Trying to Get Over You Page 14

  I walked him into the apartment. It was still decorated with pictures of us. He still hadn’t moved a single picture or redecorated in any way.

  I put my purse on the coffee table and helped him sit on the couch. “So, um, how did Elizabeth like seeing pictures of us all over the apartment?”

  He laughed a little. “She didn’t really like it. She didn’t stay long. Something about she couldn’t date a guy that was still in love with his ex-girlfriend.”

  “Did she recognize me as Chris’s sister?”

  “I don’t know. Like I said, she didn’t stay long, and honestly, I didn’t care.”

  I was starting to feel tired and wanted to go home to sleep. “Do you want me to help you get to bed?” No real conversations would be had that night. I would talk to Cooper when I got back.

  I would make everything right.

  “Sure.”

  I helped him walk into the bedroom, and he practically fell into the bed.

  “Hey, Em?”

  “What?”

  “I only brought her that night to make you jealous, because I figured you would bring that guy.”

  I knelt beside the bed. “Well, it made me see how bad I’ve hurt you. It was like someone had sucker-punched me. It made me sick.”

  “Are you still going to Vegas with him?” he asked.

  “Yes, but Cooper, please understand that I’m not trying to hurt you. I’m not ever going to have sex with him. I’m looking at this weekend as me getting away, clearing my head. I don’t really want to go, but it would be rude to ditch him two days before the vacation.”

  “I really don’t understand.”

  “I know. I really don’t understand what I’ve been doing lately, either. Just know that I’m not going to hurt you anymore. Ben means nothing to me, and I will make this right.” I hoped, in the morning, he would remember some of what I had told him.

  Not long after that, he started to snore. A part of me hoped it was because I had given him some peace of mind, but I knew it was his drunken state. I stayed with him for a while, just to make sure he wasn’t going to puke on himself. I thought about staying the whole night, either on the floor next to him or in the living room, but it would be best if I went home. Once satisfied that he wasn’t going to be sick, I tiptoed down the hallway, into the living room. I took my cell out of my purse, which I had left on the coffee table, and dialed a cab company.

  That night, while lying in bed, I vowed I was going to make everything right. Cooper and I might never have an intimate relationship ever again, but I would consider his feelings in every decision I make. If he was hurting, it would ultimately hurt my child, and I didn’t want to be the reason for that.

  I also had to tell Ben the truth as soon as we got back. Regardless of whether he would dump me in the future, I shouldn’t have been using him. He had feelings just like Cooper, too, and lately it seemed as if all I ever thought about was my feelings.

  Ben and I arrived in Vegas late Friday morning. While we waited at baggage claim for our luggage, he pulled me close to his side and slipped his arm around my shoulder.

  I couldn’t stop thinking about the last time I had been in Vegas, and how Cooper had told me that he wished he had married me while we were here.

  I just stood there awkwardly until I saw my zebra print luggage come around. I shrugged out of Ben’s embrace and walked over to the carousel. I grabbed my bag and backed away. I positioned myself away from other people while I waited for Ben to grab his bags.

  I wished Cooper had married me then. Maybe he would’ve been more committed to me and not as committed to smoking weed, and I wouldn’t have had to break things off with him.

  Ben grabbed his bags and came over to me. “Ready to find our shuttle to the hotel?”

  I knew that he could tell I was in a funk. I’d pretended to sleep the entire flight to Vegas and hadn’t spoken more than a few words to him. “Sure, let’s go.”

  I was glad that we were staying at the Mirage hotel instead of Mandalay Bay, where Cooper and I had stayed. Just looking at the outside of the Mandalay Bay building was going to be hard, never mind going in.

  Would I ever be able to carry on a normal life, where everything didn’t remind me of Cooper? I was making things harder on myself by moving back in with him, but I had to think about our child and what was best for him or her.

  We made our way down to the different shuttles and found the sign indicating which one would take us to our hotel. We boarded the shuttle, and I made my way to the back. Ben sat down beside me and looked straight ahead, as if upset. I had to do something to make him feel better, but what? I needed to reassure him that my bad attitude had absolutely nothing to do with him and everything to do with me.

  I placed my hand on his thigh. “This is going to be fun. I’m sorry I’m not in the best mood. I’m just a little tired, that’s all. Maybe we can take a quick nap and then head out for some fun?”

  He grabbed my hand and pulled it up to lay a kiss on it. He could be really sweet, which made me feel even more awful that I had been using him and that I was even on this trip. I should have ended this already.

  He dropped my hand and placed his arm around my shoulder. “Sure, a nap sounds fine. As long as you’re sure you’re okay.”

  I leaned into him. “I’m sure. Just tired. I didn’t sleep that well last night. That is all, I promise.”

  We arrived at the hotel and hopped off the shuttle bus. The Mirage’s lobby was beautiful. It reminded me of a tropical rainforest. I could have looked at all the flowers and plants for hours.

  Ben took our luggage to the front desk to check in and asked the front desk clerk for a bottle of champagne and fruit to be sent to our room.

  Nervousness filled me. I had been struggling to make out with him; I hoped he didn’t expect more. That would not happen.

