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If he got the chance, would he rekindle things?

None of those questions are helpful, but they’re there anyway.

Cooper’s life is in LA now. He left Vancouver and Leo Davidson behind him.

I let myself dwell on all the unknowns, but when I hear Cooper crashing about in his kitchen, I force myself to my feet and follow the scent of food that’s making my stomach growl.

“This looks great,” I say as I take a seat at the island, my eyes focused on the food instead of the man who’s dishing it up.

No other words are said between us as he finishes up and then comes to sit beside me.

The heat of his body burns into mine, taunting me.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, hating that talking about all of that has caused him to shut down on me.

I love getting to know the man who hides behind all his equipment, and I fear that digging into the reason for his sudden trade might have just ruined everything.

“It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not. You shouldn’t be forced to move your entire life because you’ve fallen in love with⁠—”

“Whoa, no one was in love with anyone,” he interrupts.

Relief floods through me.

It shouldn’t be my reaction. But it is.

“Okay, but still. We don’t live in the fucking Dark Ages. It shouldn’t matter who we’re in a relationship with. Our preferences shouldn’t dictate the direction of our career.”

My heart races and my hands tremble as anger surges through me.

I picture my jerk of an ex-boss who made my life hell for a year, all because I like men.

It had nothing to do with my ability to do my job. It wasn’t like I was hitting on him, or anyone in the office.

“Hey,” Cooper says, his hand landing on my forearm. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not. It’s not fucking okay. None of this is okay.”

He swallows thickly as he studies me, his eyes bouncing between mine.

“I…” he starts but quickly slams his lips shut.

“What? What is it?”

“I shouldn’t be doing this again.”

“Because you don’t do relationships? Yeah, you said that.”

He closes his eyes, almost as if he’s in pain.

“No, I don’t. Or I didn’t, anyway. My focus is hockey. That’s the way it has to be. But…”

My heart continues to race, but suddenly, it’s for a whole different reason.

“I know this isn’t much of an offer. I don’t have much I can give. But…I’d like to keep doing this.”

Fuck.