“I, myself, am a wonderful drunk dart player.” He gives me a playful smile.
“Oh yeah?” I chuckle. “You’re some kind of master at it?”
“Well, I wouldn’t say I’m that good.” He winks. “But I’m not so bad.”
“I bet you’re amazing.” I play into his teasing.
“I am.” He nods. “Just watch.”
My lips part in shock because he’s not being serious, is he? Did he not just see what happened with Val? That bartender should be hiding the damn darts right about now.
I watch as Cooper steps up to the board. “Maybe this isn’t a good idea,” I say, rushing over to him.
“Sure it is,” he says nonchalantly. “Watch and be amazed.”
Cooper gets ready to throw, and I squeeze my eyes shut, bracing for something bad to happen.
Put a stop to this before he kills someone, damn it!
Before I can even finish that thought, I hear three thuds in a row.
When I don’t hear anyone screaming or crying, I slowly open my eyes. Blinking, I look at Cooper, who is smiling at me with amusement.
He nods his head toward the board, and I follow the direction. “Holy shit,” I whisper in disbelief when I see three darts in the middle of the board, all of them nearly on top of each other. “Holy fuck, Cooper. You really did it.”
He gives me a mock gasp, placing a hand over his heart. “You dare question my dart skills? I’m hurt.”
This time, it’s me who smiles. “You’re something else, Cooper.” I shake my head. This feeling of happiness, excitement, it’s new. It’s foreign. But I don’t hate it.
He gasps, “Oh my god, he smiles!”
“Stop it.” I laugh, shoving at his arm, making him chuckle. “I know how to smile.”
“Could have fooled me. Not that I don’t mind the whole sexy, grumpy vibe. It works for you.”
I blink at him in shock. Did he just call me sexy? Cooper thinks I’m sexy?
No. He’s just being nice. There’s no way he thinks I’m attractive.
Why would I care anyway? I don’t care what people think about my looks. It means nothing to me.
So why do I find myself wanting to squirm under his heated gaze?
“I like the smile too.” His voice goes low, his hand reaching up to brush the side of my cheek. “It looks good on you.”
Why the hell is my heart hammering so fast? I feel dizzy. Sick. Am I going to pass out? Did the drink the bartender gave me have alcohol in it? Did they mix up my drink with someone else's?
“Come on.” Cooper grabs my hand and pulls me towards the dance floor. “Let’s dance.”
“Oh, no no no.” I shake my head. “I don’t dance.”
“Don’t dance, or don’t know how to dance?”
“Both.”
“It’s okay, I can’t dance either. We can be shitty dancers together.” He lets go of me, that joyful look on his face. He’s having a good time. I don’t want to ruin it by leaving, by slinking away to the safety of the table.
He leaves me for a moment and goes over to the jukebox. After he picks a song, he turns towards me with a big, goofy smile. He starts singing the song, seeming to know the words.
