Damaged and the Beas(14)

Glancing at his notes, I shrugged. "You do have very nice penmanship. Dainty even."

"Bitch."

"Jackass."

"Gorgeous."

"Stud."

"You have no idea."

Rolling my eyes, I noticed Nick and his friend enter. I smiled at the guys and then glanced back at Cooper, who watched them as if he was a lion about to snag baby gazelles.

"Do you want to sit with your boyfriend?" Cooper asked with his gaze on Nick even as his fingers caressed the nape of my neck.

"Maybe, but first I'll copy your stellar notes."

"Bitch."

"Asscrack." 

"Nerd."

"Hot stuff."

"The devil disguised as an angel to trick me into losing my heart."

"That one was too long."

Cooper grinned. "Want to get something to eat after class?"

"I have to study and then go to work."

"Blow off work and study with me and then I can show you my stud moves," he said, wiggling his brows at me.

"I need my job."

"Not really."

"How do you know?"

"I know everything."

Rolling my eyes again, I wished the instructor would arrive. Instead, I was stuck with Cooper, who focused more on Nick than anything else.

"I barely know him," I said.

"Good."

"I don't like possessive guys."

"Of course, you do. After all, you like me and I'm possessive. If that guy touches you, I'm breaking his fingers."

"You're being a dick."

Cooper sighed loudly and then shoved back into his chair, nearly snapping off the seat. "If you want the douche so bad, go sit over by him," he muttered, shoving my chair towards Nick.

"Fine," I said, embarrassed as I grabbed my backpack.

"No, not fine. Sit."

"You just said."

"Sit," he growled, glaring at me. "I will kick his ass if you sit by him."

"But you said," I pushed, just to annoy him since he was annoying me.

Expression shifting into horny stud, he tugged at the seam of my shirt. "I like this on you. Clingy."

Unsure what to do, I stood another few minutes. Cooper finally convinced me to sit by patting on the chair as if I was a dog he was training.

"So where do you want to eat after class?" Cooper whispered as Manuel entered.

"I'm not eating with you. I have to study and go to work."

"We can study together, and you can call in sick."

"I'm ignoring you now."

Cooper spent the next forty-five minutes glaring at me in the most obvious way. In fact, I was certain class ended a little early because Manuel wasn't comfortable with Cooper's behavior. Maybe he hoped to allow me to get away. Or maybe he knew who Cooper was and wanted to let the hotshot chase me.

Whatever the reason, class ended early, and I walked out quickly. Cooper said nothing while walking next to me until I disappeared into a bathroom. When I exited, he was gone, and I felt an odd mix of disappointment and relief.

Driving me home, Skye announced she met a guy named Tyler, who was black and had shoulders like an ox. The ox thing made her giggle as if Tyler's beauty had sent Skye into heat.

As we arrived at my apartment complex, she sighed. "He's really into math. My dad is into math. A guy who is like my dad except super hot and with lips I could stare at forever. Tyler's perfect, but I think he's still into his old girlfriend at home."

"Give it time," I said, unsure about my advice skills. "It's our second week at school. Soon, he'll forget about her and only see you."

When Skye studied me, I knew my advice sucked. I had no experience giving dating suggestions, and it showed. Then Skye's brown eyes lit up, and she smiled like a miracle occurred.

"Sometimes, I forget you can talk," Skye said. "Loyal and quiet, plus you give great advice. This year is turning out so perfect. First, a super awesome friend. Now a super hot guy. College rocks."

Pleased with Skye's happiness, I said goodbye and then hurried inside to study. A bag of chips later and only a part of my Spanish assignment complete, I rushed around to get in a shower before work.



       
         
       
        

Once at Denny's, I found quiet moments to work on assigned reading. I even hid in the bathroom, reading when I was supposed to be on the floor. Piper immediately mentioned my absence, so I claimed diarrhea. Arnie told me about his last stomach bug and let it go. Knowing I was lying, Piper grinned at seeing the goody-two-shoes slack off at work.

By the time Cooper arrived for his dinner, I was depressed and ready to call Tawny. I needed the friendly voice of someone who knew the real me.

