“Nice try.” I poke him in the chest playfully. “You’re taking me out. Otherwise, this is just a booty call.”
Coop heaves a theatrical sigh. “Dating has so many rules.”
“I could write them down.” I quirk a brow. “Would that make it easier for you to remember them?”
“Very funny.” He swats me on the ass. “For future reference, I am one hundred percent open to booty calls. I will never be offended if you stop by unannounced for sex.”
A few minutes later, we’re settled in the Audi, cruising down Wildcat Ave. Cooper has the heat on full blast and I know it’s entirely for my benefit, since he’s like a walking radiator. A cold front has settled over College Park and while I’m bundled up in a puffy North Face parka, he doesn’t even have a jacket.
“Where are we going?” I ask as local shops and restaurants slide by in a blur.
“It’s a surprise.” He turns, giving me a devilish wink. “I’ve held out this long. I’m not about to crack now.”
I roll my eyes. “Have I mentioned that I hate surprises?”
“Only like once or fifty times.” He reaches over the center console and squeezes my knee. “Trust me. This is a good surprise.” He pauses and glances over his shoulder before changing lanes. “Did you finish your paper?”
“I did. Haley also convinced me to submit it, which I am now seriously regretting.”
“No sense stressing about it now. Besides, I’m sure it’s great.”
“Let’s hope Call-Me-David agrees.”
“Don’t let one pretentious asshole’s opinion derail you.” He gives my knee another gentle squeeze. “You’ve got genuine talent, Quinn. There are plenty of people who are interested in reading your work and hearing what you have to say.”
He’s right. I know he’s right, but it’s not that easy to just forget about it.
I’m not wired that way.
Cooper pulls into Tadashi, a popular Japanese restaurant, and my stomach rumbles in approval. “We’re getting sushi?”
“Yeah.” He pulls into a spot near the entrance and kills the engine. “I know you like it, so I thought I’d give it another try.”
Warm fuzzies fill my chest, and I lean across the center console to kiss him.
“Thank you. This is really sweet.” Especially since he looks like he’s about to toss his cookies at any moment. “Are you sure you don’t want to go somewhere else?”
“No.” He cocks his head to the side. “Why would you think that?”
I grin. “Because you look a little green around the gills.”
He groans and rolls his eyes. “Spare me the fish jokes.”
“Only if you agree to let me do the ordering.” Something tells me it’s in my best interest to make the selections for both of us. I don’t need him trying to eat an octopus just to impress me.
Cooper grins. “Deal. As long as I get to choose dessert.”
47
COOPER
This was a terrible fucking idea.Why did I ever think I could stomach raw fish? I know it’s a delicacy and that loads of people enjoy it, but I’m not one of them.
Quinn stares at me expectantly as I pick up my chopsticks.
She ordered a wide variety of what she called basic rolls in hopes I’ll find something I like, but it’s not looking good. For starters, it’s fish. And one roll looks like a dragon. Like, it literally has eyeballs and a tail and whatever that thing that expands around a lizard’s neck is called.
I’m trying to be open-minded, but it’s kind of hard when your dinner is staring you in the eye.
