“Hello mother,” I say with all the sugary sweetness I can muster.
“What is this I’m hearing about you getting married last night? Do you even know who this girl is? Your father is doing everything for you to quickly get an annulment and hopefully, it won’t cost you anything.” The words spill out of her mouth so fast, they leave my head spinning. I pinch the bridge of my nose wondering if Evelyn Reid can ever say anything about my life without amping it up to ten on the extreme-freak out meter.
I sigh heavily and know this is going to take every ounce out of me. My fantastic day is about to plummet. “Listen you don’t need to worry about an annulment because the girl I married is someone I know…”
“You never bring any girls home. Who is she Cooper?” The volume of her voice continues to escalate.
“Well, if you let me finish mom, I could tell you it’s Violet.”
“Violet…” All the air leaves her lungs and I enjoy the second of silence from her dismay. “That girl you dated in high school?” she hisses with all the bitterness she can muster.
Some things never change.
“One and the same.”
“I don’t believe this,” she huffs
“Well, believe it, mother.” I run my hand through my hair and yank on it in frustration.
“And let me guess, she’s going to be moving in with you and you’re going to be supporting her.”
“Of course she’s going to be moving in. She’s my wife. You know how I always felt about her,” I say, raising my voice; this conversation is pissing me off.
Why can’t she just be happy for me? She knows how much I loved Violet, even though she didn’t like it. It’s like my happiness always takes a back seat because it isn’t the life she envisioned for me.
“Seems convenient,” she scoffs and it’s the final straw.
“Mom, I don’t have time for this. I need to get ready for brunch with my wife.” I hang up and toss the phone across the room.
I fight the urge to scream. Why can’t she just say congratulations, son?
Instead of yelling, I manage to get out of bed and throw on a pair of sweats. Glancing around the destroyed room, I smile with pride remembering taking Violet over every inch of it. Though the wedding was rushed, the consummation wasn’t.
Plus, who needs a big lavish affair? Elvis was fitting, and I'll be loving her tender for the rest of her life.
Uh-huh.
An inspiring rhythm pops into my head, my muse on full blast. I grab my guitar, to write down the lyrics and chords before I forget.
You went away
I was lost
Lost without you
Our parents thought we were wrong
Never happy with our young love
Thought our love wasn’t strong enough to survive.
They ripped us apart
When you went away
But you remained in my heart.
I hum out a tune, but the rest of the lyrics aren’t there yet. The chorus quickly comes to mind, thinking of my bride in front of a fake Elvis, his pelvis gyrating, and curling his lip.
I found you
Made you my wife
I found you
To have, to hold, for the rest of my life.
Uh-huh,
We’ll prove to them
They’ll never win
You’re mine forever
I’m in mid-erase of a d-minor chord when a pounding echoes against the doors of my suite.
“Motherfucker, open the door,” Brody’s obnoxious voice bellows and I place my guitar on the bed. I pick up the sheet music and hide it in my bag, not wanting my Violet to see it quite yet.
Grabbing a shirt, I pull it over my head and swing open the door. Brody is mid-knock when I come face to face with him. A cocky grin pulls at the corners of his mouth and he walks into my room like he owns the place.
“Where’s the missus?” His eyes dart around the room before they land back on me. “Did you manage to scare her away already?”
I growl and sock him in the arm. “Not funny, jackass.”
“Oh lighten up. But seriously, is Violet here?”
“No, she went back to her room to get the other girls and a change of clothes. What do you want?” I glance down at the papers he has curled in his right hand.
“You and Violet made the front page of every newspaper.” He throws the newspapers on the table, displaying said front pages.
“Cooper Reid, HITCHED”
The headline screams from the Las Vegas Sun, and below the large, bold print there is a five by eight a picture of Violet and I kissing outside the ‘Little Chapel.’ There’s a close up of her left hand, which is in my hair, with a red circle around her wedding rings. I pick the paper up and read the article.
Cooper Reid was spotted outside of The Little White Chapel in an intense lip lock with a blonde beauty. The wedding was spontaneous according to sources. The two were only spotted hours before at the Bellagio, drinking, and dancing. Reid has no prior relationships known to the public. So, who is this mysterious woman who was able to convince the long-term bachelor into marriage? We have reached out to Reid’s publicists for answers.
Will this quickie marriage be quick or will it be one to last forever? Stay tuned.
The other papers say much of the same thing. I smile again at the picture of us outside the chapel and look back up at my brother. “I might have to frame this. But this explains how Louie and Mom found out so fast.” I lay the paper back down on the table.
“I should also warn you, there is a large crowd outside the hotel. Photographers, crazy fans, you know, the works. Collin and Tucker have gotten a couple more of the hotel guards to help out with crowd control.”
Collin and Tucker have been my bodyguards since I found I couldn’t go anywhere without a camera in my face or a fan chasing me down. I consider them family, but they made it clear their jobs come before friendship.
“Should I have someone get Vi?”
“Probably. If they figure out who she is, I’m sure many of the broken hearts will want to rip out her hair.”
