“That’s great,” Coop said with all the enthusiasm of a guy losing his childhood home, a vital piece of his history going away.
“It is, Evan. There are some great apartments in town to rent. Some are two-story. When you come home for the summer, you can help us pack up and move furniture. Put those muscles to use.” His dad sounded surprisingly positive, not like usual times when he tried to put on a happy face. He actually had on a happy face. “This is good for us.”
“Yeah, it really is.” Coop fed off his dad’s positive energy.
“I know it’s a big change, but it’s for the best. It’s a huge financial burden off our backs. No more envelopes,” his dad said firmly.
“How’s the job hunt?”
“I’m loving my work at Trader Joe’s actually. I get to work with people, not computer screens. It’s a fun environment, the pay is good, and there’s room for advancement. There’s a whole track of merchants, mates, and then captains.”
For the first time in a while, Coop heard his old Dad, the one who grabbed life by the collar and took him and his sister for ice cream breakfasts on the hottest days of summer.
“You sound great, Dad.”
“I won’t forget what you did, how you stepped up. As soon as I’m making more money, I’m paying you back with interest. It’s not a promise. It’s a guarantee.”
“I love you, Dad.” Coop smiled long after he hung up the phone.
Chapter 28
Matty
The next class, Professor Chertok handed back their pop quizzes. The look he gave Matty was one reserved for disappointed parents or a jury finding a criminal guilty. He got his first-ever C-minus, with the curve. And this one he couldn’t drop. It was a sight that Matty couldn’t get over, worse than the time he looked in his grandfather’s bedpan. With that grade, he was letting down the professor. He was letting down his dad and sister, who were taking care of his mom so he could succeed, not have sex with boys on other people’s furniture. But worst of all, this was personal. Matty was smart. Smart people did not get C-minuses. Who would he be with a failing grade? This wasn’t him. He thought of the kids in his hometown. They would have a laugh about his grade. Matty, the kid who was only good at school wasn’t even good at that anymore.
Matty walked to Coop’s dorm. He needed to cocoon himself in those big arms. Once he got in his room, Matty told Coop about his abysmal score.
“I should’ve told you to stay back and study. I didn’t know your professor was going to pull a dick move like this. ” Coop kissed him softly on the lips.
“I hate this. I hate seeing this grade on my test. I need to work harder, but…” Matty looked deep into Coop’s eyes.But I don’t want to lose you.“The harder I work, the less I’ll see you and—”
“Matty.” Coop put a firm hand on his knees. “You’re not going to lose me. I love your commitment and your dedication. I’ve seen you in action in the lab and while studying. I’ve seen your eyes get this intense focus, and I have this ‘holy shit’ moment because I realize that my boyfriend is going to change the world.”
He saw me in the Zone, and he liked it.Matty didn’t have to prove himself to Coop, didn’t have to keep up a race to be number one.
Coop held up the pop quiz. That dreaded grade snickered at Matty like one of Kelvin’s smiles. “This isn’t you. I know what you’re capable of.”
“It doesn’t matter now. That grade is going to destroy my class average.”
“It will with that defeatist attitude.” Coop ripped the quiz in half and crumpled it into two balls. He tossed one in the trash.
“Coop!”
“You’re Matanga fucking Kapoor. Is one bad grade going to scare you off?” Coop shook his head no. “You’re going to get your cute ass back to the library and study your cute ass off and ace the rest of the tests in this class. And your computer program is going to win that robot Showcase Showdown. You’re going to show the field of computer science engineering that Matanga fucking Kapoor is more powerful than they ever realized.”
“Yeah!” Matty yelled. The drive that had jettisoned him to academic heights was replaced with a new kind of energy, one reinforced with the full support of his boyfriend.
“No.Fuckyeah.” Coop handed him the other crumpled up ball. “Sink that shot. Show that pop quiz that it picked the wrong undergrad to mess with.”
Matty felt the paper in his hand. He could do this. He could get the A’s, the research slot, and the guy.
He sunk the shot.
“Nothing but trash can!” Coop hi-fived him, slapping his palm so hard it burned. Then he pulled him into his lap for a kiss and grabbed his ass. “It really is a cute ass.”
“Glad you think so,” Matty said.
“Now get that cute ass back into that lab. You have a competition to win.”
