“You do want the lab position, right? You want to join the robotics field, don’t you?”
“I do. More than anything.”
“Well, don’t forget to keep priority singular. Let’s go, Marathon.”
Marathon beeped back to life and followed Professor Chertok through the entrance they came.
Chapter 21
Coop
After three unanswered text messages, Coop resorted to calling Matty. He still had the blush of their night together wrapped around his face. Was he really letting himself get all mushy over a guy? He wouldn’t say he was letting it happen. His body was taking control of this one.
The call rolled to voicemail. Matty told him he would be working long hours in the library for some robot showcase showdown, but it was after ten. Coop figured he would be spending the night with him again, but for that to happen, he actually needed to see his boyfriend.
That night, he made some extra money helping his old client Maria’s sorority set up some of the heavy equipment and furniture for a silent auction fundraiser.
While he was plugging in the A/V equipment, she practically begged him to come as her date to this beach party event tomorrow night. He usually didn’t do repeats, but he had a soft spot for her ever since seeing how grateful she was for his assistance. She had written him a very lovely, handwritten Thank You card. He couldn’t say no to that.
The party would be held on the tiny patch of land along the river that could pass for a beach.
“So who do you want me to be this time? Still your friend, a fun dance partner, wingman?”
“Not quite. There’s this guy I like, and we hooked up the night of the formal, or technically early morning. Seeing me with you made him crazy jealous, and he came to my dorm room at like four in the morning. It was really romantic.
“The problem is, since then he’s been blowing me off, and I think it’s because he thinks we’re not a couple.”
Coop sighed. Straight women did not have it easy.
“He’s going to be at this event tomorrow night.”
“So you want him to get crazy jealous again?”
“If he sees us being all PDA central, then it’ll make him realize what an ass he’s being.”
“PDA central?”
“It has to be believable.”
Coop gagged a little at the thought. It didn’t sit right with him now that he had a boyfriend. He didn’t know how to bring this up to Matty. Being a G-rated gigolo was something even Rafe thought was strange. How did gigolos and prostitutes manage to have relationships?
“I have a boyfriend, Maria. It’s still new…”
“This is just a one-time thing. It’s a Hail Mary pass. Please, Coop.”
Even though he didn’t want to kiss anyone except Matty, every little bit of money could help his family, and maybe pad his lucky Copenhagen sock if he were lucky.“No tongue.”
“Sounds reasonable,” she said. “I just want it to work.”
“Well, you’ve come to the right place.” He barely said it with feeling. He wanted his lips to be reserved for Matty.One night. I can do one night, and then it’ll be done. No big deal.
After leaving the sorority house, Coop tried Matty again. Another voicemail. He sent one more text:Am I sleeping at your place tonight? Getting close to my bedtime…
Rather than wait for a response, Coop had a better idea. He walked over to the library to surprise his boyfriend, but Matty was nowhere to be found in his usual chair. Coop texted a picture of himself at Matty’s table with a frowny face.
Matty quickly texted back:I’m working at the computer lab in the engineering building. ground floor.
Coop stopped by a coffee shop in one of the dorms. But he realized that he didn’t know what kind of coffee Matty drank. He bought him a chocolate chip cookie instead. Did Matty like chocolate chip, or was an oatmeal raisin person? They still had so much to learn about each other.
