And if there’s one thing I know, it’s that Cooper hasn’t exactly made a name for himself by being a good boy and turning down all the women who come up to him.
No. I know he loves to flirt, because I was the one being flirted with for half my life. The man is a natural, even back when we were kids. And although I don’t judge the women for falling for it, going home with him, and having the time of their life, when he’s with me, my biggest fear is to be made a fool of.
I probably could have remained undetected, except forsomeonebeing a little too sober.
It’s Emmett who points me out. Of course it is.
Cooper flings around, his beer in his hand, his eyes glassy.
He grins. A wide grin that dazzles me.
God, I want him.
Within seconds, he’s across the room, handing me his bottle. I take a sip, watching him.
“What are you doing here?” he asks, looking me up and down. I can tell he’s had too much to drink, but not enough that I don’t want to be around him.
“I just wanted to check on you. You left in a hurry.”
Mischief lights up his face. “Look at you, caring about me.”
“I always care about you.”
He takes a swig of beer. “I thought that was calledacting.”
I bite my tongue. “Are we doing this again?” I ask, getting annoyed. “I thought weagreed?—”
“And I take it back.” He shrugs.
“What do you mean you take it back?”
“I mean, I don’t want to watch you fake falling in love with me for the show.”
My eyes narrow. “Did I hurt your feelings?”
He watches me, his face stoic.
Uncomfortable, I allow my eyes to flicker around the room. There are eyes on us. A lot of them.
I need to get out of here.
I push past him, fully aware of how stupid this decision was. I should have listened to Mila. She’s always right, and I’m always?—
A large hand circles my arm, pulling me to a stop by the back door. “Can you stop for one second?” his deep voice asks, turning me.
The back of the bar is dark. Still visible, but definitely darker than anywhere else. A purple hue lights us just enough for me to see his frantic face.
“I don’t really have anything to say.”
I go to turn again, but Cooper catches my wrist again, turning me, and within an instant, I’m pressed up to the wall.
The music fades.
The chatter.
The clinking of glasses.
The smell of beer and the feeling of my shoes sticking to the floor.