  Ben was given a room key, and we were told we were on the twenty-first floor, with a pool and Vegas strip view. We took the elevator, with two drunk guys who kept the ride from being silent. They went on and on about some girl with big boobs giving them a show at the pool. The way they carried on, I might’ve thought that was the first time they had seen boobs in person.

  When we arrived at the room, Ben opened the door, and we stepped into a big room with a king size bed. A huge flat screen was mounted on the wall across from the bed. Windows took up most of the outer wall. I dropped my luggage and headed to see the view.

  The pool was magnificent. It had a huge waterfall and enough lounge chairs to seat my entire hometown. I looked over at the different hotels located on the strip when Ben came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my stomach.

  I was instantly put on guard. I just couldn’t help it. All I could think about was how I loved Cooper and how I didn’t want to have sex with Ben. I had never thought about him wanting that while we were in Vegas, but I guess that was what couples did on vacation. I just wanted to end the relationship and leave.

  I turned to him and put my hands around his waist. “I’m not really in the mood to nap anymore. Can we walk around and see the different sights” I really wanted to get out of the hotel room. If we were out, he couldn’t ask for sex.

  “Um, sure. If that is what you want. Or we could just stay in and relax.” He started giving me light kisses on my cheek and toward my neck.

  “I really want to see what all is out there.”

  He pulls back. “I thought you had been here before?”

  Crap. I had to give a good believable explanation so I wouldn’t hurt him. “I have, but you know Vegas. They are always tearing something down and rebuilding something more spectacular.” I pulled out of his arms and retrieved my purse from the bed.

  My plan worked since he walked over to me and said, “Okay. Let’s go see Vegas.”

  We started walking south towards Caesar’s Palace. I was already starting to sweat, but I couldn’t risk being in the hotel room. Coming with him had been a mistake. I wanted to just end our littl
e relationship there and then, but that would be wrong.

  What would I do? Book another flight home or try to just hang out the entire weekend? I had seriously messed up my life.

  We walked side by side down the strip.

  “Hey, do you want to go get something to drink? I’m a little hot, and I know you shouldn’t get overheated. It’s not good for you or the baby.” Ben asked.

  “That sounds wonderful.” I was so glad he was being nice about everything. Maybe he knew I was just buying time? I had no idea. All I cared about was getting through the weekend so I could end all the crap I’d started, as soon as possible.

  We spent the entire day going from hotel to hotel. I acted interested in something at each hotel just so we had to stay out a little longer. I still hadn’t decided what I was going to do or say if he came on to me at the hotel. Normally, I would just tell him I was on my period, but that wouldn’t work, since I was pregnant.

  In front of the Bellagio, we waited for the fountains to turn on and dance to the music, and I remembered when I’d stood there with Cooper.

  Cooper and I had been in Vegas two days and had just left our hotel room. The sun was setting as we walked up to the fountains. A crowd had formed, pressing us close together.

  Cooper leaned into my ear. “I really don’t care about these fountains. Can we just go back to our room? I’ll give you a show.”

  I started giggling and playfully slapped his chest. “No. I have waited my whole life to see these fountains.”

  He knew I was joking, but said in all seriousness, “Well if you have waited your entire life to see the Bellagio fountains, I won’t stop you. I’ll just be glad I’m the one sharing this moment with you.”

  I leaned up and kissed him. Our kisses turned more and more passionate until I finally heard the song start for the fountain show. We stopped kissing but continued to hold each other as we watched the show.

  After the show, he leaned down and kissed me again. “You are so beautiful. I love watching your face light up when you are happy. When I marry you, I hope that your face lights up just like that. In fact, we’re in Vegas. How about I see that face one more time?”

  I started laughing. “You really want to marry me here? In Vegas?”

  He kissed me again. “I don’t care where I marry you, as long as I get to marry you. I love you so much, and I can’t wait to call you my wife one day.”

  I leaned up and kissed him. “Then maybe you should think of a good way to give me a proper proposal, and maybe I’ll think about saying yes.”

  “I’ll get right on that.” He said while picking me up and swinging me around.

  I came back to the here and now and realized it was getting late. “Ben, it’s getting late. Can we go back to the room and call it a night? This pregnancy makes me so tired.”

  He looked down at me, giving me a sad smile. “Sure. Whatever you feel like doing. I hope you had fun today.”

  I looped my arm through his. “Of course I’m having fun. Thank you so much for taking me here. I just hope I’m not too much of a bore for you.”

  “You aren’t a bore. Besides, I’m sure we can find something to do together in the room,” he said with a half-smile.

  Crap, I thought. What was I going to do?

  We had just gotten in the lobby of the hotel when my phone started ringing. I grabbed it out of my purse; it was Chris. “It’s my brother. Probably just wanting to make sure I got here safe.”

  I swiped my finger across the screen to answer it. “Hello.”

  “Hey, it’s Chris. Are you in Vegas?” From his voice, I could tell something was wrong.

  “Yes. What’s wrong, Chris?” What if something happened to Mom or Dad or Jen or—Oh my gosh, what if something happened to Cooper?

