I stood firm. “Social signaling!It shows the world that we are fun, and playful, and attractive—right? Because if we pretend to be attracted to each other, then we are both attractive by definition. And! It ramps everything up because nothing fans the flames of longing like a little competition.”
Cooper just frowned.
I shrugged. “I read that on the internet.”
Cooper didn’t fight me.
“And don’t think this plan is all for me, by the way. Ashley has a plan to set you up with Bridesmaid Two after we get the Finn thing done. So this is a win-win all around.”
“Bridesmaid Two?”
“That’s the girl who asked you about your cool job at breakfast. Which is a lot more than I’ve done for you on this trip, by the way.”
“That’s debatable.”
“The point is, Bridesmaid Two can be yours. And fake flirting with me is a surefire way to make that happen.”
But Cooper was wrinkling his nose. “I don’t like her.”
“I don’t like her, either,” I said. “But it’s already on Ashley’s spreadsheet, so I’m not sure either of us has much say in the matter.”
Cooper was still trying to catch up. “So, by ‘fake flirting,’ you mean—?”
“I mean, we hang out all the time, and goof around, and laugh at each other’s jokes.”
“We already do that.”
“Yes. But we ramp it way up. Make it loud and public. Get noticed.”
“And then what happens?”
“Then other people get interested in us. And then they’re ensnared in our love trap.”
“Don’t saylove trap.”
“But you’ll do it, right?” I pressed. “Out of guilt, if nothing else? Since Finn thought your weak-ass hickey was eczema?”
There were those blue eyes again. “I’ll think about it,” Cooper said. Then he added, “If you do something for me.”
“What’s that?”
Cooper said, “Let’s practice our song.”
I DIDN’T WANTto. Of course.
It was one thing to sing again for the first time in years quietly, in Cooper’s private cabin, in bed, in the dark, with rustling insomnia as the only other option.
It was another thing to sing in a ballroom.
Even if it was empty.
“Is there anythingelseI could do for you?” I asked.
Cooper shook his head.
I eyed the stage area.
“The fact that you don’t want to is the exact reason why you should,” Cooper said.
