Rafe was the only person that Coop had told about his G-rated gigolo business. Coop had to tell someone, and despite Rafe’s nutty views on making an ass out of himself, he was a solid friend who Coop trusted one hundred percent.
“I am loud and proud on Team Dick. I promise.”
“Why are you spending all this time getting ripped if you don’t want anyone to benefit?”
Coop put the forty-fives back on the rack. Rafe wouldn’t understand that he just didn’t feel like dating. It felt too much like a dicey proposition. Just because he had a ripped physique didn’t mean he couldn’t be rejected. “I love that you wear your heart on your sleeve. It’s what makes you you, but it might scare some guys off.”
“If it’s the right guy, then he won’t be scared off.”
Coop grabbed the little dumbbell from Rafe’s lap. “Stop holding these things like you want to jerk them off. Save that for your bow tie lover.”
* * *
After their workout, they strolled back to their dorm. Kids congregated on couches in the lobby. Rafe rubbed his sore muscles. Those five-pound weights. So brutal.
“Love takes time,” Coop said. They walked up the stairs to the room. “Don’t try to force anything with this breakfast guy. You can’t just have the love of your life show up on your doorstep.”
Or maybe you could. Because a cute guy leaned against Rafe and Coop’s door, waiting for them, as if dropped there by a magical genie.
“H-hi. I’m Rafe.”
“Kelvin.” The guy nodded tersely. “I’m looking for Coop.”
Coop raised his hand.
“Can we talk privately?”
Coop turned to Rafe.
“I’ll go downstairs. No having sex on his bed.”
Coop gave Rafe a friendly shove down the hall. “Forgive him. His mother dropped him on his head. Repeatedly. For fun.” Coop sat on his bed, while Kelvin stood by his desk. “What can I do you for?”
Kelvin stared at the ground, and Coop sensed his nervousness. “I heard from a friend that you help people.”
“Possibly. Not like a hit man, if that’s what you’re thinking.” Coop leaned back, enjoying thisGodfather-esque moment of power. “What’s the problem?”
“There’s this kid in my engineering class who annoys the shit out of everyone. He’s a total teacher’s pet.” Kelvin paced as he worked into his story. “This is one of the most difficult classes in the engineering program, but the professor usually grades on a curve.
“The curve would be perfect, except this kid aces his tests. For the last test, he got an A, and we all got C’s, which now are being counted as actual C’s. It’s messing up our GPA, which is going to be a big problem when we apply to graduate school or try to get recruited by companies. Our whole class is scared shitless. Not to mention my parents are going to have an epic shit fit if I bring home a C. We’re Chinese. Getting a C is worse than getting arrested.” A streak of anger lit up Kelvin’s face.
“So where do I come in? Like I said, not a hit man.”
“I tried talking with this guy, but he wouldn’t listen. He’s like a reality show contestant. Not here to make friends.” He sat down on the foot of Coop’s bed. “I need you to find a way to distract him so that he’s not as prepared for the next test. If we can throw him off his game a little, then his grades will come down and kick the curve back into effect, and we all win.”
Coop eyed him suspiciously. He slid his gym bag under his bed. “I think your friend misrepresented what I do. I’m a great plus one at parties, or a great guy to show off to mom and dad. But distracting engineering majors is out of my wheelhouse.”
Kelvin removed a wad of cash from his pocket. “Well, make it.”
Coop’s eyes salivated at the amount, which he couldn’t count but knew instantly was more than any of his past payouts. The way Kelvin held it made it seem like chump change to the kid.
“Outside of hiring a hit man, I don’t know what else to do. My friend said you were good.”
“What exactly do you want me to do? Wave my hands in front of him when he’s trying to study?”
“I don’t know. Just try something. He’ll expect something from me, but he doesn’t know you.”
Coop felt bad for Kelvin a little, dealing with that family pressure. It seemed like a victimless crime, and an easy payout. This teacher’s pet would still get good grades, just via a curve.
