Cooper throws his head back and laughs. “Sounds like something Mason would do,” he stops laughing and gives me a funny look, “but I really didn’t need the visual either.”

I giggle, “Glad I could help.”

“I wonder how,” Cooper cuts his eyes over to me, “he’s--“

He doesn’t get to finish that sentence because I start pushing him off the bed. “I don’t need any more visuals running through my head Cooper!”

Cooper sits back up still laughing. “Alright, alright, I promise not to ask how he’s managing to hit that these days.”

I shove Cooper again, “Damn it Cooper!”

He rights himself in bed again, laughing his ass off. “Okay I’m done now, promise.”

I glare, wanting to smack him. “Just remember you have to go to sleep at some point.”

Cooper holds his hands up in surrender, “Alright settle down, Twinkle Toes.”

I reach for my iced coffee, “So how do you think the season is going to go this year?”

Cooper pulls me to his side, “Everything looks pretty good. Coach knows Mason is going to be missing some time with the twins coming and all.”

I rest my head on his shoulder, “I guess that gives someone a chance to bump Mason down on the list?”

Cooper nods, “Pretty much.”

“That sucks.”

Cooper sighs loudly, “Yeah.”

Nothing more is said for a little while as we both get into the action of the movie. Cooper’s phone dings alerting him of a text.

He reaches over and reads the message. He doesn’t reply when he is done, just puts the phone back down.

I sit up, stretching my arms over my head, “Everything ok?” I know I’m being nosey but I’m curious.

Cooper yawns, “Yeah. You remember Eli right, the one who played ball with me and Mase at BU?”

I remember exactly who Eli is; he’s someone I won’t be forgetting soon. Cooper doesn’t know how attracted I really am to him so I try playing it off. I put a finger to my mouth and tap my lips, trying to act like I can’t remember the hunk.

Cooper smirks, “Come on Jay, big guy, muscles, dark hair, tall. All the girls seem to flock to him.”

A smile tugs at my lips. Every time Eli would talk to me, or even look in my direction, I would blush. I couldn’t help it. He’s just one of those guys that are perfect, flawless really. He’s in a class all by himself.

“You remember don’t you?” Cooper tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “Look at you. You’re blushing and he isn’t even here.”

I narrow my eyes, annoyed with him. “I’m not blushing, Cooper.”

“Uh huh, whatever though, you’re in my bed. That’s all that matters.” Cooper kisses me on the lips to drive the point home. Cue the butterflies. “Anyway, he’s opening up a club here in Jersey down by the shore and he wants me to partner up with him.”

My eyebrows rise inquiringly. “Are you going to do it?” I’m a little taken aback because I thought for sure Cooper would bide his time until he made it to the big leagues.

Cooper stares off into space, not answering me right away. “Yeah, I’m thinking pretty hard about it.”

I nod my head wondering if I should keep trying to press for more information. I choose to just let it go for now. I get lost in watching Channing Tatum fight his way through a gun battle at the White House, trying to save his daughter from the bad guys.

“I’ve been thinking about quitting the team too.” Cooper finally says after some time.

I act like what he just said isn’t a big deal although I’m floored he just uttered those words. “Is that what you really want to do?” I question. “Can you do both?”

Cooper shrugs, “I could do both but I don’t think I want to. I really only went with the BlueClaws because I didn’t know what else I wanted to do with my life. They offered me a good deal and I went with it because I didn’t have anything else, plus the bonus was that I would still be playing with Mason. But now with Eli opening this club I’d be able to put those four years of business management to work. If things go well we’d probably open another one in the next town over.”

From the way he’s talking, he’d obviously given this a lot of thought. “But you love baseball, Cooper.” I say, wanting him to see all sides of this. He has played for as long as I can remember, it’s his life. Or at least I thought it would be. I can’t imagine him doing anything else beside that.

“I know and I always will, but it’s time for a change.” Cooper licks his lips.

I nod in agreement with him. It seems that he’s already made up his mind and it’s not my place to change it.

We snuggle back in and watch the rest of the movie. I feel my eyes getting heavy and Cooper’s breathing is steady and slow, I know he’s fallen asleep. I reach across him and turn the TV down and then wrap myself around his waist and fall asleep.

6

“No, no, stop.”

Groaning, I turn my head away from the noise.

“Please, stop.”

I turn my head back the other way, restless.

“Cooper!”

My eyes snap open and it takes me a second to get my bearings but it didn’t take me long.

“Don’t, no!”

I sit up quickly and look over at Jaylinn’s trembling body. Pushing the blankets off me, I reach over to put a hand on her arm. “Jay, baby, you’re dreaming.”

“Stop!”

Fuck! My throat is so dry and my voice catches so I swallow and I try again, “Jay,” I give her shoulder a little shake, wanting to pull her out of the nightmare. “Wake up. You’re dreaming. It’s just a dream.”

Jaylinn’s eyes fly open, tears running from her eyes. She’s looking all around, eyes wide and panicked trying to figure out where she is. “Cooper?” she gasps.

“Yeah, it’s me. You were dreaming.” I hate this. I hate so much that there’s absolutely nothing I can do for her with these dreams. As I watch her, my heart is pounding hard as I’m sure hers is too.

She’s been having them less and less lately but when they hit they screw with her head pretty badly for the next few days. That’s what kills me. Most of the time something triggers them but this time I’m not sure what would have brought it on.

“I’m sorry,” she cries, her voice so lost it gives my heart another stab.