Page 87 of Structure of Love

Why would she…? Good god, don’t tell me she would actually derail her youngest child’s progress!

“You know she will,” Cooper said with resignation. “Gage, can I stay with you until I’m healed? Logan said he’d hire me, so I’ll pay rent and stuff when I’m back on my feet. I won’t invite people over or drink or anything, and I’ll abide by any rules you set.”

“You shouldn’t be working!” his mother cried in alarm.

I looked at her and wondered how anyone could be this suffocatingly stupid. “He’s twenty-one, of course he should beworking. My god, is this what your sons mean? Do you really keep him from growing up as an adult like this?”

“You shut up!” Her eyes cut to me, and I could see absolute hatred in them. “You don’t get to comment; you’re not part of this family!”

Unbeknownst to her, I’d been looking up rings. I wasn’t in any position to propose yet, not after only a few weeks of dating, but she was crazy if she thought I was dating her son for laughs. I had every intention of marrying this man.

It was unfortunate she’d be my monster-in-law, though.

Gage immediately got into her face. “He’s right and you know it. You are the reason why Cooper’s like this. You’re an alcoholic. You’ve been a wine mom for as long as I’ve been alive. It’s part of why he was sucked into the path of an alcoholic so easily because he fucking lives with one! And you’re terrified of the thought of him being independent from you. I know I’m right because you keep suffocating him, trying to keep him dependent on you, like a child. You literally don’t know what to do with yourself if you’re alone in that house with your children grown and independent. It’s so fucking obvious you’re doing this for your sake.”

She sobbed, shaking her head in denial. I mean, that one sentence had outed her. Not wanting Cooper to even hold down a job? Insane.

“I called you because you have a right to know your child has been hurt and is in the hospital.” Gage stepped back, his voice in that dead monotone again. “But you don’t get to make decisions about what happens from here. Nor will I act as a parent to Cooper anymore. I’m done with being abused. Cooper, you’re welcome to stay with me.”

“Thanks, Bro.” Cooper looked at his mother with sad eyes. “I think it’s better we don’t see each other for a while. How about you get therapy too, Mom? I think you need it.”

She let out a scream, still crying, before running from the room.

Gage blew out a breath and looked at me. “See?”

“Oh, I see the problem, for sure. For the record, that’s how my parents handle Erin.”

“God, poor kid.”

“You see why I’m giving her a space to land, so she can escape.”

“Bless you for it, too, otherwise she’d likely go crazy.” Gage turned to Cooper and demanded, “Did Logan really offer you a job?”

“He did.”

My boyfriend had aYou don’t have toexpression, and I held up a hand to stop it. “Hon, I’ve got a lot of karmic debt accrued. So many people helped me when they shouldn’t have. I’ve got to pay them back somehow. I think Cooper will do a good job because he wants to make something of himself.”

Cooper lifted his good arm like he was swearing in front of a judge. “Promise I’ll do my best.”

Gage looked torn but finally shrugged. “Fine. I’m not going to interfere here. If you succeed, or crash and burn, that’s on you. I’m going home and getting my guest room ready for you.”

Delighted, Cooper smiled brightly. “Thanks, Gage.”

“You’re welcome. But think about changing your phone number again, okay? So your past doesn’t try to suck you back in.”

Cooper glanced at the phone on the nightstand and made a face. “Yeah. Logan, did you change your number?”

“I did.”

“Then I’ll change it.”

Gage looked between us again, clearly wondering why Cooper was following my lead, but I’d explain in the car.

“Let’s go. We’ve got a lot to do.”

28

Gage