Page 65 of Forbidden Dreams
Cooper: Not likely.
I swallowed hard because I was already there. And I wanted to give Aspen everything, my time and attention, my love and focus. But how did you do that when you weren't even allowed to be with her?
Emery: You're going to be the best husband one day, the opposite of Dad.
Cooper: How can you be so sure?
Emery: Because you'll do everything in your power to be the opposite of him.
I wasn't ready to believe her. Not yet. She looked up to me as any little sister would to a big brother. Especially given the circumstances we grew up in. But she couldn't know for sure that I wouldn't be like my dad.
Even if I thought I could be the man Aspen deserved, I'd be betraying my friends and her brothers. It was an impossible situation, one I never should have gotten involved in.
Aspen appeared in the doorway, her hair mussed and her eyes heavy with sleep. "What are you doing out here?"
I showed her the screen. "Emery's coming home."
A soft smile spread over Aspen's face, and she reached for me. "Come back to bed. I missed you."
How could I ignore that plea, even if the smart thing to do would be to get out of here, to forget about us?
I slipped into bed. This time she rested more of her body weight on top of me, and I fell asleep easily.
Chapter 17
Aspen
When I woke up, Cooper was gone. I remembered urging him to come back to bed in the middle of the night and how he'd held me. I'd lain awake for a bit, wondering what was bothering him so much that he couldn't sleep. I couldn't help but think that it was only a matter of time before he pulled away.
Was he worried someone would know that he was staying overnight? It was a small town, and gossip was a thing. But I didn't like it.
How long would he let this continue before he decided it was too much for him?
But today was Thanksgiving, and I wanted to enjoy the day with my family. I just wasn't sure how we were going to pretend that we meant nothing to each other. I was fairly sure I was falling for him more every day.
Would my brothers suspect something had changed?
I had to get through today, then maybe we'd see each other tonight, and I could figure out what was bothering him.
I got in the shower, remembering last night. How Cooper had soaped my body and my hair, making me feel cared for and adored. But our time together was limited, the end imminent. I needed to focus on one event, then the next, hoping for the best.
After my shower, I made coffee and carried my mug to the porch. Our hot chocolate mugs were gone. Cooper must have put them in the dishwasher. I loved that he did little things to take care of me. He said he wasn't boyfriend material, but I hadn't found that to be true.
I sat on the couch, curling my legs underneath me. The tree lights were still on, and warmth fogged the windows.
My phone buzzed.
Cooper: Sorry I didn't stick around. I was worried about the neighbors seeing my truck.
I wanted to say Then let them talk.
Aspen: I wish you would have stayed.
Cooper: Me too.
Cooper: I wasn't expecting my sister to visit.
That meant he'd spend less time at my family's and more at his. I wish I could be there with him. That we were a real couple, and I could share in his excitement and spend time with his family. But they felt off-limits to me.
