Operation Prom Date (Tactics in Flirting, #1)(14)
“I couldn’t even do one push up, much less twenty.”
“Then I guess you better be at practice.”
I stuck out my lips, not above pouting if it’d give me one day of rest. “But I’ll need time for party prep.”
“We’ll row at noon and go for a couple of hours. That gives you plenty of time to prep.”
I let my head fall back against the headboard and gave a dramatic fake cry. “I need a day off. My muscles need a break, or by the time we get to the party, I’ll just be crying every time I move, and that doesn’t seem like a very casual, cool thing to do.” When he didn’t immediately give in, I brought my hands into prayer position, despite the pain it caused. “Please, please have mercy on my muscles and give me a break, Coach Grouchy Pants.”
His brow furrowed. “Fine. But Sunday at noon, your ass better be on the lake.”
I saluted him, then groaned again, because it hurt my arm, which only made him laugh. Smacking his arm made pain shoot through my shoulder, but it was worth it.
I expected him to launch into a cheesy sports speech about pain and gain, but instead, he handed me the pillow he’d been using. “I’m tough enough to not need any sissy cushions.”
“That’s because your body is used to all the rowing.”
He shot me a sidelong glance, the colors from the TV dancing across his features. “My ripped body?”
“If it wouldn’t hurt, I’d smack you again.” I added the pillow on top of the one cushioning my back. Obviously Cooper was super scared, because when I twisted back around, he waggled his eyebrows. “Okay, adding the eyebrows just bumped you up to a nine on the Kanye Douchebag Scale. I should’ve never told you that you got ripped. It went right to your head.”
“Oh, I already knew.” He cracked a grin and put his hands behind his head as a rest, his elbows out to the side, creating the picture-perfect image of relaxed, confident dude. Who was, in fact, ripped.
I crossed my ankles, glad at least my legs functioned without pain. “I like this movie and all, but there’s not really a couple for me to ship. Unless we’re talking shipping me and him, because talk about ripped.”
Cooper shook his head. “Are you one of those people who talk through movies?”
“When it’s not one of mine, yes. Otherwise, I do sometimes talk, but mostly just to Klaus, who completely agrees.”
“Naturally.”
I laughed, but did my best to be quiet through the rest of the movie. I thought nothing was as good as an empty weekend stretched before me, lots of hours to binge watch. But having Cooper watching with me? Well, a girl could get used to that.
Although, not really. As soon as Mick and I got together, I probably wouldn’t have as much time for hanging out like this. A twinge of sorrow went through me, and I told myself to stop being overdramatic about something that hadn’t even happened.
The sound of the door opening broke through the music that accompanied the credits rolling up the screen.
“Sounds like my mom is home,” I said.
Cooper shot up, his back stick straight. “Will she be upset that I’m in your bedroom?”
I hadn’t really thought about it, and it wasn’t like I had a lot of experience with boys in my room, but I couldn’t see her caring. “Nah. If anything, she’ll be surprised. We should really shock her. Put your hand on my knee and we’ll act like we were just making out.”
Cooper couldn’t look more horrified by the prospect, which made me worry we’d never be able to pull off tomorrow night’s plan. I tried to smother the offense that automatically drifted up because I was only joking and had my sights set on someone else anyway. But would it kill him to act like the idea wasn’t totally repulsive? My confidence with boys was shaky enough as it was.
“Kate?” Mom called. “I’m home, and I have some crazy stories for you. I have no idea what’s wrong with guys these days. Nadine’s doing the online dating thing, and she’s already had three guys send her pics of their—”
“I have company!” I shouted before Mom could finish. Judging from the heat in my cheeks and the flush in Cooper’s, it was too late to avoid veering into awkward territory. So much for shocking her—she definitely got the jump on that.
Mom stopped in the doorway. She was flushed as well, but more in the way that meant she’d had a few drinks and had done some dancing. “Oh. Hey, Kate’s company.” Her eyebrows scrunched up as she glanced from me to Cooper, and then back to me. Then she beamed at him like he was a puppy, and she hoped I’d keep him. Clearly she’d had too much to drink to be subtle.
“Mom, this is my friend Cooper. Cooper Callihan.”
“Callihan.” She pressed her lips together. “Your father’s a lawyer, right?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Cooper said, his usual light-heartedness gone. Almost like he thought Mom might interrogate him or perhaps ask him for legal advice.
“Please don’t call me ma’am. Makes me feel old. Call me Melanie. Or is that improper? I never know what the damn rules are with that kind of thing. I suppose I could settle for Ms. Hamilton, but I’d still prefer Melanie.” She swung her arm, and I noticed her heels were in her hand instead of on her feet. “Anyway, you guys have fun. But not too much fun.”