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I push down the hurt I have no right to carry. Of course I’m not Cooper’s type. He only said I looked good in this overall dress to make me feel better. It was just part of his lesson on believing in myself so I could relax.
This is exactly what I was thinking about when we got burgers. I need to stick to the plan because nothing real is even feasible between us. We’re too different.
“C’mon,” Harris insists. “They’re starting now. You gotta go.”
Cooper and Jackson share a look. A competitive smile curves Jackson’s mouth. The way he tells it, they’re undefeated champs.
“Aight, let’s do it,” Jackson says.
“I’m going to go. I see my friends.” Jenny takes my hand with an excited grin. “But give me your number first. We can sit together when our class starts!”
For the briefest moment, jealousy arrows through me. This is Cooper’s type, straight from his mouth. As soon as the thought crosses my mind, I smother it. Girls have enough problems to deal with navigating our relationships with each other and the way the world treats us to add extra crap on top. I don’t need to be jealous of her if Coop likes her. He’s not mine.
“Sure.” I put my number in her phone and she texts me.
I avoid Cooper’s eye as we all walk over to the group surrounding a table set up for beer pong. They play the first match against Harris and another guy I’ve seen around the Tiki Taco Shack.
“You want to play the winner with me?” The quiet guy who followed our group stands close to me.
“I’ve never played,” I say.
“Yeah?” He grins and ducks his head. “I’ll teach you.”
This is an actual boy talking to me. Flirting with me, I’m pretty sure. But I shift my gaze to Cooper. His eyes are on us while Jackson shoots into the other team’s cups. In the flickering orange light from the bonfire it’s difficult to tell what’s on his mind. Jackson sinks his shot and Cooper slaps his back.
“I’m Tatum, by the way.” After hesitating for a second to consider what’s acceptable, I stick my hand out.
“Carson.” He shakes my hand with an entertained expression, looking at Simone.
“Simone,” she offers. Instead of shaking hands, they nod to each other. “Are you at SBC?”
“Yeah, I’m about to be in my third year. What about you?”
“Entering freshman,” I say.
“Cool. We should hook up when the semester starts.” He inches closer, brushing against my side when his arm slips over my shoulders. “I can show you around. It’s a big campus. I was lost as hell my first semester there.”
I bite my lip and point at Jackson and Cooper. “I’ve been to campus. My brother and his best friend are sophomores there. It works out for me because I’m a total planner. I’d definitely stress out if I didn’t already know the campus.”
“Oh.” Carson meets Cooper’s intense gaze and stiffens before stepping away. “I’m going to grab a drink, but I’ll be back for our game. You’ll be a pro by the end of the night. I’ll show you my fail-safe technique. It’s all in the wrist.”
“Okay.”
“Dude.” Simone hooks her arm through mine and murmurs in my ear. “That guy is into you.”
“Yeah?” A weird sensation coils in my stomach, but I don’t think it has anything to do with Carson.
“But what’s up with Coop? He hasn’t taken his eyes off you all night. Look, he can’t focus on the game at all. He actually missed a few shots when Carson was talking to you.”
She nudges me. Reluctantly, I lift my gaze and find his attention on me once more. The odd sensation repeats, twisting my insides.
“It’s nothing,” I lie. “When he gave me a ride to the party, he promised to keep an eye on me. He’s just keeping his word.”
Simone squints at me. “Uh huh.”
“For real.”
“Whatever you say.” She turns back to watching the game.
