“Just some rando who texted me a few weeks ago.” I hit save and return to the message screen. “Wrong number.”
She arches a brow. “And you’re still talking to him?”
“Sometimes.” I send a GIF of a penguin falling through the ice and type #fail. Then I drop the phone on the couch so I can finish cleaning up my mess.
“Oh, a mystery guy.” Haley’s eyes light up. “I wonder if he’s hot. Ask him for a pic.”
“I am one hundred percent not asking for a pic. With my luck, I’d get a dick pic.” I sigh and collect all the sticky cotton balls. “Besides, he’s probably a closet nerd like me who prefers to get his geek on in private.”
“Or maybe he’s a super-hot nice guy.” She grins. “Which, as you know, is basically a unicorn on this campus.”
She’s not wrong. Except… Cooper might actually be a unicorn.
Now there’s a phrase I never thought I’d hear myself say.
But facts are facts. Not only is Cooper gorgeous, he was a perfect gentleman last night. Yes, he ruined my shot at hooking up, but he also made sure I got home safely and tucked me into bed. It was… thoughtful.
And definitely a side of the cocky jock I hadn’t known existed.
Not that it matters. He’s him and I’m me, and virgin ban or not, there’s no universe where the two of us make sense.
Which is why you need to forget about Cooper and focus on the mission.
“Why would this potentially super-hot unicorn waste his time bantering with me,” I ask, climbing to my feet, “if he could get a chick IRL?”
“Who knows?” Haley shrugs. “Why do you bother talking to some random dude?”
“Because I can’t get laid, no matter how hard I try.” I stick my tongue out at her. “He probably lives a thousand miles away.”
“Not with that area code.” A self-satisfied grin lights up her face. “My friend Avery is from eastern PA. She has the same one.”
My jaw drops open, but no words come out. I snap it closed.
“You really didn’t know?” she asks, suspicion clouding her eyes.
“I really didn’t.” I never paid attention to his number. Why would I? Even if I had, it would’ve been meaningless. I grew up in western PA. Those are the area codes I know by heart.
“Having second thoughts about asking for his picture?”
“Nope.” I back toward the kitchen. “But, hey, if all else fails, maybe Frat Boy Yoda can be my Operation Ditch Virginity backup plan.”
Actually, that’s not a bad idea. God knows I can’t get laid on this campus, and what could be more random and unexpected than sex with a complete stranger?
16
COOPER
“What is that?”I point to the bowl of leafy green shit Vaughn is shoveling down his gullet. It looks like it’s already been chewed up and digested, and I swear to Christ there’s popcorn in it.
Popcorn.
In a salad.
Vaughn stabs another forkful and lifts it up for inspection, like I need a close-up of the slimy greens. “It’s a snap pea popcorn salad, and it’s delicious.”
“It’s a fucking travesty is what that is.” I glance around the table for support, ignoring Vaughn as he inhales the next bite, chewing with slow, exaggerated movements. “Right?”
Reid just shakes his head, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.
