Cougar

by M. A. Foster

  I step farther into the room and hold up the coffee. “I thought you might need this.”

  “Thank you.” She gives me a sad smile and takes the cup. “I’m so glad you’re here.” She lifts up on her toes and gives me a soft kiss on the lips. “I’ve missed you.”

  Taking the coffee from her hand, I set in on the counter, then cup her face. “God, Emerson, I’ve missed you so fucking much.” Dipping my head, I press another kiss to her lips.

  “What. The. Fuck?” I turn my head to find Liam standing in the doorway, his eyes flicking between Emerson and me.

  Emerson pulls from my arms and crosses hers over her chest.

  Liam bristles and shakes his head. “You can’t be serious.”

  “Not now, Liam,” Emerson warns.

  “Seriously, Em.” He charges into the break room and stops right in front of her. “What the fuck happened to Jay? Better yet, how did it fucking happen? Where was her security? Where were you? Huh?”

  Emerson covers her face and begins to sob all over again.

  Reaching out, I shove him away from her, then move to stand in front of her. “That’s enough, Liam. This isn’t her fault.”

  “Then whose fuckin’ fault is it?” he yells.

  Bass appears in the doorway. “What’s going on?”

  Liam whirls around to face him. “And where the fuck were you? Aren’t you supposed to be watching out for her?”

  “Liam, chill out, man,” Bass warns.

  Liam whirls back around and points in my face. “What the fuck are you doing with my sister, Cam?”

  “Not that it’s any of your business, but we’re together. I love her.”

  “You love her?” He drops his hand, throws his head back, and barks out a laugh. “Maybe if you two weren’t busy playing house, my niece wouldn’t be lying in that hospital bed.”

  “Shut the fuck up!” I shout, shoving him hard.

  Liam cocks his fist back and takes a swing at me, but I dodge it and he clips Emerson on the side of the head.

  “Fuck!” She grips her head. “Liam, stop!”

  When Liam and I were teenagers, we made a pact that we’d never fight over a woman. Though I’m pretty sure his sister didn’t factor in at the time we made said pact. And even if she does, tough shit, because all I see is red.

  Liam is so pumped up on anger and adrenaline, he doesn’t even realize he hit his sister. I cock my fist back and slam it into his jaw. He instantly fires back, landing a punch to the side of my face.

  And so it begins. We lock up, our arms hooked around each other’s necks, and fall to the cold linoleum floor, continuing to exchange blows until we’re finally yanked apart by security.

  “Does she know about Vegas?”

  “Nice try, dickhead.” I let out an angry laugh. “She knows.”

  “What about Vegas?” Mimi asks calmly. She and my mother are both standing in the doorway with furious expressions. My mother doesn’t say anything, just continues to glare at me.

  “Liam married Vanessa,” I tell her, breaking every bro code in our friendship. “Then he dumped her.”

  Emerson’s breath hitches. “Liam.”

  “Jesus Christ!” Mimi throws her hands in the air. “What is it with my kids running off to Vegas?”

  Liam breaks free from his hold and lunges for me. Once again we’re separated and pushed to opposite sides of the room. Bass has Liam pinned against the wall.

  “That’s not what happened!” he shouts, fighting against Bass’s restraint.

  “That’s enough,” Mimi yells. “What the hell is wrong with you two? My granddaughter and her friend were nearly beaten to death, and you two are in here throwing punches.” She steps into the room.

  “Mom—” Liam starts.

  “Shut it, Liam! Leave. Now. Both of you get out of here!” She points toward the doorway.

  I turn around to find Emerson with her back to me. “Em—”

  “Just go, Cam. We’ll talk later.”

  I move to wrap my arms around her from behind and kiss her on the head. “I’ll be right outside. Okay?” I whisper, and she nods. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” she says so softly that I barely hear it.

  “Emerson,” Liam calls out. “I’m sorry if I hurt you. And I didn’t mean what I said.”

  “Don’t be,” she says, keeping her back to the rest of the room. Her voice is flat. “You were right. It was my fault. If Marcus were here, this never would’ve happened.”

