Crashing the Net

by Jami Davenport

  “He has to be okay, honey. He has to be.” Cooper squeezed her hand so tightly, it hurt, but she held on without one complaint.

  “We’ll all be okay, Cooper,” she promised, kissing him lightly on the cheek.

  “Cooper Black?” A reporter with her camera guy bore down on them. Cooper stiffened beside Izzy and glanced around frantically as if looking for an escape route.

  Izzy narrowed her eyes and glared at the news team. Standing, she blocked their access to Cooper. “Mr. Black needs his privacy right now. This is a very trying time for him. I’m sure you can appreciate that.”

  The female reporter unsheathed her claws and sized up Izzy. “We only have a few questions for him.”

  “Mr. Black has no comment.” Izzy spoke with absolute certainty, her own claws sharpened for a cat fight. “You need to leave now.”

  The woman looked down her aristocratic nose at Izzy. “And who are you?”

  “I’m his girlfriend.” Izzy propped hands on hips and stared down the woman.

  The reporter didn’t move.

  “Either you leave, or I’ll have Ethan Parker, the team owner, talk to your station manager. You are aware Mr. Parker is part owner of your broadcasting company, aren’t you?”

  For a long moment they stared each other down until the news reporter turned to her camera man and left in search of another unfortunate victim to exploit their grief and trauma for TV ratings.

  “Wow, you’re tough.” Cooper managed a chuckle. “Remind me to never cross you.”

  “That would be wise.” She smiled back and sat down next him. He grabbed her hand again, giving her as much strength and comfort as she gave him.

  “So Ethan owns part of that TV station?” Cooper asked.

  “Hell if I know.” Izzy shrugged.

  Cooper laughed a real laugh, and so did she. It felt good to laugh and relieve some of the overpowering tension. Several people shot chastising glares in their direction, while others actually smiled.

  Cooper ran his hand through his hair and sobered as he glanced around at the room full of parents. “Thanks for running interference.”

  “You’re welcome. I’m glad I was here to help. Reporters can be ruthless.”

  “So are you, but I have a question—you’re my girlfriend?” He watched her with a guarded expression, almost as if fearing her answer and a possible rejection. Only Izzy had no intention of rejecting him. Being with him today and enduring this tragedy, seeing all these parents, some reunited with their children, others finding out they’d never see their children alive again, changed every truth she thought she held dear.

  This was life stripped bare of all its fancy adornments until only the essentials that really mattered were left—love, family, and friends.

  Being independent and never relying on anyone didn’t hold the appeal it once did. Yet, being part of a couple who were a greater force together than they would be apart did appeal to her. They were a team. Yeah, there’d be bumps and bruises along the way. They’d lose a game or two, maybe get penalized, but they’d emerge champions because together there wasn’t anything they couldn’t conquer, including this tragedy. Riley would need their loving support more than he’d ever needed anything, even when he’d been scrounging for food or witnessing his mother’s downward spiral.

  They’d be a family, if only God and fate gifted them with that second chance.

  Izzy would give anything to see Riley walking through that door.

  Anything.

  She gave Cooper a soft kiss on his lips and cupped his cheek in one hand. “You’re damn right, I’m your girlfriend. Do you have a problem with that?”

  “No, ma’am, you scare me when you get like this.”

  The teasing felt good, but she knew they were only trying to mask their nerves. “I love you, Cooper Black. I don’t think until today I truly knew what that really meant.”

  “I love you, Izzy.” He nodded, as if he too understood how this tragedy had changed them forever, regardless of the outcome.

  “I want us to be together.”

  “What if I sign with a different team?”

  Izzy stopped to think about that, but she’d known her answer for a while now, even if she hadn’t acknowledged it to Cooper or herself. “You and me—we’re a team. We’re meant for each other. Wherever you go, I’ll be there for you and for Riley.”

  He opened his mouth to say something but Izzy held up a hand and stopped him.

  “Don’t bother denying it. Riley has a permanent home with you, and anyone who dares to challenge our claim on him will have to come through you and me first.”

