I Choose Us: Book 2 in the Crossing Midian Series - A Christian Romance

Chapter 15

— Lottie —

Lottie's head was still spinning. She couldn't believe they had spun off the road so quickly. She squeezed her eyes shut and fought to stay calm, afraid any sudden movement would send the car in motion again.

"Are you okay?" Coop asked, his voice sounding strained from the driver's seat.

She could feel his eyes on her, likely taking in the tense way she was gripping the armrest with one hand and the seatbelt with the other.

"Lottie," he said when she remained quiet, "are you hurt?"

"No," she breathed. "I'm fine. Are you?" She opened her eyes and looked over at Coop, who shook his head.

"I'm alright."

He squinted as he tried to see through the snow, quickly covering the windshield despite the wipers being on full blast.

"I'm gonna get out and see if the car looks okay," he said as he leaned closer to her and reached toward the glove compartment and let it fall open. He rummaged around for a moment through all the papers, hair clips, first aid supplies, and every other random thing Lottie kept inside until, at last, he pulled out a flashlight.

Coop clicked it on before he shoved his door open and stepped out of the car without saying another word to her.

Lottie shivered as a gust of freezing air blew into the interior before he shut the door behind him. She crossed her arms over her chest and suddenly felt foolish for not taking a moment to grab her coat.

She looked in the backseat and remembered Coop had cleaned her car out when he drove it last. He had taken out the extra blanket she kept in the back for Cassie to use on cold car trips to school.

Lottie watched as Coop walked around the car. She couldn't see him through the darkness and the snow on the windows, but she could see the light from the flashlight.

She took the time alone to think about everything that had happened over the last twenty minutes. If she were being honest with herself, she was furious.

How could he assume she was still wanting to leave him? How could he dismiss her so easily? And if he thought so little of her, why did he ever say he wanted things to work out in the first place? What was the point in going to counseling?

Hadn't Reverend Burton talked to them both about hearing each other out and not jumping to conclusions? And then, at the very first sign of trouble, Coop reacts like this. It was almost as if he had been waiting for her to tell him this was her plan all along. Like he had never truly believed in her commitment to their marriage.

Lottie grit her teeth at the thought. He hadn't trusted her. He certainly hadn't thought she was sincere and still loved him. That fact alone hurt Lottie more than anything else. She felt so heartbroken to realize he must think so little of her. To think she wasn't really even trying to heal their marriage.

Lottie quickly brushed away the tear that had fallen down her cheek when she heard Coop tapping on the window with the flashlight.

She reached over and let the power window roll down only enough to hear him, though she wouldn't look up at him.

"Scoot over to the driver's side," he said. "We're facing the road, but the back tires are stuck. I'm gonna get behind it and you try to drive it out while I push."

"Do you think that'll work?" Lottie asked, even as she was already taking off her seat belt and pushing herself up to crawl across the console to get to the driver's seat.

"It's worth a shot," Coop said. "Let me get back there first and when I say you put it in gear and give it gas, okay?"

Lottie nodded. "Okay."