Operation Prom Date (Tactics in Flirting, #1)(56)

“That’s too bad. I liked her. It does explain why you’ve been as testy as your father lately.”

“Low blow,” I said.

Mom flashed me her no-nonsense look. “I thought it might be more inspirational.”

Great. Evidently everyone in my life thought I should be with Kate.

If only they could convince her, then we could all be happy.

She’ll be at the race, I bet.

My mind started spinning on what I could say to her. On how to undo the crappy stuff and get back to the good—even if friends were all we could ever be.

I thought of when she’d first explained shipping people to me, and an idea started taking shape.

I just couldn’t decide if it was totally genius, or totally insane.





Chapter Thirty-Five


Kate


I debated skipping the race part of the festival and sticking to the tented booths with crafts, handmade jewelry, and artery-clogging food. The occasional glimpses of Cooper that I caught during school made it clear that seeing him inflicted pain, even if from afar.

But all the hours I’d spent rowing made it hard to stay away. Not to mention the booths lined right up with where the race started.

I eyed the boats, alternatively hoping I’d spot Cooper’s blond waves in the crowd, while hoping I wouldn’t because of that whole aching thing.

“Looking for Cooper?” Mom whispered in my ear, and I jumped, nearly dropping my cotton candy.

“No,” I said.

“Oh, right. The football player—that’s who you like these days. I keep forgetting.”

I fought the urge to stick my tongue out at her. Instead I went for maturity and held the cotton candy out of reach when she tried to swipe a chunk.

Speaking of the football player, he was also competing, so I’d feel like a bad prom date if I didn’t support him. Even if I had given up thinking we’d be anything close to exclusive—in the words of Tswift—like, ever.

But at least he no longer thought of me as a hookup girl. After he agreed to be my prom date, I explained that if he was going with me because he thought I’d be so grateful and caught up in dance-night magic that we’d hookup afterward, he’d be greatly disappointed.

He told me that as long as he didn’t have to stop hooking up with other girls, he didn’t care. Talk about romance, FTW!

Honestly, it was nice not to pretend to be someone other than who I was. The pictures would be stunning, and I could always point at the framed photo sitting among my Funko Pop figurines on my bookshelf and brag about how I’d gone to prom with the quarterback and possible prom king, which he was a total shoo-in for.

The only thing better would be going with the guy I could now say for sure that I’d loved, even if only for a little while.

Okay, considering I’d switched my cyber-stalking habits from Mick to Cooper—who didn’t put nearly enough information online, FYI—I was possibly still in love with him. But considering his indifference toward me, I was trying to fall out of it.

Oh, look, there he is. The unyielding butterflies kicked up in my tummy, fluttering in that way they did just for him. He had his game face on as he picked up his number from the registration table. Dang, he looks cute. And ripped and tall… Why does he always have to look so freaking hot?

His waves were a bit wild, like he’d raked his hand through his hair several times. He must be nervous.

My fingers ached to reach out and squeeze his hand and provide the comfort that I used to be able to. Unfortunately, it would probably only make him mad, and I didn’t have stretchy fire-hose length arms anyway. Well, that last part wasn’t unfortunate, but I digress.

Yep, looking at him now, my act of not caring about him, or how we weren’t friends anymore, definitely digressed.

“You okay, hon?” Mom asked.

“I’m fine. I’m going to go find a closer seat to watch.”

Mom glanced back toward the tents.

“Go get that necklace,” I said. “And while you’re getting it, ask for the farmer dude’s number.”

Mom’s cheeks turned pink. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Um, hello, the sparks were flying between you and the guy in the booth next to the jewelry stand. I saw the flirty smiles, too.” I wrapped her in a side hug. “No one will ever replace Dad, but it’s okay to date and move on, Mom.”

In some ways, I needed to follow my own advice and not constantly be afraid that everything bad or hard that happened would only remind me of how much I missed him. I could miss him. I just couldn’t let it hold me back from taking risks.

“I’m about to go to college,” I continued, “and I know that I’m still going to live with you and all, but you don’t want to be the sad woman who watches TV with a bearded dragon every weekend while I’m out at those raging college parties.”

“Ha-ha.”

“I’m serious; Klaus and I talked about it, and we both worry. He’s mostly worried you’ll get three cats, and he’s not great at sharing the attention.”

A smile broke free and Mom glanced back at the row of tents again. “He was really cute. And he did seem interested.”

“Interested? There was shameless ogling on both sides.” I shoved her toward the tents. “Now go. And don’t come back until you’ve got his number.”