Chapter 122 Where is cooper?

Chapter 122 Where is cooper?
Tyler's POV
I spent the first twenty-four hours after Quin brought the puppy home pretending I wasn’t completely obsessed with him.
It was a losing battle. I couldn't hide my excitement.
The golden retriever puppy—which Quin had somehow managed to smuggle into our lives without warning—had immediately taken over the entire house. And my heart. Mostly my heart.
“Dont make him disappear with your eyes.”
I looked up from where I sat on the living room floor. Quin stood near the kitchen entrance holding a cup of coffee, one eyebrow raised. I looked back at the puppy. The puppy was staring back at me with those big, ridiculous eyes.
“That won't happen.”
“Thw way You’re smiling and looking at it one would think otherwise. And you're smiling way too much.”
“So?”
“You only smile like that when you’re looking at me.”
I immediately looked away. The puppy chose that exact moment to roll onto his back and expose his soft little stomach. My soul left my body. I couldn't help but rub it's stomach.
“Oh my God. I love him”
Quin groaned. “See?”
“He’s just too perfect.” The puppy barked at that moment.“He agrees too.”
Quin pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’ve become insufferable.”
I gasped. The puppy barked again. “See? Even he thinks you’re rude.”
The little traitor wagged his tail so hard his whole back half wiggled. Quin stared at both of us for a long second. Then he walked away, muttering under his breath.
“Unbelievable.”
I laughed. The puppy climbed into my lap, warm and heavy and perfect. I never.knew a puppy could make one this happy, I've only seen them on the internet. Life was good.
Later that same day, Quin sat down next to me on the couch while my fluffy baby slept on my legs. He was quiet for a while, just watching the two of us. Then he said, almost casually,
“Since I brought him home, you don’t have time for me anymore, you don't even look at me.”
I turned my head so fast my neck cracked. “Excuse me?”
Quin didn’t look at me. He was staring at the puppy like the little golden fluffball had personally wronged him. “I’m just saying. You used to sit next to me. Now you sit on the floor with him.”
I stared. Then I laughed. Hard. “I can’t believe you’re jealous of the puppy.”
“I’m not jealous.”
“You are so jealous.”
“Im just telling you what I'm observing.”
“You’re jealous of a three month old puppy.”
Quin finally looked at me. His expression was completely serious. “He’s a manipulative little shit.”
“He’s just a baby.”
"Just a baby?" He scoffed. “He’s taken over the house completely. And look at you on the floor, You’re obsessed.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
Quin opened his mouth, closed it, then sighed like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. “I just think it’s interesting how quickly I was replaced.”
I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “You’re still my favorite. He’s just… newer.”
Quin muttered something that sounded a lot like “I regret this entire decision,” but he didn’t move away when I rested my head on his shoulder.
Three days later my shoulder was free from the sling. I was still instructed to be careful with it but I was all better.
Quin and I finally agreed on a name for our new baby.
Which was impressive considering the arguments. Naming a dog was harder than naming a child. At least according to Quin. But I feel like naming a child would be harder. If we could go through so much thinking and arguing just to name a dog, how much more will it take to name a tiny human.
“I’m not calling him Biscuit.It sounds like breakfast.”
“ But it's a good name. What about Waffles?”
“No.”
“Muffin?”
“No.”
“Cupcake?”
“Absolutely not.”
I sighed. “You hate joy.”
Quin didn’t even look up from his laptop. “I love joy. You can name a dog from your favourite dessert.”
“You clearly don’t. And I can, it's my baby.”
The puppy—officially named Cooper after three days of suffering—chose that moment to chew on Quin’s shoelaces. I pointed triumphantly. “See? Cooper agrees.”
Quin looked at the dog. “I am starting to regret having both of you at the same time.”
Every once in a while I still did something that unintentionally reminded me that my shoulder still hurts. Life was slowly returning to normal. Or at least our version of normal. Which admittedly wasn’t very normal.
I was finally allowed outside again. Under strict conditions.Mostly because Quin was convinced I’d somehow get kidnapped if left unsupervised for five minutes. Honestly? After recent events, I don't blame him.
So when the doctor officially cleared me for light activity, I immediately volunteered for dog-walking duties. Quin claimed I was using Cooper as an excuse to escape house arrest. Which was very true.
