Damaged and the Beas(11)

Cooper looked ready to say something and then changed gears. "Do you know how to play pool?"

"I'm pretty good."

"How about cards? You good at them too?" he asked, gesturing towards a few tables where men and women played poker.

"I don't gamble."

"Of course, you don't, nerd."

Stepping back, I glanced at where the card games took place. "I'm fairly sure my dad's love of cards was a reason I went to bed hungry some nights." When I looked at Cooper, he studied me in a weird way. "Can I have a burger?"

Cooper leaned down and kissed my lips so softly I barely felt him. "Baby, you can have whatever you want. Pig out to your heart's content."

"You're nicer than I thought you'd be," I said and then covered my mouth in horror that I'd said the words out loud. "I'm sorry."

"What did you think I was like?"

"You seem scary. You knew that."

"Yeah," he muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I'm surprised you're so weirded out by tats when you came from a less than prissy upbringing."



       
         
       
        

Saying nothing, I looked around and realized bikers, most of them over thirty, surrounded us. Freezing, I didn't know what I was waiting for, but suddenly I felt like I was in danger.

"They're just people, princess."

When I looked up at Cooper, I knew he was angry. There was no way to explain my fear without talking about things I was raised never to talk about.

"I really like you," I said weakly.

"Why?"

"Because you make me feel pretty and important, and no one else does that. You also make me laugh, and you're hot."

Shaking his head, Cooper sighed full of disappointment. "You're so shallow. I'm more than my natural good looks, you know? I'm smart and witty and shit too."

Laughing, I took his hand. "Don't be mad."

"I'm not. I just want you to smile, and you stopped when you realized that you were surrounded by my people."

"Your people?"

"Half of these guys are family to me. They ran with my pop when he was young and moved out here because he did. Some of these guys helped raise me, so I'm not cool with you thinking they're shit."

"I don't. That's not it."

"What is it then?"

Whatever my face showed Cooper, the tightness around his jaw eased, and he squeezed my hand gently. Leaning down, he kissed my cheek and then whispered, "You're pouting. You can't know how much I love when you do that."

"I didn't mean to offend you," I said and then realized I owed him nothing. I even had enough cash to pay for my meal, though I'd need a ride home. Either way, I wouldn't fake anything just because Cooper was hot and a little scary. "I don't like bikers. They make me nervous, and I won't pretend they don't."

"A little louder and we'll have bikers lining up to kick your ass. Just the lady bikers, but still."

"Won't pretend otherwise," I said, emphasizing each word.

"Fuck," he groaned, pulling me against him and stroking my hair. "Pouting along with your bitching is even hotter than the pouting alone. You can't know how horny I am right now."

Wiggling free, I walked to a pool table. When Cooper joined me, I squinted annoyed at him.

"Stop talking about your horny level. I'm not having sex with you."

"Today," he teased. "Damn, you never add the disclaimer."

"And I never will."

Leaning against the table, Cooper sighed as he stretched out his long legs. I placed my hand on his chest, and his expression shifted. Those dark eyes found my face. 

"I like you," I murmured. "Even if you scare me and hang out with bikers, I really like you."

Cooper didn't say anything, just watched me with a needy gaze. I was sure he was thinking about how horny he was and how pouty my lips were and a lot of other pervy things. I still enjoyed when he watched me with such a gentle expression.

"Maddy might have puked her brains out," Bailey said, strolling over to us. Standing under a fan, she pulled at her bangs to keep them from floating around. "She likes Fuckwad, so it's highly likely her brains didn't work anyway."

"True," Cooper said, still watching me. "Bailey, you know Farah."

"Yeah, kinda. You're in one of my classes, right?"

"Algebra."

"Yeah, I don't really plan to go to that one much. It's hard, and none of the boys in class are cute."

Unsure how to respond, I just smiled and nodded. Bailey didn't seem to care. Glancing around in a grumpy way, she leaned against Cooper.

