But of course, Fluffernutter walks across his lap, coming to a standstill and watching me. His tail whips up, flickering in the air right under Cooper’s nose.
“I can’t believe you have a cat in this place.” Natalia shakes her head.
“Wasn’t my choice!” Cooper says with a sneeze.
Technically, it was.
Lindsey left a list of dates that we could select from. Apparently, we are to go on five filmed public dates in the next few weeks.
“Some of these are crazy,” Cooper mutters to himself as he goes down the list.
“Which ones?”
“Well, there’s this golfing one.”
“Why is golfing with me crazy?” I quiz.
He shoots a confused glance my way. “Why would that be eventful enough that they’d want to film it?”
“Golf lessons, duh.” What a stupid question. “You’re telling me that if you’re watching a reality dating show, you don’t want to see the couple get all close and cozy as he teaches her how to swing?”
He considers this. “So, is this you telling me to select it?”
I cackle. “God no. Under no circumstances.”
There’s an eyeroll, and he continues on his search for the perfect date. One that we can act cozy, but not too cozy. Something that will get us in and out as fast as humanly possible.
“How about an Annapolis trip?”
I do love Annapolis. “What would we even do there?”
He thinks about it for a second. “Good point. Okay. How about this? National Spy Museum.”
“That’s one of them?”
He shrugs. “Yeah. Apparently, they have an escape room.”
“I’ve never been there.”
“I haven’t either. Though my buddy from Seattle, Damon, told me that it’s not super accurate. I have no idea what the hell that man is smoking, though. I don’t think he knows anything about spies.”
I grunt, taking the paper from him.
“Hey!”
“You’ve had it for long enough.”
I scan the list in an attempt to find the mostI hate Cooper Henry-esqdate I can possibly find.
“There’s a pasta-making class. That sounds fun.”
“Alright, then circle it.”
I do.
I keep scanning the list as Cooper shifts in front of me. “You know, I think about that night we cooked with my grandpa a lot.”
My heart sinks.
