Maria nodded in agreement.
The sister hugged Coop. “You are awesome.” She hugged Maria with her other arm. “And you are, too. I’m so happy you’re in our sorority!”
She brought them into their larger dance circle. But even so, Coop didn’t leave Maria’s side. When the deejay playedDon’t Stop Believing, Coop sang at the top of his lungs with everyone else, and made sure to sing to Maria. He caught her breaking into spontaneous laughter all throughout the formal, and it warmed his heart like a toasty fire. Another satisfied customer.
* * *
Beinga G-rated gigolo was by far Coop’s most lucrative side hustle. He’d tried all sorts of odd jobs around campus for some extra money. He put together students’ Ikea furniture during the first weeks of school. He gave informal personal training sessions at the gym for kids who wanted to look like him. For others, he attended lectures in their place when attendance was mandatory, and the professor passed around a clipboard to check your name off of. The gigolo work was the best. He got paid to party.
Coop found there were lots of ways to make cash at Browerton that were more lucrative than a work-study position—and legal, of course. He assured his parents that he’d be able to make his own money. They could barely afford to send him to college as it was. He was only at Browerton by the grace of student loans, a scholarship, and more student loans. His dad was still getting over the shock of losing his job, and the unemployment checks were going to dry up soon. The last thing Coop would do was stick his hand out for more. No, when he arrived at college, he promised himself that he would make it on his own. It was yet another way that college was a new chapter for him.
The formal ended, and the busses dropped off the kids at Browerton. Maria and Coop walked with a group of her sisters and dates through the bustling campus. The clocktower hit ten o’clock, but it could’ve been noon. Kids swarmed the grounds, going to parties, walking back from concerts. He loved that nightlife didn’t really pick up at college until late. Ten-thirty was party o’clock.
A chilly spring breeze swept through the air, but after a night of dancing, it was rather refreshing.
Coop and Maria linked arms as they hung back from the rest of Maria’s friends. “I can’t thank you enough, Coop. I had so much fun. I’ve never danced so much.”
“You should do it more often. You looked like you were having a blast.” And he was happy that he made it possible.
“Seriously, though. That worked perfectly!” Her face glowed brighter than the moon, another customer satisfied. “I’m happy my friend Sonja referred me to you.”
“I was happy to be her beard.”
“Is the term still beard if it’s a lesbian using a fake boyfriend?”
“I don’t know.”
They walked along the river, which was the only thing sleeping on campus. Coming from the opposite direction, four kids carried a keg like it’d scored the winning touchdown. Coop gave them an encouraging head nod.
“So what happens now?” Maria asked.
“Now, I walk with you back to your dorm, then I go to mine, and we get some rest.”
She seemed a little disappointed. They all did. That meant Coop did a really good job.
He rubbed her forearm. “We had a good night. That’s what counts.”
“What happens tomorrow if people ask about you?”
Coop had it covered and didn’t miss a beat. “You just say we were friends. And if your friends ask if we might be more, you can tell them I have a serious girlfriend back home. However you want to play it.”
“Do you have anyone back home?”
“Nope. Happily single as fuck.” He loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top of his shirt. This formal attire was so constricting on his body.
“What were you like in high school? I’ll bet you were probably homecoming king or something like that.”
If it weren’t so dark out, Maria might’ve seen Coop tense at the question. But like a real pro, he let out an innocuous laugh, the kind celebrities give during awkward interviews. He wanted to tell his clients that asking questions like these was futile. He was their blank slate. Let him stay blank. “I had a good time in high school, but I’m loving college.”
“I could totally see you as that guy who was friends with everyone in his graduating class, like you were chummy with every clique.”
“Chummy? I grew up in New Jersey, not England.” He itched his chin and hoped she would be done with the interrogation.
“I’m sorry for asking. I just feel like I barely know you.”
“Isn’t that part of the fun?”
One of the girls in their group spun around. Her shoes hung off her fingers, and she had no qualms about strolling through campus barefoot. Coop thanked his lucky stars society didn’t force guys to wear high heels.