  “And that’s not happening.” Cooper managed a small, tense smile. “But what about you, Izzy? You love Seattle and your sisters are here. You say you’re fine leaving with me now, but what about later, a year from now, or a few years from now? Will you resent me for taking you away from your business, your city, your family? Will you see me as a selfish bastard because I did that to you?”

  “Of course not,” Izzy said but doubt crept into her voice, and she could tell by Cooper’s expression that he caught it. “You’re not leaving here without me, mister. If you do, I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth so don’t even try it.”

  She stood on tiptoes and brushed her lips across his. “I can’t bear to be without you or Riley. We’ll make our home wherever we are.”

  “Home is where the heart is?” His smile was bigger this time.

  “Cliché, but true.”

  Cooper pulled her into his arms and held her tight. “All I know is that the three of us will be together as a family.”

  “And that’s what matters, Cooper. The rest will work itself out.” Izzy meant it. They’d form a family and give Riley the life he deserved.

  Because Riley had to be alive. He had to be.

  * * * *

  Cooper’s phone rang with a local phone number he didn’t recognize. He stared at it as if it were the devil himself coming to take him to hell.

  Izzy looked at the phone, seeing what he did. She gripped his hand tighter, and God, he needed her right now. It could be the hospital or the police or another nosy reporter who’d gotten word that hockey star Cooper Black’s nephew had been involved in the school shooting. The press loved shit like that, especially if they could get him in a vulnerable moment showing some real emotion.

  Bastards.

  But it sure had been fun seeing Izzy put that woman in her place.

  “Aren’t you going to answer it?” Izzy nudged him.

  “Yeah.” Cooper hit the Talk button and held the phone up to his ear. “Hello.”

  “Uncle Coop, it’s Riley.”

  Every bit of tension drained out of Cooper. He didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or scream to the heavens that his nephew was okay. Izzy stared at him, reading his relief, and a tentative smile graced her beautiful face.

  Riley? She mouthed the words.

  He nodded and grinned at her. Izzy’s smile lit up her face and tears fell down her cheeks. Hell, tears were falling down his cheeks. It was a strange bittersweet happiness while a woman wailed in the background, obviously receiving the worst news of all. Cooper’s heart went out to her even as his own spirits soared.

  “Uncle Cooper?” Riley’s voice jerked him out of his stupor.

  “Yeah, yeah, I’m here, buddy. Are you okay? Where are you?”

  “Yeah, I’m okay. I’m at the hospital.” Riley sounded strange, like he was sleepwalking and taking at the same time.

  “The hospital? Are you hurt?”

  “My arm was grazed. I’ll be okay.”

  “Grazed? By a bullet?” Panic rose in Cooper. Sweat dripped down his face, and his hands shook. He swore he was going to throw up right here. Using every ounce of control he’d learned from playing hockey, Cooper fought the panic and nausea.

  For Riley.

  Riley didn’t need his uncle in a panic. He needed him to be brave because Riley was facing some tough times ahead.
Cooper could only imagine what he’d seen, what he experienced, and how many of his classmates and friends he might have witnessed being gunned down before his very eyes.

  Cooper swallowed and pulled himself together. Izzy held his hand, watching his face, her own face hopeful yet concerned.

  “Is he okay?” she asked anxiously.

  Cooper nodded. “Ry, where are you? We’ll be there as quickly as we can get there.”

  “I’m at Harborview. I—I need you guys.”

  “Izzy and I will be there in a few.”

  “Thanks, Uncle Coop.” The phone went dead.

  “Let’s go.” Cooper grabbed Izzy’s hand and almost dragged her from the church. Together they sprinted to his car and once in, tore down the street.

  Izzy patted his arm. “Cooper, slow down. Riley’s okay. We need to get there in one piece.”

  Cooper nodded and slowed the car to the speed limit. “He’s okay. Thank God he’s okay.”

  “I know, honey, I know.”

  “All those other people who weren’t so lucky—”

  “Cooper, I know, but Riley needs the two of us more than ever. Let’s concentrate on what we can control.” Izzy rested her head on his broad shoulder.

