“Oh, my God.” I throw up my hands. “I told you. I’m not a stalker.”
“There’s no rule that says stalkers can’t be hot.” Parker twists the top off the juice bottle, and I watch, dumbstruck, as he fills his glass. “Besides, it wouldn’t be the first time.”
Wait. Does that mean Cooper had an honest to God stalker?
I have to know. “Are you serious?”
Parker huffs out a breath, a sly smile curving his full mouth. “It’s happened like three times.”
I guess that explains the virgin rule.
“I believe they call that a trifecta,” Vaughn deadpans.
I scan their faces. “Is it really so hard to believe Cooper invited me over?”
“YES,” they respond in unison.
Well, then.
“He’s never invited a girl over.” Reid arches a brow. “And he definitely doesn’t do sleepovers.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake. This is what I get for sleeping with a guy who has a harem of women trailing after him. I have no one to blame but myself for this trainwreck.
“I have an idea,” I say, jangling my keys. “How about I leave and we all pretend this never happened? Cool?”
I turn on my heel, not waiting for a reply, and trip over my untied shoelaces.
Vaughn darts forward, catching me before I faceplant on the hardwood floor.
Despite his imposing size, his hands are gentle as he rights me.
“You okay?” he asks, voice gruff.
“Other than my pride?”
That gets a smile out of him. “Pride is overrated.”
“Thanks.”
“Oh, shit.” Parker slaps his palm on the counter. “I knew you looked familiar. You’re the girl from the dunk tank, right?”
I tip my head to the ceiling and sigh. “If I say yes, can we forget this entire conversation ever happened?”
Reid chuckles, but it’s Vaughn who responds.
“If you say yes, I’m going to make you breakfast.” He grins and bumps my shoulder. “Forget trouncing Ohio. Seeing Coop take an ice bath was the highlight of my HoCo reel.”
“Glad I could be of service.” I gesture toward the door. “This has been fun and all, but I’ve got to go. You know how it is.” I smile sweetly. “A stalker’s work is never done.”
They howl with laughter as I haul ass for the front door, silently praying Coop is still sound asleep upstairs.
33
COOPER
The scentof frying bacon greets me as I enter the kitchen and my stomach rumbles in a Pavlovian response.
No surprise there.