I snort in reply. I love my fans, but sometimes they scare me. There are days when I’m ambushed by them and I don’t know how I make it out alive with my clothes still intact. “So much for staying under the radar this weekend.”
“Buutttt—” he extends the word out and grins, “you’re married. How does it feel?”
“I’m still processing it a bit, but fuck, I’m over the moon. I owe you for bringing me here. What the fuck were the chances of running into her, you know?”
“It was destiny,” he says in a mocking, singsong voice. “You should’ve tracked her down years ago like I told you instead of believing Amber. I also don’t care what you think you saw, if you didn’t let that woman into your head…” Brody shakes his own head and slips into one of the lounge chairs. “Though the good news for me is, I was able to hook up with Alexa. She was,” he whistles through his teeth, “dynamite in the sack.”
“Well, that’s great. Oh, and I don’t know if you want to sit there…” I point to his chair, the same chair I was sitting in hours ago while Vi sucked my dick.
Brody jumps from his seat and groans, “Fuck man. I’m going to have to fucking carry around the sanitizer again.”
“I would say sorry, but you know I’m not…better get used to it,” I quip. Me and Vi fucking when we’re in the same room together is inevitable.
“Fucker,” he growls, “then where can I sit?”
I look around the suite and scratch the back of my neck. “Um you might be better off standing.”
FOUR
October 23rd, 2001
Cooper
I ’m twirling my keys on my finger, getting ready to go pick up Violet for our trip to San Diego to visit her dad. He lives on the Naval Base there, but next month he is getting deployed to Afghanistan.
Violet was devastated when she found out, and now is trying to spend as much time
with him before he ventures out as she can. Today is the perfect time to ask him for his daughter's hand in marriage. I don’t know how long he’ll be gone, and even though I don’t have the proposal planned, I want to have his permission just in case he’s not back by the time I do.
I know Vi is worried about everything that could happen to him overseas, especially in these times. The dark thoughts of possibly losing him have plagued her mind all the time since she found out he was leaving. She idolizes her father and he supports her in everything.
If anything happened to her dad, I don’t think Vi could handle it. We’re both still trying to recover from the miscarriage, a loss which weighs heavy on both our hearts. The bad days were getting further apart, up until two weeks ago when we both broke down, realizing the date. The date in which we should’ve been holding our baby in our arms…
My stomach twists and I do my best to shake off the ever-depressing thoughts. I can’t think of them today. No, today, I need to be strong and keep being the man she needs me to be. I’ll do everything in my power to keep her smiling because I hate seeing her cry. I know we’ll start a family one day—as soon as we’re married.
I’m almost out the door to freedom, when my mom stops me. I spin around, putting on my winning smile, knowing I'm going to have to face her familiar wrath over my girlfriend.
“And where do you think you’re going now, young man?” she scolds, her hands on her hips.
“I told you, Violet and I are going to visit her father for the weekend.”
“I just think you could do so much better than her, Cooper. She’s leading you down—”
“The wrong path…and destroying my future,” I say, cutting her off. “Yeah, yeah, you’ve said it all before, but you have it all wrong and you know it. Violet is on my side and wants my dreams to come true. I don’t want what you and dad want, and eventually, you’ll have to understand that.” I’m exhausted from this same fucking fight anytime I go anywhere.
Almost every day for the last two years.
Two years, I’ve spent listening to her talk down about my relationship with Violet, and my career choice. What’s so wrong with wanting to be a singer and songwriter?
Every now and again she does back off. Today is not that day. Dad is even to the point where he just nods but agrees without saying a word.
She’s going to have to get over it though because I’m going to marry Violet one day. We’ll have more kids, a house —the whole shabang—and she’ll just have to live with it.
“It’s bad enough you’re dragging Brody into your bad choices too. I mean he’s studying music management,” she continues her rant. “Thankfully, you haven’t gotten to Dustin, yet.”
My little brother Dustin is twelve and has his head in the clouds. Video games and Pokémon are the only things he cares about. Just how he should be at that age.
“That’s because Brody has faith in my career. If he can’t be my manager one day, he’ll do it for someone else, and he will be great. I need to go.” I open the door and slam it behind me.
I arrive at Violet’s house and she comes out the door in a short, pink sundress, her ponytail swaying back and forth as she bounces over, showing off just enough cleavage to make me want to nuzzle my nose in her chest.
She swings open the door and throws her bag into the backseat. “Hey.” She leans over the console and gives me a kiss.
“Hey. Did you get some sleep last night?”
Last night, we celebrated Violet’s seventeenth birthday. Her best-friend, Kayla, threw her a huge party at her house, inviting everyone from our Senior class to join. It was just the thing we both needed to clear our heads and try to be okay. Though, I think we both ended up drinking too much to do so—but we had fun.
It’s probably another reason my mom wasn’t too happy about my adventures with Violet; I had stumbled into the house at three a.m. smelling like beer and Vi.
“Yeah, after the romp in the car, how could I not fall asleep?” She says cheekily and I glance towards the backseat where I’d had her withering under me and had made her come twice. She buckles her seatbelt and we set off onto the road.
