Always For Keeps ( For Keeps part 2)

Twenty four. Scarlett

All the air is sucked out of the room. I just stand there like an idiot as her words hit me. The music, the conversations all mute. I don't hear anything except the ringing in my ears.
"Right. Enjoy the party." I mumble as I turn and walk to the door.
I'm vaguely aware that I'm shaking as I leave the air conditioned room. The Summer heat warms my skin, but I still feel frozen.
I break out into a sprint, needing to put some distance between me and the busy party. I kickoff my heels somewhere in the grass before I cross the small bridge over the river and run up some rocky steps. I finally stop and bend over slightly trying to catch my breath.
"Breathe." Cooper's voice whispers in my ear as his strong arms wrap around my waist. I can't breathe; I'm shaking too hard. "Hey Scarlett, come on. Focus on me." He says bending down and looking into my eyes. His hands cup my cheeks and he breathes in and out. His eyes burn into me as I breathe with him. Finally when the panic attack passes, I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him close.

"Fuck you're fast." Paisley says from behind us. She's breathing hard. "I got your shoes." She says sadly.
"Oh God, I'm so sorry." I sob. "I embarrassed everyone. Kare is going to be so mad."
"Nobody is mad. You took off too quick for anyone besides us to notice." Cam says. "You really are fucking fast." He says and hugs me.
"Why would Luke tell them?" I look back to Cooper. "Why?"
"I don't think he did. He was just as surprised as you were."
"The fucking ER. That nurse, what's his name, Jay? He has the hots for Stacey. Well he had them for you first, and you turned him down. Three times. You pretty bitch, you." She smiles. "I'm putting my money on him."  I nod.
"Maybe." I nod hoping she's right. Just then, Luke runs up the steep steps and hurries to me.
"Are you okay?" He asks and cups my face in his hands.
"I don't know." I answer honestly.
"They left. We can go back." He tells us.
"Okay." I clear my throat. "Could I actually have a minute. You don't have to wait for me, I'll be okay."
"Can I be honest?" Paisley asks. "I have never ran that fast in my life so if you don't mind, I would like to stay here with you so I don't die." She smiles.
"Yeah and you hurdled over a snake on the way here so now that you're more calm, I think I'll be carrying you back." Cooper says and my eyes widen.
"I'm kidding." He smiles. "But I'm carrying you back. Your feet must hurt." I smile and nod.
"Yeah you guys are the only people I know so I'm staying." Cam says as he sits next to Paisley on a boulder. "Plus, I'm kind of fond of you."
"Thank you." I smile.
Luke hugs me. "I didn't tell her. I don't know how she knew. I mean-" he sighs. "I told her about Asher, but not this one."
"I believe you." I say. "Was that why they came? To say that?"
"Probably." He frowns. "I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault. I just had to get out of there." I shake my head. "I think I'm crazy." I say as tears fill up in my eyes.
"You're not crazy." Luke says.
"Besides, Cooper had almost the same reaction." Paisley says and I mentally slap myself. Cooper has lost just as much as me. I stand and hug him close.
"I'm sorry. I'm so selfish I didn't think to check on you." I sob into his shoulder.
"I worried about you. Yeah that stung like a bitch, but only because I watched your face pale and I knew you relived every painful memory, because I did, too." Reality sets in and I close my eyes as I remember that day. I open my eyes as his fill with tears. Something I never thought about crosses my mind and my chest aches.
"You didn't get knocked out when we lost Asher. You had to watch as you almost lost us both." I whisper as I search his eyes.
"I was pinned and I couldn't even touch you. I couldn't move. I thrashed around and tried to break free, but I couldn't. I couldn't hold you and I thought you were going to die." The tears spill over and I hug him as close as I can.
"I'm sorry." I whisper.
Everyone is quiet as Cooper sobs. I wish briefly that we were alone, but when Luke hugs us both, I'm glad to have him there.
Finally, the tears let up and he straightens up into the strong man that he is.
"I'm sorry everyone." He says and clears his throat.
"Don't be." Paisley says as she comes over to hug him. "You're a really good guy, Coop." She smiles. Even Cam comes over and pats his back. "I think you and I need to catch a Giants game together this season. My treat, buddy."
"Thanks man. I would like that." Cooper smiles.
Before heading back, Paisley helps me fix my makeup. Thankfully we got waterproof stuff and it's not hard to fix.
Cooper scoops me up in his arms and carries me back to the party.
"Wait." I say as we stand outside. The lights on the building twinkle as the sun sets and I smile. "It's beautiful."
"Very beautiful." Cooper says. When I look at him he is looking at me and not the lights. I kiss his nose and smile.
We all go back into the building together. Our timing is impeccable as Kare and Brett are about to cut the cake.
We all grab a slice and Paisley puts frosting on my nose. I widen my eyes and put some on her.
We laugh together as we wipe it off each other.
She doesn't let me be sad. She quickly pulls me to the dance floor where we spend the next hour dancing.
The guys mostly sit and talk, but Luke comes out to dance for a song.
"You're not mad at me, are you?" He asks.
"No Luke. Not at all." I smile. "You're not going to sulk tonight are you?" I tease.
"Probably." He says and I frown. "Only because I gave my win to Cooper." He says and smiles. "I had you last anyway. Plus I have a couple days until you head to France. We can get a lot done in one night, babe." He smiles.
"I don't know if I should thank you or be offended."
"Don't be offended. It took a lot of prep talking myself. I want you to know this will work." He kisses my cheek. "Besides," he looks over at Cooper, "he needs you."
"Okay." I smile and look over to Cooper. "So how am I going to sleep without you?"
"Oh you're sleeping next to me. That's not changing. I'll just take my sweet ass time to get to the hotel."
"Oh." I laugh. "You do realize how fucked up this is, right? It's not normal."
"Fuck normal. I should be dead. You probably should be dead. Cooper would have died if you died. Nothing about any of us is normal. So fuck it." He smiles.
"You should start writing inspirational quotes. That was heartfelt." I laugh as he lifts me up and spins me.
"It was inspirational as fuck and you loved it." He laughs.
"Only because I'm just as fucked up as you." I kiss his cheek.
"Hey! Kare and Brett are about to leave. Hurry so we can say goodbye... and then we can go have really good sex!" Paisley whispers in my ear and laugh.
"Yes!" I laugh and follow her out, along with our guys.
We hug the newly weds and watch as they leave. Paisley and I grab our stuff in the room we used to get ready, then head back out and walk to our cars.