  “Raymond Thomason had a heart attack today.”

  “Is he okay?” I asked, cutting him off from saying anything else.

  “We don’t really know. I haven’t heard from Cooper. Mom and Dad called me. I know you’re in Vegas with Ben, but he may need you.”

  I had no idea if Cooper would need me or not, but I still wanted to be there for him just in case. “I’ll pack my bags, and I’ll be on the first flight home. Are you going home?”

  “I wish I could, but I just started my job. I don’t have any vacation accrued yet. Cooper is my best friend, and I just want to make sure someone is there for him to help him through this.”

  It hit me like a bag of bricks: Cooper was all by himself. His mom left him, and so had I. The only person he had left was his dad, who might be leaving him, too.

  “I’ll be there, Chris. I won’t let him deal with this alone.” I disconnected with my brother and looked up at Ben’s scowling face.

  I felt bad to be leaving, but not enough to stay. No matter what, Cooper was my child’s father, and Raymond was my child’s grandfather. Nothing would ever change that. “I’m sorry, Ben, but I have to pack my things and leave. There has been an emergency back home.” I told him as I started walking past different people trying to get to the elevators.

  “Not so fast! What happened?” he asked harshly, grabbing my wrist to twirl me around to face him.

  “Cooper’s father had a heart attack. I have to be there for him.”

  Fury contorted his face, and his grip tightened. “You’re fucking leaving me here in Vegas by myself to fly home to be with some guy, who I bet is your ex-boyfriend?”

  I pulled my wrist out of his grasp. “I’m sorry if this hurts you, but regardless of things, Cooper and Raymond are part of my baby’s family. I should be there to support my child’s family.”

  I turned and walked away from him before he could say anything else. I wasn’t going to waste time arguing with him. I needed to be up in the room, grabbing my bags and getting the hell out of there.

  I texted my brother.

  Me: Can you book me on the next flight out of Vegas?

  He texted me back a couple minutes later.

  Chris: Sure. I’ll email you the details.

  I made it back to the room and remembered that I hadn’t even unpacked. That was convenient. I grabbed all my belongings and raced back out of the room.

  I made it back down to the lobby and saw Ben standing by the exit. As I passed him, he looked at me and grabbed me for a hug, “I’m sorry for being angry earlier. I didn’t think about the fact that your child’s grandfather is sick. Just please be careful getting there. It’ll be a long drive back to your hometown.”

  I hugged him back before stepping out of the lobby to catch a cab in the line. I climbed in. “Airport, please.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  I stared out the window, looking at the different hotels.

  I received a text message from Chris.

  Chris: Flight is booked. Sent info to your email. Talked to Cooper he’s very upset. You should call him.

  I got to the airport and checked in pretty quickly. I had about thirty minutes before my flight, so I decided to call Cooper to let him know that I would be there sometime in the middle of the night. I dialed his number; it rang several times before he picked up.

  “Hello. Em?” he said sadly.

  Hearing him sound like that broke my heart. “It’s me. I just wanted to let you know that I am in the airport, waiting on my flight.”

  He cleared his throat. “What do you mean, you are waiting on your flight? I thought you would be in Vegas by now. Look, I have some things to deal with right now—”

  “I heard about your dad, Cooper. I am so sorry. I’m in the airport waiting for a flight home. I want to be there for you.” I said as I leaned up against a wall.

  “You’re leaving your boyfriend to come here and be with me?” He sounded shocked. “You don’t have to do that, Em.”

  “Yes I do, Cooper. You know that you mean the world to me. If you are hurting, I want to support you. Besides, your dad means a lot to me, too.”

  “Thank you, Em. Please have a safe flight, and I will see you wh
en you get here.”

  “Bye, Cooper.”

  “Bye, Em.”

  After hanging up with Cooper, I looked around the airport and noticed a coffee shop nearby. I was going to have a long night ahead of me, so I thought I should probably get some caffeine. My doctor had said a little wouldn’t hurt the baby.

  I ordered a small iced vanilla latte and gulped it down. I had forgotten how much I loved those drinks. I finished the drink and threw it into the nearest trash can, then made my way back to my departure gate.

  I finally heard my flight be called to board after waiting twenty minutes and fighting the urge to call Cooper every five minutes. I looked at my ticket for the first time and saw that Chris had booked me a flight landing closer to our hometown than I’d expected. I would only have to drive two hours instead of four. If I hadn’t been in such a hurry, I would have thought of that on my own, eventually.

  I found my seat and started people watching. It was one of my favorite hobbies. As I was looking around, a family of three caught my eye, a few rows up. Their little boy was about three years old. I watched them for what seemed like forever, long after the plane had taken flight. They weren’t doing anything interesting, just interacting as a family.

  I had always hoped that would be my life one day.

  I had always imagined Cooper, me, and a child taking vacations together, or just doing small things like going to the movie theater together. We could still do that, but as things were, we wouldn’t be doing them as a real family.

  Cooper and I had set up a fake family for our child. I was beginning to wonder if that would do more harm than good?

  We—no, I—needed to figure everything out quickly. Cooper had already figured everything out, I was the one holding everything back.