"I was supposed to meet someone here, and he didn't show. Will ya kick his ass for me?"

"Sure. Now get off me so I can play pool."

"With your girlfriend?" Bailey asked, making kissing noises while still leaning against her brother. "Tucker is ignoring me. He said I embarrass him. The name Fuckwad is a form of endearment."

"Bailey, if you don't get off me … "

"You'll what?" she asked, glaring up at him. "Whine to Mom? Poop your pants, Coop?"

"I'll tell Pop you got yourself roofied Friday night, and he'll make you take a chaperone to parties."

Bailey pushed off of Cooper and then looked at me. "Do you have brothers?"

"No."

"Lucky. Mine smell like feet."

With that comment, Bailey walked away, and I fought the urge to laugh. Cooper watched me struggling against a grin. Sensing he was irritated, I figured having his little sister mock him on a date must be embarrassing.

"I don't think you smell like feet," I said, taking the pool stick.

Cooper grunted. "You give the best compliments. Award worthy really."

Leaning forward, I aimed the cue ball at the pyramid. Even with Cooper likely watching my ass stick out, I concentrated and hit the ball. The triangle scattered and a ball fell into a pocket.

"It's physics," I said, glancing at Cooper who grinned.

"Is your gambling dad a pool shark too?"

"No, my mom was," I muttered, turning towards him.

"And she taught you her hot moves, huh?" he said, trapping me against the table with his hips. "Bet you made a lot of grown men cry when you beat their asses. Not to mention the cash you won."

Losing my smile, I waited for Cooper to move so I could make my next shot.

"What's wrong now?"

"Nothing."

"Bad memories or you think I'm a dick?"

"I know you're a dick, but that's not why I'm grumpy. Let's not talk about my parents, okay? I shouldn't have mentioned my dad earlier."

"Why?" Cooper asked, crowding me physically and emotionally now. "Where is your dad now?"

"I don't know. He travels a lot."

"What does he do?"

"Odd jobs."

"Is he messed up like your mom?"

"Can I ask about your parents?"

"Sure. My pop is great. My mom is better than great. Anything else? No? Fine, now explain why you're pissed."

"I'm not pissed. I just don't want to talk about my parents."



       
         
       
        

"Or is it because you were a pool shark and took money from unsuspecting assholes and that makes the goody-two-shoes nerd inside you sad?"

Staring at Cooper, I realized he wouldn't back off until he heard details. "Yeah, I'm good at pool, and I took money from unsuspecting assholes. Sometimes, they didn't like that. The goody-two-shoes nerd inside me doesn't want to think about the time one of those assholes cut off my ponytail and broke my nose. But if you'd like to discuss it instead of having fun, let's chat away."

Cooper stepped back. "Fuck. Your family is shit, Farah. Complete crap."

Setting the pool stick down, I glared at him. "I want to leave."

"No," he said, stepping forward and blocking me. "Hell, I figured you deserved to have a good time because you were the Denny's chick with the messed up, mom. Now I know you're the Denny's chick with two messed up parents and a reason for all of that high-strung shit you pull."

Cooper leaned down and pressed his cheek against mine. "You're going to stay here and play pool. You'll eat lots of food and listen to my siblings act like idiots. I'll kiss all over you while wanting to do more than kiss. Then I'll take you home with your stomach full and a smile on your beautiful face. That's what's going to happen here. If you can think of a reason you shouldn't have fun for the afternoon, I'm all ears."

Crossing my arms, I glanced around. "You push too hard, and the way you talk makes me feel bad. I don't want to defend my parents, but you force me to by making fun of them."

"That's no excuse to lose out on a little fun with a hot guy who's got cash to pay for a big lunch."

"It's true that you're hot."

"I could flex my muscles if you need a little extra incentive."

Grinning, I glanced at his strong, tanned arms. "Sure, why shouldn't I feel you up since you've got me pinned?"

"Oh, don't play the victim, nerd. My crotch is right here in case you need to take a shot and make a run for it."