Page 85 of Lonely Heart

“Because you made it clear that you weren’t thrilled with the idea of there being anything between us,” Marco explained. “Wedidn’t want to keep things hidden from anyone, but we wanted time to enjoy being happy before we caused problems within the family.”

Surprisingly, my dad stepped forward. “Why would this create a problem in our family?”

In agreement with that, Wyatt asked, “Yeah, Cooper, why would you not be happy about Marco and Ivy being together, especially if they’re both happy?”

Cooper didn’t look away from us. He remained stone-faced as his eyes shifted between Marco and me.

“Are you happy?” Tate asked. He was looking at me.

It was my turn to speak up. I hadn’t managed to get any words out yet, but if ever there was a time for me to say something, this was it. “I am. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.” I turned my attention to Cooper. “I love him.”

Marco’s body went solid beneath mine, and I realized I’d not said those words directly to him yet. So, I turned fully to face him. “I love you.”

His features softened just before he pressed a kiss to my temple. “I love you, too, Princess.”

I heard the soft gasp from across the room, and I was certain it came from Skye.

When I looked in that direction, I could see the tears in her eyes and knew I’d guessed correctly. My eyes slid to the side and regarded Cooper once more. “I’m sorry if this isn’t what you want to hear, but it’s the truth. Marco makes me happy, and he looks after me. He’s kind and loving and compassionate. He’s hardworking and would do anything to help anyone. He makes me laugh, and he’s clearly just as crazy about me as I am about him. He’s a good man, Cooper, but I shouldn’t have to tell you that.”

My brother stared at me, and what I thought had been anger in his eyes from the moment Marco revealed the truth until nowwasn’t. It was hurt, sadness. And the low tone of his voice when he spoke indicated as much. “I never said I wouldn’t be happy for the two of you.”

My body went rigid. Marco’s, too.

Cooper didn’t stop. “I’ll admit, I didn’t have the best reaction in the hotel room, but I apologized for it.”

“You still had that reaction, assuming something was going on between us when there wasn’t,” Marco pointed out. “And yeah, you apologized, but have you ever considered what it did to me to know that my best friend thought I wasn’t good enough for his sister?”

“Marco, I’m sorry, but I never had that thought. Not once.”

Skye’s fingers were still linked with Cooper’s, but she brought her free hand up and stroked along his bicep. There was clearly a lot of hurt in this room, and I was merely grateful my brother had someone like Skye to see him through what he was experiencing.

Marco remained silent, evidently dumbfounded by Cooper’s response, so I said, “If that’s the truth, why were you so mad that day in the hotel?”

“Because he lied to me. Because I asked him if he had someone in that room with him when I saw your jacket on the floor, and he lied. I understood after the fact why he lied about it, but in that moment, I assumed he kept the truth from me because he was hiding something that was going on between the two of you. And I didn’t like that. I didn’t like the idea of my sister being in a relationship with someone who would want her to hide it, who wouldn’t be proud to be with her, and who would encourage her to deceive her family.”

He wasn’t against us being together. The relief that swept through me was tremendous.

“So, so it doesn’t bother you that we’re together?” I asked him.

“It bothers me that you thought you couldn’t tell me.”

The silence stretched between us. Marco and I had hidden the news of our relationship for no reason. Granted, we’d both seen Cooper that day, and we truly believed there was something else going on inside his head when it came to news like that. Maybe we should have asked about it, but there was little we could do about it now.

I shifted my attention to Marco, and he jerked his head in the opposite direction. He was thinking the same thing I was.

So, carefully, he helped me to my feet. And a moment later, I crossed the room and came to a stop in front of Cooper. “I’m sorry.”

My brother barely gave me the chance to get those two words out before he engulfed me in his arms. “I’m sorry, too. I hate that you thought I wouldn’t support you, that you believed you had to keep this from me. I love you, Ivy, and I only want the best for you.”

Tears filled my eyes. “Thanks, Coop. That means the world to me.”

He loosened his hold on me, pulled back, and allowed his eyes to roam over my face. “Are you okay?”

I shook my head. “No, I’m not. But I will be. I have all of you around me, so I’m not alone, and I know I’m going to eventually be okay.”

Cooper gave me a nod of approval before he looked behind me at Marco. “Thank you, again, for being here for her.”

“I fully accept your thanks, but you should know it’s not necessary. She’s mine now, and her safety, happiness, and well-being are my responsibility.”