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I have other things to focus on, besides the fact that the men I want don’t seem to want me back.
Cooper definitely wants you back, girl.
Cooper says he wants me but physical attraction happens all the time. It doesn’t mean anything. And I’m done coming in last place with men.
Time to go kick ass at this competition, meet up with my new friend Evie, and enjoy the hell out of what’s left of my time off work this week. God only knows when I’ll get the chance to do something like this again.
Come to think of it, that changes today too.
By the time I get to the competitors’ tent, I’m in full kickass mode. Evie flags me down from the bar where blue-shirted staff members are dishing up coffee and mimosas.
“Didn’t know what you drank so I got both,” says Evie, pointing at a mug of coffee and a champagne flute on the bar.
“Coffee, please,” I say.
“Ah,” says Evie. “Game face?”
“That’s right,” I say. “I’m here to kick ass and chew bubblegum and I’m all out of bubblegum.”
“Is that a movie quote? I bet it’s a movie quote. I’m not going to ask you which one—I seriously suck at that game.” She toasts my mug with her glass. “You ready for today?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I say, letting the reference to They Live slide as I survey the room over the rim of my coffee cup. “How much time do we have?”
“Not much,” says Evie. “In fact, we should probably—”
A familiar voice comes over the loudspeaker, cutting her off.
“Attention, contestants,” says Drew’s disembodied voice. “Please report to the competition floor. We’ll begin setting up for round two shortly.”
Evie turns to me with a grin. “That’s our cue.” She drains her drink and hands it to the bartender with a flourish.
I follow her out of the tent. We’ve just about reached the competition floor and I’m thinking I’m home free when I hear someone call my name. Evie stops with me, as we turn to look at the three men standing next to the stairs leading backstage.
“You go on ahead,” I tell Evie weakly. “I’ll be there in a minute.” The concern on her face is clear, but she nods and walks away.
I turn back slowly, making my way closer to the men, acutely aware of every inch disappearing between us.
“Hey Drew, Cooper,” I say.
Deep breath, deep breath. Do not pass out.
“Hello, Alan.”
11
Drew
I pinch the bridge of my nose and get a chokehold on my temper.
“You were explicitly instructed to stay away from the competition setup.”
“I didn’t touch anything,” says Cooper, flagrant insubordination in his eyes. “All I did was move the shelf. It looks better there.”
I swear, the man goes out of his way to disobey any instruction I give him. It’s a miracle we survived each other all those weeks in class.
“And in the process of moving the shelf that was set up by staff members two days ago, you managed to disengage the gas line to the stovetop.” My watch beeps, and I realize we have to be on stage soon. Lecturing Cooper isn’t helping matters, in any case. “We don’t have time for this. Round two starts in less than ten minutes. Don’t they need you in makeup or something?”
Cooper sneers. “You tell me, boss.”
