Intercepting Love

21. Cooper

21

COOPER

Each second we got closer to my uncle’s house, the more I regretted ever even considering letting Kate join me. She already knew a lot from what she’d read in the papers, but there was so much more that only certain people knew … those people happened to be my family, especially my parents. They had no qualms about rehashing them all with me, but I could only pray they showed some manners with having Kate there.

My family had always been accustomed to money and success. One way or another, whether it be in business or sports, each generation had all excelled in something. I was the first one to put that legacy in jeopardy.

“Cooper, are you okay?” Kate asked, placing her hand on my leg.

Taking her hand, I lifted it to my lips and kissed her knuckles, one by one. “Yeah, I’m fine. You know, it’s not too late to take you back home.”

She scoffed, “Please, I can handle your parents, Cooper. Honestly, how bad can it be?”

“You have no idea,” I grumbled.

If she only knew how f****d up they were. Other than my uncle, I didn’t really know much of my family on the eastern side of the United States. They were scattered from Virginia all the way down to Florida.

“Well, if it gets too bad we can tell your parents to go to hell and leave, right?” she asked. “They can’t expect to make you feel inferior and you sit there and take it. I’m sure you love your parents, but I for one am not going to listen to them downgrade you.”

“So you don’t care if they approve of you or not?” I asked curiously.

She shook her head. “No, I don’t. The only person that I want to approve of me is you. Would you care if my parents didn’t like you?”

“Actually, I would,” I replied. “If they didn’t it wouldn’t be the end of the world, but it’d be nice to know they thought I was worthy of you. Do you think you’ll ever introduce me to them?”

Smiling, she tilted her head the side and bit her lip. “Hmm … we’ll see. I’ll think about it and let you know. They retired and moved to a cabin in the mountains, so it’s not like I get to see them that much. I’m pretty sure they’d like you.”

Kate looked amazing in her little blue sundress and her golden hair in waves down her back. As far as looks went, she would definitely be accepted by my family, but Kate didn’t come from wealth. My mother would see Kate as being after only one thing … my money. The only woman they’d ever accepted was Claire. Then again, I’d never been serious about another woman since her; hence, the reason why they’d never met anyone else.

When we pulled up to my uncle’s house, there were about fifteen cars parked in and around the massive sized yard. I could hear them all laughing in the backyard, so after taking a few deep breaths, Kate and I walked down the path that led straight to them.

Please don’t let my family screw things up, I mumbled silently to myself.

Opening the gate, I walked through first with Kate following along behind me. Joel had a massive sized pool where a handful of kids and teenagers, who were most likely my cousins, were swimming while the adults all congregated on the deck, eating and drinking.

My mother was up there chatting away with a lady who I had no idea who she was. In fact, I didn’t recognize anyone other than my parents and my aunt Sadie; she was my uncle’s wife, and she always reminded me of Catherine Zeta-Jones. She used to love it when I’d tell her that.

“Are all of these people your family?” Kate asked.

Putting my hand on her back, I slowly led her across the yard. “I think so. I don’t recognize a lot of them, but then again I hadn’t seen my family on this side of the country in years.”

“Which ones are your parents?”

I pointed in the direction of my mother and father. “Okay, the woman with the short, brown hair and wearing the yellow top is my mother. She may look sweet, but she’s not. My father is the man beside her with the gray hair, wearing the green polo shirt. As far as sports go, his father was the grandfather I told you about that got me into football. My father, on the other hand, pursued a career in golf. It’s strange because I can’t play golf worth a damn.”

“Well, if it makes you feel better I can’t play it either,” she laughed. “Both of my parents play, but I was never coordinated enough to get it. The only sport I was good at was track. I love to run. Now is your uncle Joel your mom’s brother or your dad’s?”

“My dad’s,” I told her. “Can’t you see the resemblance?”

“Cooper, darling,” my mother interrupted, holding out her arms to give me a hug.

She wrapped her small arms around me and squeezed tight. “Mother, it’s good to see you,” I lied. “How long are you in town for?”

She smiled and glanced over at Kate. “Your father and I will be here until tomorrow night. Who’s your lady friend?”

Before I could introduce Kate, she did it herself. Holding out her hand, she grinned and said, “Hi, I’m Kate. It’s nice to meet you.”

“A friend, huh?” my mother chimed, taking her hand. “Well, Kate, my name’s Jackie. Joel told us Cooper was bringing a friend, and I must say I’m kind of shocked because he doesn’t really do the friend thing.” She batted her eyes and glanced up at me smugly. “Shall we go say hello to everyone else?”

“Lead the way,” I told her through gritted teeth.

Kate squeezed my arm and leaned in closer. “Just breathe, Cooper. I’m not taking anything she says to heart.”

Everyone up on the deck smiled and greeted us warmly as we approached, including my father. “Son, it’s good to see you. You were amazing in the game yesterday. ”

“Thank you, but the majority of the success was with the whole team.” Putting my arm around Kate, I nodded over at my father. “Kate, I’d like you to meet my father, Richard.”

Kate smiled and held out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Davis.”

“Likewise,” he said, taking her hand, “but please … call me Richard.”

“All right, everyone, the food’s ready,” Joel shouted, taking the chicken and steak off of the grill. When he saw me and Kate, he waved the tongs in the air. “Thank you for coming you two. It’s been a never ending party here since last night after the win.”

“I’ll bet,” Kate shouted happily. Starting the season out with a win had to be a good feeling for him. With Evan and the other members of the team, I was surprised they hadn’t had much success with winning; they were all great athletes.

At the tables, I pulled out a chair for Kate to sit and took the one beside her. My parents both sat down across from us, staring curiously back and forth. “So, Kate what do you do for the team? Joel didn’t specify. Are you one of the cheerleaders?” my mother asked.

Kate smiled even though I knew she hated it when people thought she was one of the cheerleaders. “No, I’m not a cheerleader. I’m one of the team physicians, Mrs. Davis. I’ve been working with Cooper to help manage his shoulder injury. I think he’s one step away from being perfectly healed.”

Lifting her brows, my mother pursed her lips and glared at me. I knew exactly what she was thinking, and by the look in her eyes she assumed I was up to my old tricks.

“And you and my son are just … friends? Is there not a policy about relations between the staff and the players?”

Before Kate or I could say anything, Joel took a seat at our table and cut in, “Actually, I’ve never enforced such a thing because I feel my staff and my players are adult enough to handle their own personal lives. Second, Kate has been helping Cooper by doing physical therapy exercises for his shoulder. It’s not what you’re thinking.”

“So it’s not like last time?” she asked, glaring at me.

“No, it’s not,” I hissed low. “Things aren’t like that here.”

“Well, I sure hope not. I would hate to see you ruin someone else’s life. Hopefully, this one is smarter than the other.”

Out of the corner of my eye, Kate’s head immediately turned my way. Her unease was palpable, and I could feel a black cloud settling over me. I thought my parents would have seen the change in me, but obviously they were too oblivious. Why the hell did I even try to make them happy, to make them proud of me? It was never going to be enough.

The truth is … I honestly didn’t give a f**k anymore.

Rising from my seat, I didn’t say a word as I took one last look at my mother and father before turning my back on them. I wasn’t going to argue, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to fight with them. I was done hoping they’d somehow see the good in me. I had changed for the better, and it was all because of Kate … and being away from them. Joel was my family now, and as long as I had Kate, I had everything I needed.

My parents could go to hell.