The next morning was beautiful. Warm sunshine,blue skies and light breeze that smelled like cut grass and summer. Perfect weather. Cooper bounced excitedly beside me as we walked through the park, his leash tugging every few seconds. Everything fascinated him. The trees, birds,leaves and people, including a squirrel he’d nearly started a war with.
Golden retrievers were apparently powered entirely by happiness and poor decision-making. Which honestly reminded me of someone.
“Don’t tell Quin I said that.”
Cooper barked. I narrowed my eyes. “If you tell him I'll disown you. Understood?”
His tail wagged. Traitor.
The park wasn’t crowded. Families occupied the playground, Joggers followed the trails, Couples sat beneath trees everything was normal and peaceful. Exactly what I needed. I found an empty bench near a walking path and sat down. Cooper immediately collapsed at my feet, exhausted and dramatic. Just like his father.
My phone buzzed. A message from Cassie.
Cassie: HELP.
I immediately smiled.
Me: Good morning to you too.
Three dots appeared. Then it disappeared and it appeared again. Finally—
Cassie: I have made terrible choices.
Me: That’s not specific enough. Did you kill someone?
Cassie: I woke up in my boss’s bed. AGAIN.
I sat upright so fast my shoulder complained.
Me: WHAT? What do you mean again?
Several typing bubbles appeared.
Cassie: Before you panic. The last time was a mistake. She was sick so I ran some errands for her.
Cassie: this time nothing happened. Probably.
Me: PROBABLY??? You woke up on your boss's bed and didn't think to tell me?
Cassie: I'm sorry. Tyler, focus on the right now.
Me: I’m trying.
Cassie: We went out drinking after work, I don’t remember getting home but then I woke up. In her bed.
I stared at the screen.
Me: The same boss you’ve been secretly in love with but refused to admit it?
Three dots.
Cassie: Shut up.
I laughed out loud. A few people glanced over but I ignored them.
Me: get back to the story.
Cassie: when I woke up and saw her beautiful face sleeping peacefully beside me I panicked and ran.
My laughter doubled.
Me: YOU RAN?
Cassie: YES.
Me: Without talking to her? Cassie, did you learn nothing from how I and Quin's story started?
I laughed so hard my shoulder hurt. Worth it though. Finally some action in someone else's life that isn't mine.
Me: So what exactly is the problem here?
Cassie: I HAVE TO GO TO WORK TODAY.
Me: Oh.
Cassie: EXACTLY. How do I face her. The last time it was easier and I told her it was a one time thing, now that one time has turned into two.
She sent lots of crying emojis under the text.
Me: That’s unfortunate.
Cassie: Tyler!!!!
Me: Sorry. But it is funny.
Cassie: I know you're not sorry at all. I hate you.
She was correct. I wasn’t sorry at all, in fact I was very happy. I glanced down. Cooper remained sprawled in the grass. Occasionally licking his paws.
My phone buzzed again.
Cassie: What if it turns out bad or she thinks I'm weird?
Me: You are weird. We both know that.
Cassie: Fuck you!
Me: Maybe she liked having you in her bed. Stop thinking too much.
Cassie: You're not helping at all.
I grinned. This was too easy.
Me: Maybe she's currently freaking out too, but because you vanished.
Several seconds passed. Then—
Cassie: …oh. I didn’t think about that.
Me: Obviously.
Cassie: That’s actually worse.
Me: Much worse.
Cassie: Why are you like this?
Me: Because I love you
Cassie: Should I call her? I don't even know what to say.
Me: Yes, call her.
I adjusted my position on the bench. The leash felt lighter. Probably because Cooper had finally stopped pulling. Good. The little menace was exhausting.
Cassie: Wait. Why are you awake this early?
Me: Walking Cooper.
Cassie: You're such a caring dad. How’s your son?
I smiled automatically. Then looked down properly. At the leash in my hand. At the empty space beside the bench, then the grass.
My heart stopped.
The leash hung completely loose. No puppy attached. No golden retriever. No Cooper. No Nothing.
For one second my brain refused to understand what I was seeing. Then fear slammed into me so hard I nearly dropped my phone. I shot to my feet. Scanning the park,pathway, around the trees and the playground. Anywhere. Everywhere.
Nothing. No golden fur. No wagging tail. No Cooper. My pulse exploded. The leash trembled in my hand.
Oh God. No. No.
“Cooper?”
My voice came out quiet and weak. I spun around, searching desperately. The empty leash swung from my fingers. Fear gripped again.
Cooper was gone.