  “Emerson,” Mac’s chiding voice booms from the doorway. “Everyone out. Now.”

  “I can’t believe you’re hooking up with my sister.”

  I scowl. “I’m not hooking up with your sister. We’re in a relationship. I love her. And she loves me.”

  Liam scoffs. “She’s too good for you.”

  “I’m good enough to be your best friend, but not good enough to be with your sister.” I give two thumbs-up. “Got it. Thanks.”

  “She’s a mom, Cam.”

  “Your point?” I snap.

  “How did this even happen, bro?”

  “None of your fuckin’ business, and I’m not your bro. What the fuck, Liam?”

  “Cam,” he chuckles humorlessly. “I just spent five hours on an airplane praying to God that my most favorite person in the entire world didn’t die, that my sister wouldn’t have to bury her child a year after burying her husband. Forgive me for freaking out. How would you feel if I were fucking your sister?”

  I huff out a laugh and shake my head. “I’d say ‘good luck.’”

  “Fuck.” He chuckles, dragging his hands down his face. “I’m sorry, man, but you’re stuck with me for life.”

  “You’re a shitty best friend.”

  “Says the guy screwing my sister.”

  “Nice try on throwing me under the bus.”

  “Yeah.” He barks out another laugh. “And you pulled me under with you. Thanks for that, by the way. My mother is never going to let that go for the rest of my life.”

  Opening the front door, I frown at Emerson standing there with her arms wrapped around her middle, shivering. “Oh, good. You’re still here.” Emerson throws herself into my arms. “I was afraid you’d already left for spring training.”

  “You could’ve called.” She wraps her legs around my waist when I lift her, and I kick the front door shut before carrying her over to the couch and settling her on my lap. “Why did you knock? You have a key.”

  “I don’t have my keys or my phone. I don’t even know where my purse is, or my car for that matter. I have Jay’s car. I haven’t even been home yet, but I wanted to see you before you left.”

  “Who’s at the hospital with Jay?”

  “Zach.” She pushes out her bottom lip. “Poor kid. I told the nurses to take care of him. Feed him. Bring him coffee. Whatever he needs, make sure he gets it.”

  “Any changes?”

  She shakes her head. “No. My father said it’s going to be a few days before she wakes up. I need to use this time to deal with press. I’m afraid to look at my phone.” She sighs. “When are you heading back?”

  I brush her hair away from her face. “Coach gave me an extra day. I have to be on the road by six, but I doubt he’ll let me play today.”

  “Liam and the rest of the gang took off about an hour ago. Lucas and Andrew are staying at the house for a few days.” She drops her gaze to my chest.

  “What’s on your mind?”

  She inhales a deep breath through her nose and exhales. “I still can’t believe what happened today. It doesn’t even feel real. Marcus always encouraged Jayla to trust her gut until the day he died. Today, I trusted mine. I was at the counter buying a pair of shoes, and it hit me out of nowhere. I felt it down to my core, and it literally made me sick. And when Lexi came walking up to tell me Jay had gone to the car, something in my subconscious told me to go. When I saw Harper running toward me with that horrified look on her face, dragging two hysterical toddl
ers along with her, I knew my gut was right.”

  She shakes her head. “Cam, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to erase that scene from my brain. He was on top of her, punching her, choking her. But she was fighting back. I thought to myself, ‘Just get to her, Emerson, and she’ll be okay.’ It felt like one of those nightmares where you’re running as fast as you can but you’re not going anywhere. And then… she just stopped.” She exhales a shuddered breath. “Her legs went limp and her arms fell to her sides. I thought, ‘Oh my God, she’s dead. He killed my baby.’” She cries out and drops her head to my shoulder, and I instinctively wrap my arms around her.

  “I’m so sorry, Em.” I rub my hand up and down her back. “She’s safe now. Okay?” She nods against my shoulder. “I heard the guy was after Jay’s friend?”

  “Yeah. Some little punk on a power trip because his daddy is a senator. I’m gonna destroy that motherfucker if I have to spend every dime I have.”

  “I hate that I have to leave you to deal with all of this alone. I promise I’ll come back as soon as I have a break.”