I’m not sure how we made it to her father’s house two hours later, but we did. Violet had leaned over the console to suck my dick while I drove, making me think it was my birthday, considering how long her mouth bobbed up and down my shaft. I don’t know how I managed to drive straight, or not have semi-truck drivers get distracted with our show. Her ass had been pointing out the window, in a very short dress. At least the windows are lightly tinted, but I love how wild and spontaneous she is, and my dick is in agreement.
I park in front of her father’s house and kill the engine. She moves to grab the door handle when my hand reaches behind her neck, pulling her to me, our lips millimeters apart.
“You know one day you’re going to have us killed because of that mouth of yours.”
“I guess that would be one way to go,” she pants, and I take the opportunity with her lips parted to slip my tongue into her mouth. I can taste my saltiness on her tongue along with the lingering flavor of her mint toothpaste. She moans, her nails digging into my shoulders, and I can feel the indents she’s making in my skin. Out of the corner of my eye, I see her dad’s front door open, and I break away from her lips.
“We should get out before your dad makes good on one of his threats.”
“No, we wouldn’t want that,” She giggles, giving me one last peck before getting out of the car.
Ron is standing at the front door and Violet goes flying into his arms, causing him to stumble back.
“Daddy, I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too. Happy birthday, sweetie.” He continues to hug her tightly. When he sees me approach, he pulls back from Violet, putting his hand out for me to shake.
“Cooper, my boy, it’s good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you too, Ron. Caught anything good this year?”
“A 50-pounder catfish just last week,” he says proudly, rocking on his heels.
I stare at him in amazement. I have no idea how he’s able to catch these monster fish. The best I can get is a 10-pounder, anything.
“And let me guess…that’s what we're having for dinner,” Violet says with disgust. The girl can’t stand any kind of fish.
“Maybe for Cooper and me, but I have your favorite for dinner,” he tells her. “It is your birthday.”
“Lasagna?” Her eyes light up and she claps her hands together in excitement.
“Mayyybe.” He extends the word out and her enthusiasm wanes.
“Wait, who made it?” She squints at him. “It better have been Beth. If it was from Morgan, I’ll pass.” She sticks out her tongue, “Blah.”
Beth and Morgan are Navy wives on base. When they heard Violet was coming over last time, they had cooked for her. Both of them have known her since she was little, but last time Morgan cooked, I was there, and her meat pie was food poisoning R’ Us. I shudder at the memory.
“Maybe I should say it was Morgan, just so you’ll eat my fish.” He puts his arm around her shoulder and pulls her into the house. “Let’s get you two settled in and we can go for that hike you wanted to go on.”
After a five-mile hike, leaving my calves burning from all the hills, we arrive back at the house. Violet is supposed to be upstairs taking a shower, but more than likely she passed out on the bed. I’m standing in the kitchen with Ron helping him grill up the catfish.
“Ron, I was wondering if I could talk to you about something before Violet gets back.” I pull on my collar nervously. It's suddenly very hot in here, and sweat is forming on my brow.
“What is it, son?” He turns to me, pointing the knife at me, the fish guts hanging off it.
I gulp, hoping after I ask, I come out better than the fish.
“I know Violet and I are young, and I’m not saying I want to do it now. I mean, I would if we could.” I shift from foot to foot, my heart beating
out of my chest.
“Spill it son. This fish isn't going to cook and season itself.”
“Okay, what I’m trying to say is, when the time is right, I was hoping I could get your permission to marry your daughter…”
I look away from him, anxiously awaiting his answer—or my death. He surprises me when he laughs deep from in his belly. My head spins back and he places the knife back on the cutting board.
“Well, I have to say I’m impressed, son. I’m glad you actually have the guts to ask me. I agree with you two being too young right now, but when you find that perfect moment to ask her, you have my permission. God knows you won’t get it from Amber.” He shakes his head. The waves of residual bitterness about his ex-wife roll off his shoulders.
I snort. “That’s the truth.”
“Just promise me that if you do become some big star, don’t push her aside and make her feel any less than she is. You’ll get busy, surrounded by women at every turn, and if you break her heart, I’ll break you.” He picks the knife back up, pointing it towards me, and I pale again. “Understand?”
“Very much, sir.”
“You really should see your face,” he chuckles, finding humor in my fear, “but good. Because from what Violet tells me, and the tracks I’ve heard, I think you do have what it takes to make it. And I’m not even big on the music these days.”
His words make me realize how much his leaving affects me too. He always treats me like his own. Has faith I’ll succeed, something I have yet to get from my own home.
Yeah, this next year is going to suck balls without him in Vi’s and my corner.
“Thank you, Ron, it means a lot. I only wish my folks felt the same.”
He pats my shoulder. “I’m sure they’ll come around.”
I’m not so sure of that.
“What’s going on, you guys?” Violet asks, coming into the kitchen in a pair of sweats, my Spinal Tap shirt, and her hair wet from her shower.
I Found You Page 8
