Page 11

CHAPTER 11

SCARLETT

A s we step outside into the cool evening air, I take a deep breath, inhaling the salty scent of the nearby ocean. Sunset is upon us, leaving the sky awash with a stunning mix of pink, purple, and orange. Cooper is beside me, our steps falling into an easy rhythm as we head in the direction of the beach.

“I love how peaceful it is at dusk,” I say, breaking the comfortable silence between us.

Cooper nods, his hands stuffed in his pockets. “It’s nice. Helps clear your head.”

We walk along the sidewalk for a few minutes before reaching the path that leads down to the beach. Without discussing it, we both veer onto the sandy trail.

“Watch your step,” Cooper warns, his hand gently gripping my elbow to steady me as we navigate the uneven ground. His touch sends a small shiver through me, but I attribute it to the cool breeze coming off the water.

As we reach the sand, I slip off my shoes, enjoying the feel of the tiny grains between my toes. Cooper follows suit, and we continue along toward the water’s edge.

“So aside from football and your faith, what else makes Cooper Grind tick?”

He chuckles so softly I barely hear it. “I’m a simple guy. I love my family, especially my sister. I enjoy reading when I have time—mostly nonfiction, biographies, that sort of thing. And I have a secret obsession with shows about aliens.”

I laugh at this unexpected revelation. “Are you talking about movies like E.T. or do you mean Ancient Aliens type of shows?”

“The latter.”

“Are you a believer or hoping something will convince you to become one?”

“I think I’m a believer. I’m not sure that life exists on other planets or galaxies, but I like to think it does.”

“You seem so pragmatic. I never would’ve guessed this about you.”

A faint blush colors his cheeks. “Yeah, those shows are easy to get lost in. They take my mind off everything else.”

I smile, enjoying this glimpse into another side of him. “Sometimes it’s nice to get lost in something different from your everyday life.”

He nods, looking at the waves rolling in, and then his blue eyes focus on me. “Or someone.”

My chest fills with a fluttery warmth at his words and the intensity of his gaze.

“So what about you?” he asks, ending the moment. “What are your passions outside of wrestling and podcasting?”

I consider his question as we continue walking along the shore. “Well, I love to cook, as you’ve seen. And since Autumn and I purchased our house, I discovered I enjoy beach photography.”

“Beach photography, huh? Is that the professional title?” His tone is teasing.

“Yep, that’s what I call it. How can this”—I stretch my arms wide and turn in a circle without missing a step as we continue to walk—“not inspire someone?”

“I agree. There’s nothing better than a beach walk to make you feel connected to nature.”

“Oh, and I also have a bit of an obsession with true crime podcasts,” I add.

Cooper raises an eyebrow. “True crime, huh? That’s slightly different from taking pictures of the ocean.”

I laugh. “I know, it’s a strange combination. But I find the investigative aspect fascinating. Plus, it helps me appreciate the storytelling techniques other podcasters use.”

“That makes sense.” He nods. “Do you ever think about branching out into other types of podcasts?”

“Sometimes. I’ve toyed with different ideas but none of them grabbed me. Maybe I should take advantage of our situation and do one about football,” I joke.

He smiles. “You should. I volunteer to be the first guest.”

“Then the podcast is sure to be a success,” I say, winking.

We continue strolling along the shoreline with the chilling temperature of the wet sand numbing our feet. We round a bend, and I freeze in place.

“What’s wrong?” Cooper asks.

“Not a thing. I need to take a picture.” Pulling my phone from my pocket, I hold it up and turn it sideways, capturing as much of this view as possible. Above the horizon is a soft pink that deepens, intensifying the higher I look. There are strokes of orange and purple, looking as if a paint brush swept across the sky. Returning my phone to my pocket, I glance at Cooper. “Sorry about that.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry about. You felt inspired. Actually, I’m feeling it too.” He tugs his phone out, holding it up.

“Whoa. Wait a second,” I say, stepping closer and turning his phone sideways in his hands. “You’ll get more of the view.”

“Good point. How’s this?” he asks.

Leaning in, I glance through his screen and notice he’s missing some of the most vivid colors. I place my hands on top of his, shifting a bit to the left. “There. Now you’ll capture the most stunning area. Although, since art is subjective, what I think is best, you might not.”

“I’ll happily accept your advice,” he says, taking a few pictures. “How’d I do?” He moves over until our shoulders are touching, and scrolls through the images.