  “I’m so glad I have you. Together, we can do this.”

  “Together, we can do anything,” Izzy said, and she meant it.

  * * * *

  Riley sat up in the hospital bed with a bandaged arm. He didn’t need to be hospitalized. He needed to go home. He stared at the open door, watching nurses and doctors hustle back and forth, and wondered about Gina.

  He’d asked about her, but no one would give him any answers. He gripped the blanket, feeling so very lost and alone.

  He lay back against the sheets and closed his eyes, but the images of his earlier nightmare ran through his head in vivid HD color. He snapped his eyes back open and wiped the sweat off his face.

  His uncle’s big frame filled the doorway, and their eyes locked. He’d never seen his uncle look like that, almost crazed with worry. Uncle Coop always seemed so in control, almost cold. He didn’t look cold right now. He looked scared shitless.

  Uncle Coop looked him up and down, as if assessing his injuries. Relief relaxed the tension on his face, and he grinned as he strode to Riley’s side.

  Riley reached out his arms in a totally spontaneous gesture, and his uncle smothered him in a hug, careful to avoid his bandaged arm.

  Riley couldn’t be strong anymore. Sobs wracked his body, and he buried his head in his uncle’s shoulder. His uncle might think he was a wuss, but he couldn’t stop. He’d looked death in the eyes and somehow survived. Why him—the kid who never had anything go his way? Why him?

  Uncle Cooper finally let go, only to be replaced by Izzy. She hugged him tight and blubbered, her tears wetting his shoulder. She finally stopped hugging him, but she sat on the bed and held his hand, while she sniffled and wiped her nose and eyes with a tissue.

  Riley hiccupped a bit and squeezed his eyes shut, but nothing stopped the tears from leaking out so he opened them.

  “Are you okay?” Uncle Coop asked, wiping his own eyes. Shit, Uncle Coop had been crying? Riley couldn’t believe it. His uncle was too strong to cry.

  “Yeah,” Riley managed.

  “The doctor told us you saved a girl’s life and put yours in danger.”

  Riley hadn’t thought of it that way. “I just did what I had to do.”

  “I’m proud of you, Riley.” Cooper smiled at him. “And damn glad you’re okay.” A tear ran down his uncle’s face, and he didn’t even bother to wipe it away. Riley watched it, mesmerized as it left a wet trail down his cheek and a wet spot on the leather jacket he wore.

  “Is she going to be okay?” Riley glanced from one to the other. Their troubled expressions said it all.

  Cooper took a deep breath, while Izzy managed a comforting smile. “Riley, she’s in surgery. I won’t lie to you—she’s critical, but the doctors here are the best at what they do,” Cooper said, staring at him so intently, it made Riley nervous.

  “My letterman’s jacket is ruined,” Riley said. He’d gotten the jacket only a week ago, and it’d been his prized possession. He’d be getting the football letter for freshman football at the awards banquet at the end of the month. Only now he wouldn’t have anything to put it on.

  It was weird the kind of meaningless crap that filled a guy’s mind at a time like this. He guessed that was how people coped at the worst of times.

  “I’ll buy you a dozen more, Riley,” Cooper said, patting his shoulder. Izzy squeezed his hand.

  They were acting like a—a family. Riley had never had a family before, and he was pretty sure he was going to embarrass himself and start crying again.

  “Hey, buddy, we’ll get through this. Little by little. You’ve got us.”

  Riley nodded, “How many—how many people died?” he choked out the words. Another one of those looks between Izzy and Uncle Coop.

  “We don’t know yet, Ry.”

  He nodded and gripped Izzy’s hand. Cooper sat next to him and put his arm around Riley’s shoulders, as if knowing somehow that Riley was going to lose it again. He did, only this time he didn’t feel so embarrassed. He knew they didn’t care if he cried.

  “It’s okay, buddy. Let it out. You’ll feel better.” Cooper spoke quietly as Riley cried until there just weren’t any tears left to cry. He sniffled, while Izzy dabbed at his face with a hand towel, coddling him like he’d never been coddled even as a small boy. He liked it a lot, even though he was too old to be treated like that.