"Are you pitching a fit about today?" Cooper asked, frowning at me.

"What part of today? How you threatened Nick or when you embarrassed me?"

"He's really special to you, isn't he?" Cooper muttered full of hate.

"I've spoken to him twice and both times about school. I did more flirting with you the first night you came in than I've done with him, but fuck you."

Eyes widening, Cooper grinned. "Someone's in a shit mood."

"Do you know what you want?"

"You bent over the table would be a nice start." Staring at him, I didn't know how my face reacted, but his cocky swagger faded. "Fuck," Cooper grumbled under his breath. "How do you tie me in knots with a look? Is it witch magic or some shit?"

"If I were a witch, I'd figure out a way to get my schoolwork done, work, and sleep all in a twenty-four hour period."

"Ditch work one night and catch up."

Frowning at him, I shook my head. "You really don't understand what it's like to be poor."

"How poor are we talking about? You don't look trailer trash, missing teeth, meth head level of poor. I'd peg you at working poor."

"It doesn't matter. What would you like and don't say anything gross please."

"I want you to go out with me again."

"Only as friends."

Cooper rolled his eyes and leaned back in the booth. "I'm not friends with girls. Why would I be?"

"So we're only good for sex?"

Cooper grinned. "When you say the word sex, your lips look so hot, and I get a little horny."

"You can't stop yourself from being nasty, can you?"

"I haven't had sex in a week," he said, tugging at his sleeve just over the eagle tattoo. "It makes me weird and horny. Have I mentioned I'm horny, Farah?"

"You've hinted, yes."

Cooper's grin widened. "Let's go somewhere nice. No fighting, I promise."

"I don't want to date anyone. I wouldn't mind being your friend, but you don't have friends who are girls." 

"Why my friend?"

"Why not?"

"Do you have a lot of male friends? Like Nick?" Cooper asked, hissing Nick's name like the guy was pure evil.

"No, but I like you."

"Then go out to dinner with me," he muttered.

"I already said I don't want to date, and you think girls aren't good enough to be your friends."

"I have nothing in common with most girls. What are we going to talk about? Bikes? Fights we've been in. Fucking chicks?" Cooper paused and then snapped his fingers. "Hey, I do know this bull-dyke chick, and we bullshit about that stuff. She's cool, so maybe I can only be friend with lesbos?"

"Then I guess you and I can't be friends."

"Because you're hot for some other guy?"

"Why are you obsessed with Nick?"

"For the same reason you are."

"I'm not obsessed with him."

"I see the way you look at him. All wide-eyed horny schoolgirl. He's a loser and smells like cheap cologne. If that's what you're into, I can buy new cologne. I can also take you on discount dates and expect you to pay because I'm too poor to take care of my woman. Is that what you're looking for?"

Cooper was such an asshole. Whining like a spoiled little boy told he couldn't have a new bike from Santa, he figured he was right about everything. Never would he allow logic or sweet talk to change his mind. Something about his tone though caused me to laugh. Once I started, I couldn't stop.

"What?" he muttered.

"Hasn't a girl told you no before? Is that why you're acting like a nutball?"

"Nutball? That's insensitive, you bitch," he said, grinning. "And for your information, plenty of girls tell me no."

"Plenty?"

"Fine, a few have. There was the married one. The pregnant one who was trying to trap a guy into marriage so she was pretty booked for the next couple months. Finally, there was a girl who was afraid of tats and big cocks. I still don't know what her problem is."

"Well, now that I know you've gotten shot down left and right, I sorta pity you, Coop."

"Yeah, I'm a real charity case. You should go out with me as an act of kindness."

"I'm not ready to date anyone."

"Bullshit," he said, kicking the booth. "If Nicky asked you out, you'd fuck him on the first date. I can tell you've got it in you, but you have to make me suffer. Do I remind you of someone you need to punish?"

Yes.

"Never in a million years would I think not going out with you would be a punishment. There are a lot of new girls in school who would go out with you. They might make you work for it too. Why not chase them?"