Operation Prom Date (Tactics in Flirting, #1)(33)

We parked near the dock, and when Kate climbed out of the truck, she came my way, bumping into me when her jump down was slightly bigger than needed.

“Just so you know,” I said, “if you try to knock me into the water today, I’m going to perform a ninja move and make sure you’re the only one who falls in.”

“Ooh, a ninja move. I’m so impressed, Space Case.”

I shook my head. “You didn’t.”

“I did.” She beamed at me.

“I’m never letting you speak to my mother again.”

“Oh, come on. I like her. She promised baby pictures next time I came over.”

“Another point for never letting you come over again.” I narrowed my eyes at her. “Did she really?”

Kate laughed. “No, but your face was priceless.” She jabbed a finger into my cheek. “And I do want to see the dimples on baby Cooper. It’s got to be the cutest thing ever.”

I playfully smacked her hand away, and she giggled and poked at my cheek again.

“Are we ever going to get in the water?” Jaden asked.

Kate glanced from him to me and gave a long-suffering sigh. “Oh great, two Coach Grouchy Pants to deal with. Just what I needed.”

She started over to the boat, and I watched the sway of her hips, like I had that fateful day we’d struck our bargain.

She thought she had it bad with two rowers around to bark orders at her? I was falling for a girl who liked someone else.

Talk about just what I needed.





Chapter Nineteen


Kate


“But, Cooper, what if everyone there is mean? And what if I don’t know what to say and I freeze up and ruin everything?” The closer the clock inched toward seven on Friday evening, the more frayed my nerves became. Yes, Mick and I’d had a few promising interactions and one decent conversation about college, but that just meant the stakes were that much higher if I blew it tonight.

“Then don’t go,” he said, and I scowled across the cab of his truck at him. He was being even more stubborn than usual.

“We had a deal.”

“Hey, I got you invited over to Mick’s house—I’m fulfilling my side. You were too distracted to row this afternoon, so if anyone should be complaining it’s me.”

I gasped. “You did not just say that to me.”

“I did.” He flashed me a smile, clearly thinking he was clever, using the words on me that I’d used on him yesterday. Once we rowed out on the lake with Jaden, Cooper had hardly spoken—Jaden gave me tips and we made a joke about how he could row the left side while I did the right. Cooper hadn’t objected or told us to focus like I’d expected him to. He merely kept rowing, remaining far quieter than usual. Even during today’s training sesh, he hadn’t said much. He was careful not to bark orders, at least, but something was missing from our usual light banter. Sadness edged into his smile. “But I didn’t mean it. I’m happy with our times this afternoon. As for tonight…you’ll do fine, Kate. You’ve got this.”

I gripped the handle above the window as he turned onto my road—the winter had turned it into half potholes, and the city didn’t seem to be in any hurry to fill them. I wished life came with one of these “oh shit” handles so you could hold on to it when the road ahead turned bumpy. Cooper was the closest thing I had to one, and I liked having him nearby so I could cling on as needed. “I’d feel better if you came with me. Or, I guess that might give Mick the wrong idea, but can’t you just show up?”

Cooper pulled into my driveway. Sunlight filtered through the trees and gave his profile a glowing effect. “It’s not a big party. It’d be weird for me to show up.”

Mick personally invited me, which was a huge freaking victory. We were just starting to get to know each other—to get to a place where he could see how much fun I could be and our connection could grow into more—and the pressure for everything to go perfectly weighed on me. History proved I didn’t do the best under pressure. Or in Mick’s presence. We’re talking like 80 percent awkward, with a high chance of tripping over my words.

I could tell Cooper had made up his mind about not going, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t give me some extra tools to ensure success. “Can you at least help me pick out an outfit? Like I said, my mom has a late showing.” Which was why I didn’t have a vehicle to use and had that minor meltdown about how I finally got invited out with Mick, and I’d have to go over there all sweaty and gross, wearing the same clothes he’d seen me in at school.

Cooper eyed the door to my house as if going inside would be akin to going to battle. Maybe asking for fashion advice was too much—after all, he’d already offered to drop me off at Mick’s so I could come home after training and freshen up. As I opened my mouth to tell him never mind, he said, “Okay. But only to say yay or nay. There will be no advice on accessories or makeup, and I will deny this ever happening.”

“I hope you’ll deny all of this ever happening. It’s a top-secret operation, and the only people who have clearance are you and me.”

He shook his head, but his smile turned genuine again. I dove across the cab of the truck and hugged him. “Thank you, Sergeant Callihan.”