  She sits up and swipes her hands across her wet cheeks. “I hate that you have to leave, too, but this is your career.” She brings her hand to my face, brushing her thumb over my cheek, and I flinch. “Sorry.” She winces and starts to pull her hand away, but I catch it and kiss the center of her palm. “I can’t believe that shithead hit me.”

  I chuckle. “Your brother is an idiot.”

  She snorts. “He barely clipped me, but you better believe I’m gonna milk it for as long as I can.” She smirks. “Are you guys okay?”

  “We’re good.”

  “Did he really marry Vanessa in Vegas?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you married Juliette?”

  “Yes.” I can see the wheels turning in her head. “Ask your questions, Emerson. I won’t lie to you.”

  “How long were you married?”

  “A few months, and the majority of that time, I was on the road with the team.”

  “How come I never met her before?”

  “Because she had a dance studio to run.”

  “Did you cheat?”

  “No.”

  “Why did you get divorced?”

  “Because Jules and I are better off as friends. We always have been, and we both know it. We were good in bed, but outside the bedroom, our relationship didn’t work. I don’t want to badmouth her because she’s one of my best friends, but I can only take her in small doses. Which is probably why we broke up a dozen times?”

  “Meaning?”

  I lean my head against the back of the couch and stare up at the ceiling. “If I say it out loud, it’s going to make me sound like a huge prick.” I blow out a breath. “We were good at the sex part. She’s not a cleat chaser or a diamond girl. She’s my best friend, and I didn’t have to worry about her trying to trap me with a pregnancy or force me into marriage, but I didn’t want to be in a relationship with her. She’s a bit of a free spirit, if you know what I mean.” I wiggle my brows.

  Emerson’s brows dip down. “You mean she sleeps around?”

  “Not exactly.” I chuckle. She’s so naïve. “I mean Jules doesn’t have a preference.”

  “She’s bisexual?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did you share women with her?”

  “A few times, yes.”

  “And she was okay with being your booty call for the past ten years?”

  “She wasn’t my booty call.”

  “Oh, excuse me.” She rolls her eyes. “Fuck buddy.”

  “We were both single.” I shrug. “Any more questions?”

  “Just one.”

  “Shoot.”

  “What changed?”

  “I’m in love with you, and she wants butterflies.”

  “Is that a euphemism for something?”

  I laugh. “She wants to be with someone who gives her butterflies, like you give me.”

  She runs her fingers through my hair. “I give you butterflies?”

  “From head to toe,” I reply, grabbing the back of her head and bringing her lips to mine.

  “You give me butterflies, too,” she whispers against my lips.

  “I know.”

  “I have one more question.” She pulls back. “Why did Vanessa really leave Liam?”

  I shake my head. “Nice try, but I’m not airing any more of your brother’s business. You’re gonna have to ask him.”

  “He’s always giving Max and me shit for keeping secrets from our kids.” She shakes her head. “He’s such a hypocrite.”

  “Give him a break. I think he really wanted things to work out with Vanessa, but he didn’t know how to balance his career and his marriage. They were young. We all were. When Vanessa left, she didn’t just break his heart, she broke him.”

  “I know. I was there when all hell broke loose, remember?”

  “I do.” I run my hands up her thighs, over her hips and squeeze her ass. “Can I take you to my bed now?”

  “I’d rather you take me to your shower. I need to get back to the hospital soon.”

  Emerson

  It’s been three days now, and Jay is still unconscious. Her latest CT scans showed that the medicine used to reduce the swelling in her brain is working, but it’s up to her body to decide when she’ll wake up. My father is still concerned about the damage to her throat, mainly her vocal cords, but that determination can’t be made until after she wakes up.

  Hopefully it’ll be soon.

  I miss her.

  “Emerson.” I look up to see Elizabeth walking into the room carrying two Starbucks coffees.

  Sitting down beside me on the love seat, she passes me a cup. “It’s a vanilla latte.”

  “Thank you.”

  Her gaze moves over to the bed and she frowns. “Any news.”

  I shake my head. “It could be any day now.”