Cooper drops Luke off at the apartment. He stands at my window for a moment.
"So I have to shower and get my clothes ready for work, and I'll be over in..." he looks between us, "a while. I'll text you? If I don't hear anything I'll just bug Brady." He shrugs and I laugh.
"It's probably not going to take long." Cooper grins as he looks at me. "Like at all."
"Oh gosh." I say as I feel my cheeks turn red.
"See you in a bit." Luke kisses me quickly through the window and retreats inside.
"Are you okay with this." Cooper asks as he holds my hand.
"Yes." I lean over and kiss his cheek then kiss his neck slowly.
"Fuck." He groans as the light in front of us turns red. He shifts a little and kisses me deeply. It's quick, but butterflies fill my stomach.

When we get to the hotel, he holds my hand as we walk quietly to the room. He slides his key and opens the door. "After you." He says. I walk in ahead of him and before the door closes, I pull him to me and kiss him.
I fumble with the buttons on his shirt, but still manage to get it off him quickly. He spins me and kisses the side of my neck as he unzips the dress and peels it from my body. I'm left in only my heels and a purple thong. He spins me as he smiles approvingly. I pull him to the bathroom with me and turn on the shower. I finish undressing him and he slowly takes my heels and thong off.
We stand under the hot water and kiss before he shampoos my hair. It feels nice; loving. The anticipation is killing me so finally I turn the water off.
"That's enough of that." I smile as I pull his mouth back to me. He attempts to dry us off as I keep trying to pull him to the bed.
When we are mostly dry he sets me on the large bed before getting on with me. I gently press his shoulders so he is flat on his back. I lean down and kiss him slowly. "I love you." I whisper against his lips.
"I love you. So much, Scar." For a moment I gaze down at this man, and I see the vulnerability in his eyes. I kiss him one more time before I straddle his lap and ease slowly onto him.
"Scarlett." He breathes as I move on him. He grabs my hips and slows my pace. Just when I feel like I'm about to shatter, he flips me on my back. I gasp as his lips find mine.
"Cooper." I moan into his mouth. He picks up his pace and I crash over the edge tightening against him, making him come.
We lie there coming down from our high. Our ragged breathing evens out and he pulls out of me, making me wince.
"Sorry." He say.
"For what? That was amazing." I smile and kiss him.
"It wasn't nearly long enough." He smiles against my lips.
"It was perfect." I smile and slowly kiss him some more.
After a few minutes we get up and he gets dressed. I shower again quickly before throwing on a tank top and a pair of red panties.
"Luke will be here soon." Cooper says grabbing my waist.
"Okay." I smile. "Thanks for that. And being there for me today. I don't think I would have gotten though it without you."
"You would have been okay." He says.
"No I wouldn't have. You mean so much to me, I would have been a mess without you. I need you." I tell him honestly. "I will always need you."
"Well I'm yours." He kisses me softly again. "Always."

A few minutes later, Luke arrives. I'm in my spot in the middle of the bed.
"You guys have fun?" He asks as he sets his clothes out.
"Yes." I smile as blush creeps up my cheeks.
"Good." He says and jumps on the bed next to me. "You're glowing." He teases.
"I have a good exfoliating face wash."  I smirk.
"I'm sure that's what it is." He kisses me quickly. "Are you tired?"
"Yes. It's been a long emotional day." I lean into him and he pulls me close.
"I'm sorry about Mandy." He says as his eyes fill with sadness.
"It's okay. I know she's hurt, I shouldn't have let it get me like I did." I shrug.
"You handled it better than most." Cooper says as he comes in from the bathroom.
"You're both saying all this because you love me. I feel like I overreacted, fled, panicked, and looked like a complete fool. Not to mention Mandy and Stacey got the reaction they wanted."
"You are stronger than you give yourself credit for." Cooper says as he sits next to me and kisses my shoulder.
"You really are, Scarlett."
"Well I appreciate you both." I say and they both hug me.

Luke gets ready for bed and then curls up next to me. The day certainly took its toll as I fall asleep effortlessly.