Chapter 13

The rest of the meal passed in silence, and Cooper got up to take care of the dishes as soon as I’d taken my last bite. He was quick and efficient as always, and when he was done, he turned around and held out a hand. I quirked an eyebrow at him.

“You know what I’d like? I’d like to start a fire, and sit with you in front of it.” He walked closer, and I tilted my head so I could keep his face in sight. “Just like we used to. Remember our first winter together? When it was so rough, and we used to sit in front of the space heater in your tiny apartment and pretend it was a fireplace?”

The memory washed over me hard. We’d been together for several months at that point, and any time he could get off base, he was there with me, keeping me warm in the crap hole I’d lived in at the time. He would give me all the pretty words about someday we’d have space and a real fire. I’d believed him so completely.

I hadn’t thought about that in years. Hadn’t let myself.