  Uncle Cooper kept staring at him as if he had something to say. Riley met his gaze and waited, sniffling and hiccupping.

  “We love you, Riley. We’ll get through this together. The three of us.”

  Riley’s heart swelled in his chest to a point it was painful. “I’m not going to live with your parents?”

  “You’re not going anywhere.” Cooper’s response was so definite that Riley almost smiled.

  He glanced at Izzy who teared up again, but then so did Uncle Coop. “I love you, too, Uncle Coop. And you, Izzy.”

  “You can call me Aunt Izzy.” She smiled at him, and her smile lit up an otherwise gloomy room.

  Riley didn’t feel so alone anymore. For the first time in his life, he had people who cared for him and wanted the best for him.

  Despite how much his world had been irrevocably changed today, he knew he’d make it with their love and support.

  And through tragedy a small ray of hope warmed him inside.

  Chapter 22—In the Net

  The hospital was overrun by reporters and family members to the point that it took Izzy forty-five minutes to get lunch and bring it back to the room.

  Tanner was there, as were Cedric, Brick, Rush, Coach Gorst, Lauren, and Ethan, all crowding around Riley’s bed. Riley managed to smile at some outrageous joke Brick was telling.

  She glanced around the room. Cooper was conspicuously absent. Maybe he’d stepped out to use the bathroom. Yet fifteen minutes later, he hadn’t returned.

  “Where’s Coop?” she asked, no one in particular.

  “He said there was something important that he had to do. He’ll be back as soon as he can,” Riley answered.

  Izzy couldn’t imagine Cooper leaving Riley at a time like this unless it was something so important and necessary he had to do it now.

  Or lose his nerve.

  There was only one thing she could think of, only she didn’t know where he’d go to confront the past which haunted him.

  Thank God for the stalker app.

  Izzy left the guys with Riley, promising to be back soon, and drove to the location indicated by the app. It was a run-down part of Seattle with old houses, many ready to be demolished by an urban reclamation project. Cooper’s SUV was parked in the overgrown driveway of a condemned house. The front lawn was a tangle of blackberry vines and tall weeds. A small path led up to a leaning front porch.r />
  The door stood ajar.

  Izzy gingerly mounted the front steps and peered inside the dark, boarded-up house.

  Cooper stood in one corner, hands over his face, his body heaving as if he took deep breaths.

  “Coop?” She picked her away across the room littered with beer cans, garbage, and other stuff she didn’t want to look too closely at.

  He didn’t move, either not hearing her or expecting her. She touched his arm, and he stiffened, taking his hands away from his face and not meeting her gaze, but he didn’t tell her to leave either. If he hadn’t wanted her to find him, he’d have left his phone in Riley’s hospital room.

  He needed her here, so he’d made himself easy to find.

  Whatever had happened in this place was why he hated Seattle.

  * * * *

  Cooper had been expecting Izzy. In fact, he was relieved she’d found him. He needed her right now as much as he’d needed her hours ago.

  “Cooper, what are you doing here?” she asked, even though he suspected she had a damn good idea.

  “Exorcising the past.” He stared at a corner in the room, but he wasn’t seeing it the same way she was, but as it had been. The trunk had sat in that corner. To this day, he would never have a trunk in his house.

  Izzy moved closer to him, as if sensing his distress until she was so close to him, he could feel her body heat in this cold, oppressive house.

  “This was your aunt and uncle’s house,” she said, answering the question he couldn’t bring himself to answer.

  He nodded. “I’m glad it’s being torn down.” In fact, he’d personally pay to have it bulldozed if that was what it took.

  “Why did you come here today of all days?”

  “When I saw Riley today, heard how he tried to save that girl, and thought of all he’s been through, I realized that kid is stronger than I am, and it humbled me.” He needed to do this, to move on so he could help Riley move on. Izzy and Riley deserved his entire self, instead of only a portion because the other portion was imprisoned by a past he’d never come to terms with. And most of all, he needed to purge the guilt he’d felt all these years.