  She reaches over and squeezes my free hand. “I’m so sorry, Emerson. For everything. I’m sorry I ever doubted you as my best friend. I’m sorry you lost your husband. I’m sorry for what happened to Jay. I’m just so sorry. Let me be your friend again.” Her voice cracks. “Let me help you through this.”

  I nod. “Thank you, Elizabeth. That would mean a lot to me.”

  Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

  The alarm on the machines blare as Jayla begins bucking her hips and kicking her legs. Her hand moves to the breathing tube and she begins tugging at it.

  “Jayla—shit!” I grab one of her hands while Bass grabs the other. The door swings open and Alex and Lucas walk in. “Go get the nurse. She’s trying to pull out her breathing tube.”

  “Princess, hold still,” Bass urges.

  The blonde nurse named Holly, who’s been taking care of Jay since day one, comes rushing into the room. I step out of the way.

  “Jayla, sweetie, it’s okay,” she coos, wrapping her hand around Jay’s. “You have a tube in your throat to help you breathe. You have to calm down if you want me to take it out. Squeeze my hand if you understand.”

  “Did she squeeze it?” I ask.

  Holly smiles at me over her shoulder. “Yes. It was weak, but I felt it.”

  My father charges into the room with my mother right behind him. “Daddy, she’s waking up,” I tell him.

  He pulls out a mini-flashlight and checks her pupils. “Jayla, can you open your eyes for me?”

  “Come on, baby girl, open your eyes for Mac Daddy,” my mother prompts.

  “Is she awake?” Eva asks as she steps in the room behind Alex.

  “Kind of,” I tell her. “She was trying to pull out her breathing tube.”

  Chris rushes into the room and over to the bed. “Okay. I need everyone to clear the room for a few minutes so I can remove her breathing tube and check her over.”

  “I’m not leaving,” I insist, and Chris just shakes his head. “Eva, text Zach and let him know she’s waking up.”

  “Hey, Em,” Luc
as greets as he walks into the hospital room.

  Jay’s head turns toward the door and her eyes light up. The severe bruising on her vocal cords combined with the soreness from the breathing tube has rendered her unable to speak, though my father says she’ll make a full recovery with some physical therapy and counseling.

  Lucas bends down and kisses her gently on the forehead. “You doing okay?” he asks, softly.

  Jay replies with a gentle nod.

  Lucas turns to me. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

  “Of course.” I stand from the sofa. “I’ll be right back,” I tell Jay before following Lucas out into the hall.

  “What’s up?” I ask once we’re alone.

  He rubs the back of his neck, seeming agitated. “I’d like to read the email from Molly.”

  I nod. “Okay. I’ll forward it to you.”

  “All this bad shit keeps happening and… I don’t know. I don’t think I’m ready to reach out to her but I’m just curious, I guess.”

  “Lucas, let me tell you what my mother used to tell us as kids. If you have something to say, then say it. If you want to know something, then ask. Don’t make assumptions. Life is too short for ‘would’ve, could’ve, should’ve.’ If you want something to happen, don’t wait for it. Make it happen.”

  “I’ve always liked your mom.”

  I snort a laugh. “She’s something.”

  Emerson

  The last couple of months have been rough. Zach moved into Harper’s old room, but he slept beside Jay almost every night. I couldn’t even tell him no, too happy to have the help. Then the nightmares started, so Zach and I took turns sleeping with Jay. When the nightmares became an every night occurrence, I ended up having to call Dr. Ramos to Heritage Bay. It took a few weeks, but things eventually got better.

  Tonight we’re celebrating Zach’s nineteenth birthday at Oceanside Grill. After dinner, the server rolls out a giant cake, but before everyone starts to sing, Zach turns to Jay and asks her to instead. The bruising on Jay’s vocal chords healed, and over the last couple of months she’s been working with a physical therapist, Alex, and a voice coach to get her voice back to normal. Her eyes flick to me, and I give her a reassuring nod telling her she’s got this. She starts out a little shaky, but suddenly her determination kicks in and she nails it beautifully. Then the rest of us join in and sing “Happy Birthday” all over.