“You did great.” I smile at him.

“You helped.” One side of his mouth arcs upward in an adorably endearing crooked smile.

“It would’ve been fine no matter what. How can you go wrong with this view?” I wave my hand to encompass the sea and sky.

“So beautiful,” he says, looking at me.

My chest tightens at the intensity of his gaze as it moves over every part of my face before connecting with mine. “You’re an amazing woman, Scarlett.”

My tongue feels thick in my mouth as I form a reply. “You think?”

He shakes his head. “I know. It’s hard to get my mind off football, especially after losing a game, yet you succeed every time we’re together.”

“Oh.”

He shifts positions, facing me, and cups my cheek in his palm. His other hand goes to the small of my back. “You’re thoughtful, kindhearted, and beautiful… inside and out.”

My heart starts racing and I’m at a loss for words. I wrap my fingers around his wrist and hold on. We stand here, staring at one another, the sound of crashing waves in the background with the lines blurring more as each second ticks by.

Is he going to kiss me? Oh my God, I think he’s gonna kiss me.

As much as I’d like to experience his lips on mine again, that’s not what either of us needs.

I clear my throat, breaking the spell. “So, um, do you have a favorite alien theory?”

Cooper’s eyes widen and then he seems to shake himself out of the moment. He drops his hand from my cheek and takes a small step back, his other hand sliding away from my lower back. The intensity of the moment is gone, but a charged energy still lingers between us.

“I do. I’m partial to the idea of aliens visiting ancient civilizations and influencing their development. You know, like helping build the pyramids.”

“Yeah, I’ve wondered if it’s true. I don’t know how they’d have been able to build those without assistance.”

“Yeah, it’s fascinating to think about,” he says, his voice still a little husky. “The precision and engineering involved in structures like the pyramids is mind-boggling for the time period.”

I nod, grateful for the shift back to safer conversational ground. “Definitely. And then there are all those ancient cave drawings that seem to depict alien-like figures. It makes you wonder.”

We start walking again, our feet sinking slightly into the damp sand. The sun has almost completely set now, leaving the sky a deep indigo. A cool breeze blows in from the ocean, and I shiver slightly.

Cooper notices and moves closer, his arm slipping around my waist. “Cold?”

I nod, leaning into his warmth. “A little. I didn’t realize how chilly it was getting out here.”

“We should probably head back,” he says, making no move to turn around.

“Probably,” I agree, also not wanting our walk to end.

We stand there for a moment, looking out at the darkening ocean. The rhythmic sound of the waves is soothing, and I find myself relaxing further into Cooper’s side.

“Thank you for this,” he says. “For inviting me over, for the walk. It’s exactly what I needed.”

I turn my head to look at him, smiling. “I’m glad. That’s what friends are for, right?”

Cooper nods, but there’s something in his eyes I can’t quite read. “Right. Friends.”

We stand there for another moment, the weight of unspoken words hanging between us. Finally, I shiver again, more dramatically this time.

“Okay, that’s it,” Cooper says with a chuckle. “Let’s get you back before you freeze.”

We turn and start retracing our steps, his arm still around my waist. The conversation flows easily as we discuss our favorite beach memories and the best local spots to watch the sunset.

We collect our shoes and do our best to brush the sand from our feet before putting them on. Cooper’s arm wraps around me once more for the final stretch of our walk. As we approach my front door, I feel a twinge of disappointment that our evening is coming to an end. He seems to hesitate as well.

“Thanks again for tonight,” he says, his hand lingering on my back. “It really helped take my mind off things.”

I smile up at him. “Anytime. That’s what I’m here for.”

Cooper leans in, and for a moment I think he might kiss me. Instead, he pulls me into a warm hug. I wrap my arms around him, breathing in his scent.

“Goodnight, Scarlett,” he says, pulling away.

“Goodnight, Cooper. Drive safe.”

I watch as he walks to his car and slips inside. He waves before he backs from the driveway. Once he’s gone, I let out a long sigh and head inside.

My mind is swirling with conflicting emotions as I get ready for bed. The evening felt so easy, so comfortable, and I didn’t want it to end. And as I drift off to sleep, I can’t help but replay moments from our evening together—the way Cooper looked at me on the beach, how natural it felt to be in his arms, the almost-kiss at my doorstep. I try to push those thoughts aside, but a small part of me wonders if there could be something real developing between us.