Page 91 of Structure of Love

“I can’t?”

Far be it from me to tell a sexy man he couldn’t propose to me. My mouth aside, I wasn’t stupid. “Please do. I don’t…have a timeline for that? You’re the first serious boyfriend I’ve had since college. Whenever it feels right to you?”

“How about we talk about this properly when we’re not coming off a shitty day and our eyes aren’t crossing with fatigue?”

“That’s probably a better plan.”

We got out, dried, then climbed into boxers but not much else. Logan ran hot, so there was no need for pajamas and a blanket with him in the bed. I snuggled against his side as we got comfortable, loving having him here. No longer feeling like I’d kept something from him, I was wholly at ease.

His lips pressed against my forehead. “Sleep, love,” he whispered, deep and soft, like a caress.

With a smile, I did.

29

Logan

Cooper’s stay in the hospital went well. Gage visited him a few times for moral support. I’d gone with twice and the poor kid looked like he’d just walked barefoot through Hell and forgot to stay hydrated. Detox was the literal worse, from what I’d heard, and he did seem to be the poster boy for it. He was healing, though, and determined to muscle through it. I think Gage was very proud of him for sticking with it and not complaining.

Gage was still wrestling with some demons, and sometimes he’d just sit quietly, staring at nothing. I let him think and process, offered an ear if he needed it. Still, it seemed the two brothers were slowly trying to repair their relationship. Gage and Cooper actually texted each other now, like siblings should.

Eight days after his admittance, Cooper was able to come home. Gage had been set to get Cooper, until something went very wrong at work. He’d been torn about it, but I assured him, I could get Cooper. He swore he’d be back as soon as he could manage it before hightailing it out the door.

He tackled that situation while I picked up Cooper. I didn’t want Gage stressed again about trying to be in two places atonce. He’d been stressed to the point of breaking when Cooper had the accident, and I was grateful he’d leaned on me enough to avoid crashing.

Cooper looked better than the night of the accident, at least. Bruises were clearly healing, and he wasn’t shaking from withdrawals anymore. I knew they’d given him meds to help with pain, inflammation, and some antibiotics. The hospital had handed them over with the discharge papers.

Cooper rode shotgun, a little loopy because of the pain medication and staring at me for some reason. I mean, I was handsome, but still.

“Hey, Logan. You love my brother?”

“Very much,” I said, amused by his question. “Why?”

He made a happy sound. “Good. Most people would have thought twice about staying with him after seeing our mom that night. She was being so…” He grimaced and sighed. “Anyone would rethink a relationship realizing they’d have to deal withher.”

“My parents are worse. Trust me, your mom’s not a deterrent.”

“Oh. Good.”

“Has she called you today?”

“Like, three times. I told her I wasn’t coming back to the house. I muted her calls after I told her because she lost her mind. Kept offering bribes, promising a new car, shit like that.”

“She normally bribes you to stay with her?”

“Yeah. I tried moving out once, but I couldn’t hold down a job, so I lost it. The apartment, I mean. Had to move back in with her.” Cooper sat in silence for a second before admitting, “I didn’t actually want to work there. I got the job to spite her.”

“Could be why it didn’t work out, yeah.”

“But I realize now, that’s the wrong attitude. I mean, that’s not what you would have done.”

“How am I your yardstick?”

“Because you succeeded, man. You made it. Despite the shitty parents, you achieved your goal, and you’re dating my brother to boot.”

He wasn’t wrong—I had achieved what I’d set out to do. But he also didn’t seem to realize that keeping all I’d achieved meant I made that choice again, every morning. I chose to get up, be responsible, go to work, do the things required to keep this life of mine. Well, he’d learn. I shifted topics. “You realize your brother is a catch?”

“I ain’t blind, dude.” Cooper did this little snort-giggle. “He’s qualified in two fields, makes good money,plushe’s tall and handsome. I’ve seen girls lose their minds trying to get his attention. They’re always so deflated when they learn he’s gay. It’s great he met you. He needed someone in his life who takes shit from no one.”