you should have let me do that. Your knee…” I paced between Myles and my parents, my pulse picking up speed. Shit, this was a little hectic. “Myles, what can I do?”

“We have to wait for the bird to rest.” He peeked under a sheet of aluminum foil covering the turkey breast. “I don’t know why, but Ace said we should do that.”

“Because it allows the juices to flow and makes the meat tender and moist.” Mom sipped her wine and giggled.

“Mom.” I cringed. “Don’t say that word.” She was fucking with me now.

Shaking his head, Myles said, “I like your parents a lot. They’re so cool in person.” He leaned in and kissed my cheek. “Let’s let everything sit for a little while and go talk with them.”

“Sure.” I grabbed his hand, led him to my old couch, and dropped in.

After watching Dad coach the game from the comfort of our couch and listening to Mom tell embarrassing stories of my childhood to Myles, which he ate up, we served the Thanksgiving meal.

We sat at the table and passed plates of food around, Dad making a mountain of turkey, mashed potatoes and dressing on his plate. “You play again next week?” Dad asked.

“I do. My agent is seeing if the scout that was interested in me can come to the game next weekend. It’s at home.” Myles peeked at me and cut into his turkey. “The scout is checking out a University of Arizona player in Tucson on Friday, so it makes sense.”

“So, the scout might watch your game on Saturday?” I furrowed my brows. Fuck, and I had an away game.

“That’s what I’ve been told.” He ate his turkey and then sipped some wine. “Jett really knows his wines. This goes so well with the turkey. ”

“It sure does.” Mom beamed at Myles. “Who is Jett?” She raised her brows as she drank some wine.

“Jett is an NHL player for the Coyotes. He’s dating a guy Myles played with in college. He’s from SoCal. This wine is from a winery close to where he grew up.” I held my wine glass and spun the crimson liquid. We had so many cool friends. Merging a hockey family and a football family was great.

“Son, you’ve really done well since coming here. I’m proud of you.” Dad patted my forearm, resting next to my plate.

“Thanks, Dad.” I shot a look at Myles, warmth swirling in my chest. “Finding Myles again was key.”

Myles’s cheeks pinked, and he dipped his head, shoveling dressing and gravy onto his fork.

“So, what are you going to do, Cooper, if Myles gets signed by Seattle?” Mom wiped her mouth on her napkin.

“Oh…” I glanced at Dad. “Dad, I want to put feelers out for the Seahawks.” He’d be okay with this, right?

After clearing his throat, Dad said, “You sure that’s where you want to go?” Setting his elbow on the table, he faced me.

“I’m sure.” I shrugged a shoulder. “You can’t deny they’re a good team. They’ve been to the Super bowl three times?—”

“And lost twice.” Dad ticked his jaw and stuffed his fork into a mound of mashed potatoes and gravy.

I leaned in toward him. “Dad, they’re a good team, and Seattle is a cool town. It’s close to where Myles grew up.” What was Myles thinking about this? I snuck a peek at him, and he frowned.

Mom placed her hand on Dad’s forearm. “Honey, he wants to be with the man he loves. Let him go where he wants.” She smirked. “You came to Chicago for me, remember?”

“I uh…” He rubbed his forehead. “Chicago was a great team and—” He huffed and glanced at Mom and then me. “Oh hell, I know some guys over there. I’ll put the word out.”

“Thanks, Dad. I knew I could count on you.” I drank some wine, my gaze finding Myles .

“Thank you, Jim. I know it’s a lot to ask to have Cooper follow me like this.” He worried his lower lip. “I mean, I might not even get signed.”

“Oh hush, son. I’ve seen your game footage. They’ll sign you or they’re stupid.” With a shake of his head, Dad piled food into his mouth.

“I can’t wait to come visit you boys in Seattle.” Mom’s face lit up. “I hear it’s a wonderful city.”

After seeing my parents off for the night, I closed our front door and sighed. The day had gone so well.

“Babe.” Myles stepped to me and grabbed my hand. “Your parents were great tonight. It was a little different to hang out with them as your boyfriend, but they were so supportive.” He kissed my knuckles.

“Yeah, they sure like you.” I pulled my hand from his and wrapped my arms around his neck. “We’re alone.” I ticked my brows, my cock waking. Pressing a lingering kiss on his lips, I slipped my tongue inside his mouth.

With a slow groan, he tangled his tongue with mine and grabbed my hips, pushing his swelling dick against mine. “Whose room do you want to use tonight?” He gave me a coy smirk.

I wanted him tonight. No toys, just his body bonding with mine. “Let’s go into my room.” I snatched his hand from my hip and led him into my bedroom, flicking on the nightstand lamp as I passed the side of the bed.

Slipping his jeans and briefs down his legs, he stood and shucked his sweater over his head, his dick standing tall and hard for me.

I raked my teeth over my lower lip. He was gorgeous, and we were planning a future together with the support of our parents .